This document outlines plans for the Inspiring Journeys campaign to renovate trails, bridges, destinations, and visitor facilities at Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park. The renovations aim to improve accessibility, sustainability, and the visitor experience in celebration of the National Park Service centennial. Proposed improvements include restoring deteriorating trails and bridges, rerouting some trails, adding overlooks and accessible trails, and renovating the interpretive plaza and boat docks to create a welcoming visitor center. The project aims to preserve the area for future generations through education and sustainable infrastructure.

1. INSPIRING JOURNEYS
A CAMPAIGN for JENNY LAKE
G R A N D T E T O N N A T I O N A L PA R K

2. INSPIRING JOURNEYS,
a Collaboration between
Grand Teton National Park and
Grand Teton National Park Foundation,
will Celebrate an
Extraordinary Milestone in
America’s Conservation History—
the 100th Anniversary of
the National Park Service
on August 25, 2016.

3. “Through interpretation, understanding;
through understanding, appreciation;
through appreciation, protection.”
FR E E M A N TI L D E N
Author of Interpreting Our Heritage
JENNY LAKE

4. Join us in celebrating Jenny Lake’s storied past,
its modern-day popularity, and its timeless ability to inspire
and invigorate those who visit its shores.
Inspiring Journeys is a public-private partnership that will renovate Jenny Lake’s
trails, bridges, key destinations, and visitor complex to meet the curiosity of today’s
worldwide visitors. It will be a journey that rings in the second century of the
National Park Service as it enables unforgettable experiences, expands understanding
of this singular place, and ultimately awakens a desire to protect and preserve national
parks for future generations.
A PLACE of INSPIRATION

5. YESTERDAY

6. Civilian
Conservation
Corps
President Franklin Roosevelt created the CCC in 1933 to provide employment for 2.5 million
young men, ages 18-25, during the Depression, and they were housed in 4,500 camps in every state,
Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. In exchange for food, shelter, clothes, medical care, a structured envi-
ronment, and $30 a month, they built thousands of miles of roads, trails, and telephone lines, developed
thousands of acres of public campgrounds and state park lands, and completed erosion and revegetation
work on millions of acres. Grand Teton National Park had four CCC camps, including one located south of
Jenny Lake from 1935 to 1942. Its mess hall and bathhouse survive today and serve as office and storage
space for Exum Mountain Guides.
For more than a century,protecting vast tracts of the most scenic and untouched country for the enjoyment
of every citizen—not just those who could afford such expansive beauty—has made national parks America’s best idea.
Generations of visionarieshelped preserve and shape landscapes like Grand Teton National Park, and people continue to reap
priceless benefits from this generosity. A 1926 tour along the base of the Teton Range led John D. Rockefeller, Jr. to embark on
one of the most significant acts of philanthropy, conservation,and national park building in our country’s history.
The craggy peaks, free-roaming wildlife, and historic locations found in Grand Teton embody Rockefeller’s legacy, and these
sights continue to resonate with millions, encouraging them to cherish wilderness and appreciate their natural and cultural heritage.
Jenny Lake lies at the heart of this beloved and picturesque national park. The beauty of the Tetons and glacial lakes captured
Rockefeller’s imagination long ago and continues to be a source of inspirationfor all who embark on personal journeys.
PAST JOURNEYS

7. TODAY

8. Current conditions
are not sustainable
Poor conditions exist at
Jenny Lake’s popular hiking
destinations and trails.
As a result, both visitor
experiences and park
resources are negatively
impacted.
Grand Teton, one of our country’s most popular national parks,
is home to diverse wildlife and plant communities, rich cultural history, and spectacular scenery. Jenny Lake, Grand Teton’s
most visited destination, is where a trip to this famous park begins for nearly 1.9 million peopleeach year, a number
that was inconceivable in the 1930s when the Civilian Conservation Corpscrews built park trails. Some visitors
stroll to the shore where granite pinnacles meet the glacial lake, while others climb aboard a boat for the short ride to the west
side of the lake and trails that lead to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point—two of the park’s quintessential destinations.
Over the years, this area has become worn and ragged as visitors seek the famous views that define Jenny Lake. The cumulative
damagenow threatens fragile habitatand prevents people with limited abilities or wilderness experience from
exploring all the area has to offer. Past planning efforts provided for some of the site’s needs, but significant opportunities
exist to improve the experience and convey the importance of protecting resourcesto a multitude of park visitors.
PRESENT JOURNEYS
continued

9. Despite these challenges, Jenny Lake continues to be the place where visitors choose to have an on-the-ground introduction
to Grand Teton’s fascinating history and come face-to-face with the grandeur of the Teton Range. With a gateway
to wilderness and an audience that continues to grow, this area is ideally suited to be a vibrant touchstone for the park’s long
conservation story.
A first impression
of wilderness?
Just a 10-minute boat ride after
parking your car, the popular
hiking destinations on the west
side of Jenny Lake are an incredible
introduction to wilderness.
More than ever, national parks must
model how best to care for and
preserve our natural treasures.

