A  9.7 mile out and back hike with 1100 feet of elevation gain. 

Last weekend, I found myself in the familiar predicament of wishing the rain would subside so I could spend my day off in the majestic Tetons. After waiting a few hours for the storm to pass, my friends and I made what felt like a bold decision - to strap on our hiking boots, rain pants, and jackets and hike anyway. And do you know what? We had the best day ever! We decided to hike at a lower elevation to avoid the colder, snowier, higher elevation hikes and found ourselves at String Lake hiking towards Cascade Canyon. None of us had ever done this hike before despite having lived in the area for at least three years (isn’t it crazy how that happens!?) so we were really excited. The rain wasn’t as bad as we anticipated and having dressed appropriately, we were un-phased by the colder, wetter environment.

The Autumn colors popped dramatically, the darker sky, along with snowy mountain tops, lending themselves to a unique contrast among the foliage. Everything glistened and the sprinkling of rain along with the gentle rushing of the river connecting String Lake to Jenny Lake had us all giddy with awe. The normally well-trafficked trails had been quietly abandoned by those seeking a warmer, drier day, leaving it all for us and the two moose we saw (don’t forget your bear spray!). The best part about this hike is that there is incredible scenery the entire way so whenever you’re ready to turn back, you can! We spent about three hours hiking (there and back) and nearly made it to the junction (about 2 miles away from Lake Solitude). Besides about a mile or two of uphill, the majority of the trail was flat which makes it perfect for kids. Truly a must-do hike.