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Swan Lake & Heron Pond Trail at Colter Bay

100 Colter Bay Village Road

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$$

hikes

Best available June through October, Swan Lake & Heron Pond Trail is approximately 3 miles and a beautiful, mostly flat loop (236 feet in elevation gain) with stunning views.  Start from the parking lot at Colter Bay campground at the Hermitage Point Trailhead (turn right after the road ends and parking can be found close to the trailhead).  We took the trail along Jackson Lake and then the Heron Pond turn at the first fork.  The natural environment is gorgeous the entire way with small wooded areas.  There are no major views but you can often see the lakes or pond.

We enjoyed our picnic at the end of the trail about 1/2 a mile from the trailhead along the rocky beach overlooking the Tetons.  Another great option is overlooking Heron Pond (great Teton views about half way and a nice flat picnic area).  
 
Additionally, this trail can be made shorter by making it an out and back to Heron Lake Pond (2.4 miles out and back).  If you're choosing between Swan Lake and Heron Pond Trail to optimize for a shorter hike, we recommend Heron Pond Trail. 
 

Features

Good for All Ages Good for young kids Seasonal
Thoughtfully captured by:
Caitlin Iseler
Caitlin Iseler, happyly founder and CEO, was born in New York and is one of eight children. Her favorite holiday is Thanksgiving and the chance to sit at one table with her favorite 40 people. Caitlin, her outdoor loving husband, Thomas, and daughter, Hanah, live in Virginia Beach. She is also blessed to be a bonus mom to 2 incredible humans, Max & Elizabeth. Being a mom has always been something she dreamt of and it brings her joy beyond measure. Before starting happyly, Caitlin spent 15 years working in executive search with technology companies, most recently with Korn Ferry. In what seems like a lifetime ago, she attended the University of Virginia and was a member of the National & ACC Championship Teams, a gift that keeps giving.
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