10. TOMORROW

11. Inspiring Journeys is a collaboration between Grand Teton
National Park and Grand Teton National Park Foundation
that builds upon the long tradition of private philanthropythat helped establish today’s park. This initiative
also celebrates an extraordinary milestone in America’s conservation history—the 100th anniversary of the
National Park Service. As the agency approaches its centennial, Inspiring Journeyswill create an inviting
trail system and captivating visitor experience for the 21st century—one that educates, inspires,and addresses
resource protection and accessibility, all while retaining the timeless Civilian Conservation Corps aesthetic that
visitors associate with our national parks.
FUTURE JOURNEYS
continued

12. From dramatic on-the-ground changesthat will enrich the classic Grand Teton experience and enable new
levels of backcountry exploration, to an enhanced understanding of the people, the place, and the preservation efforts that
shaped the park, Inspiring Journeyswill transform Jenny Lake into a portal for hands-on discovery and allow visitors
of varying abilities to connect with the park in meaningful, memorable ways.

13. At its core, Inspiring Journeysis about trails. Significant work will occur
on Jenny Lake’s network of backcountry trailsto enhance hiking
options and reverse years of accumulated trail damage, providing a safer and more
inspiring experience for hikers of all abilities. Work will include: restoration of
trail tread by adding grade checks and water bars to improve drainage and traction
on steep, eroded trail segments; the reroute of segments to avoid sensitive areas;
reclamation of damaged trail and habitat; removal of fencing; and construction
of bridges that are designed to last substantially longer than current bridges.
This effort will revitalize aging routes, introduce a series of looped paths, and
create a trail system that is easy to maintain, yet retains the historic feel that has
long characterized the Jenny Lake area. An improved west boat dock
will provide additional gathering and queuing space for visitors. Redesignof
Hidden Falls and Inspiration Pointwill give these key destinations predictable surfaces for walking, defined
spaces for viewing, and natural seating areas for resting and picnicking.
An interpretive plaza—a destination in itself that will be similar in scale and character to the current visitor
complex—will offer exhibits, topographic relief models,and interactive featuresto engage and
educate. Upon arrival at the Jenny Lake area, a main artery will bring visitors through the plaza and beyond to reveal
sweeping Jenny Lake views along with newly created lakeshore overlooksand access points. Durable trail
surfacesand landscaping, expanded restrooms,and improved picnic areaswill be incorporated.
New signsand markers will outline routes and destinationsfor visitors interested in continuing into
the wilderness on the other side of Jenny Lake. This welcoming plaza will also provide meaningful opportunities to connect
with the area and provide a sense of place for those with limited time or ability to venture into the backcountry.
Transforming the Jenny Lake Experience

14. New Chasm Bridge,
itself a destination
A major crossing of Cascade
Creek is moved downstream to
a dramatic location over a
chasm of tumbling water,
creating a first and spectacular
hiking destination. Decommis-
sioning the cluster of trails
dubbed “confusion junction”
by rangers and installing new
trail sections creates a short
loop trail, perfect for those with
limited time or mobility. In all,
three new bridges are included
in the Hidden Falls area.
Conceptual rendering of new Chasm Bridge
Below new bridge location c. 1950
Destinations worthy
of the effort
The primary hiking destinations—
Hidden Falls and Inspiration
Point—will be restored, made
more durable, and reorganized
to create a much improved
experience for hikers who
work so hard to arrive at these
popular destinations.
Conceptual rendering of improvements at Inspiration Point
Conceptual rendering of improvements at Hidden Falls
Historic view of Hidden Falls

15. Overlooks and
water access
You don’t have to go into
the wilderness to fully
experience the area.
Trails in the frontcountry
lead to and connect a series
of lakeshore overlooks
and water access points.
Existing conditions along the Jenny Lake shore without overlooks
Conceptual rendering of primary frontcountry overlook at Jenny Lake
Interpretive Plaza
This is the beginning of any
Jenny Lake adventure.
Through excellent design
and quality construction, the
collection of buildings, trails,
hardscape, landscape, and
many interpretive features
will coalesce into an outdoor
visitor complex worthy of
this premier destination.
South Jenny Lake area today looking north
Conceptual rendering of improvements at Interpretive Plaza looking south
Conceptual rendering of improvements at Interpretive Plaza looking north

