Two Ocean Lake Loop including Grand View Point

The original plan was to take an easy, moderate length, tune-up hike, our first one of the season. We stopped at the Visitor Center at Coulter Bay and a nice Ranger, Cassandra, showed us some hikes here in the north end of the park; some around Jenny Lake; and, others at the south end, nearer to Jackson.

We were intrigued by the hike that is closest to the campground and that had a spectacular view of the Tetons and the surrounding area. When we checked in our three Teton hiking books, we noted that the distance around the lake and the hike up to the viewpoint was listed as 10.5 miles. But, we had a beautiful day, and after all, we have hiked 10+ mile hikes before.

We drove the seven miles to the Grand View parking lot and climbed the .9  mile trail to Grand View Point, elevation 7,594 feet,  for this classic view of the Grand Teton Mountains with Jackson Lake in the foreground.

When we turned around we had this view of Two Ocean Lake, 700 feet below. We descended the viewpoint on a series of rather steep switchbacks, all the while telling ourselves that at the end of the hike we were going to have to climb back up these same steep switchbacks.

Down at lake level, 6,896 feet, it is still early spring. Notice the cat-tails in the foreground. Even though the sky looks cloudy, there were patches of blue and occasional sun. The temperature was in the sixties; perfect hiking weather.

The north and east side of the lake is fairly open and we passed through Aspen groves where the trees were just beginning to leaf out.

About half-way down the east side of Two Ocean Lake we paused to take this picture of an open meadow across the lake with the Tetons in the background.

We had our lunch at the south end of the lake, about half-way through the hike. Then we began the hike along the west side of the lake. The trail was quite different on this side of the lake and travelled mostly through lodgepole pine forest which means that there were lots of roots in the trail, a real tripping hazard.

Two meadows interrupt the forest trail along this west side and these little white flowers are just beginning  to blossom.

This is actually the meadow that we took a picture of from across the lake. You might be able to see the little white flowers beginning to blanket the meadow.

We completed the loop around the lake and slowly climbed the switchbacks to the top of Grand View. This is the view of Two Ocean Lake in the afternoon light, and...

the Grand Teton Mountains and Jackson Lake in the afternoon sun.

Today's hike:

Length: 10.68 miles

Duration: 5 hours, 25 minutes (including lunch)

Elevation gain: 1600 feet; 162 floors on the Fitbit