16. PLANS

17. FRONT COUNTRY
BACK COUNTRY
WEST
BOAT
DOCK
INSPIRATION
POINT
HIDDEN
FALLS
EAST
BOAT
DOCK
INTERPRETIVE
PLAZA
JENNY LAKE
STRING
LAKE
FRONT COUNTRY / BACK COUNTRY LOCATION DIAGRAM
Project Area
and Overall Scope
Grand Teton National Park lies at the heart of the
Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and Jenny Lake
is the centerpiece of Grand Teton.
Highlights
• The project scope includes BACKCOUNTRY
hiking destinations, bridges, the west boat
dock, trails, and restoration of damaged areas
• The project scope also encompasses
FRONTCOUNTRY features including trails,
lakeshore overlooks, water access, and,
building upon the existing quality structures,
the creation of an interpretive plaza

18. HORSE TRAIL
(IMPROVED IN CURRENT
ALIGNMENT BY NPS)
CASCADE
CANYON
HIDDEN FALLS OVERLOOK
IMPROVED WEST
BOAT DOCK
INSPIR TION
CASCADE CREEK
SOUTH CASCADE CR.TRAIL
INSPIRATION POINTTRAIL NORTH CASCADE CR.TRAIL
CHASM BRIDGE
(RELOCATED FROM
CONFUSION JUNCTION)
TO STRING LAKE
TO SOUTH JENNY
JENNY LAKETRAIL
HIDDEN FALLS BRIDGES
DOCK BYPASS/
STOCK TRAIL
RECLAIMED
TRAILS
AREAS OF WORK
IMPROVED DESTINATION
PROPOSED TRAIL RE-ROUTE
ABANDONED AND RECLAIMED
TRAILS & BRIDGE
EXISTING TRAIL
EXISTING TRAIL; NOT IN SCOPE
BACKCOUNTRY TRAILS
Backcountry Trails
Backcountry improvements will provide a well planned, artfully
constructed, and intuitive network of trails, connecting more
durable and better defined gathering areas at key destinations in
order to allow meaningful wilderness experiences for generations
of park visitors.
Highlights
• Reorganizes trails and way finding
• Improves the west boat dock
• Improves key hiking destinations —
Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point
• Improves trail conditions and repairs damaged areas

19. FRONT COUNTRY
OVERALL SITE PLAN
61 623610 0 0
ASPEN OVERLOOK
COTTONWOODCREEK
INLET OVERLOOK
LAKE OVERLOOK
ROCK BEACH: BEACH ACCESS
ROCK BEACH: ABA BEACH ACCESS
GATEWAY PLAZA
EAST BOAT
DOCK
LODGEPOLE KNOLL
LAKEWALK
CREEKWALK
INTERPRETIVE PLAZA
CAMPGROUNDWALK
WEST ENTRY
SOUTH MORAINE
LOOPWALK
NORTH MORAINE
LOOPWALK
AT
T
RECLAIM OLD
TRAIL ALIGNMENT
RECLAIM OLD
TRAIL ALIGNMENT
Frontcountry Improvements
at South Jenny Lake Complex
Frontcountry improvements will create a welcoming outdoor visitor
complex that complements and enhances the existing facilities, invites
people of all abilities to engage with the place physically and intellectually
at multiple levels, and educates and prepares those visitors interested in
continuing into the wilderness area on the other side of Jenny Lake.
Highlights
• Reorganizes trails and way finding
• Creates fully accessible trails, lakeshore overlooks,
and lake access points
• Reclaims and repairs damaged areas
• Improves east boat dock area
• Adds interpretive materials and improves way finding

20. Interpretive Plaza
Here visitors will be welcomed and will connect
with Jenny Lake through interpretive features
and displays, learning many stories unique to
Grand Teton National Park.
Highlights
• Creates an outdoor visitor center
• Provides a welcoming “front door”
and sense of arrival
• Includes interpretive and interactive
features and displays
• Doubles the number of restroom facilities

21. our CAMPAIGN

22. YOU can HELP
With your participation in this campaign, Inspiring Journeys will give Jenny Lake
a new life as a sustainable, educational, and dynamic destination that enhances the area’s
beauty and fascinating history for decades to come.
Now, more than ever, wilderness enthusiasts have a tremendous opportunity to model
how best to preserve Grand Teton’s natural treasures and our collective heritage through
innovative projects funded by public-private partnerships.
There is tremendous power in connecting people to national parks.
We invite you to begin this journey with us today.

23. Thank You for Your Interest in
INSPIRING JOURNEYS
CONTACT GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
for INFORMATION on HOW you CAN
PARTICIPATE in this CENTENNIAL PROJECT

24. GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
307.732.0629
PO Box 249 Moose, WY 83012
www.gtnpf.org
The official nonprofit fundraising partner of
Grand Teton National Park and the National Park Service