Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Lake
Where:
Wyoming. 25 miles north of the town of Jackson, WY and 12 miles
south of Yellowstone National Park.
Where to launch: Many
places on the lake are accessible. We launched at Colter
Bay.
Contact Info: 307-543-2811. Colter Bay Visitor Center -
307-739-3594
Note: Purchase a
boat permit at Bridge Bay. Price is $10.00 a week for each
non-motorized craft. This permit is good for Yellowstone also
(You’ll need an additional sticker (free) when you check
in at the marinas on Yellowstone Lake.) Life jackets are
required for all ages and all watercraft including windsurfers.
Check with the Parks service for the most recent
regulations.
On the west side of Jackson Lake the Grand
Teton’s Mt. Moran juts straight out of the water and up
12,700 ft. The roughly 3 miles wide and 16 miles long
expanse of water is garnished with small islands and many
inlets teaming with wildlife. A mixed forest of pine and a few
aspen with shrubs of willow and other plants edge the
shoreline. The water is cold, clear and ranges from
shallow shorelines to over 450 ft. deep. We saw bald
eagles, many waterfowl and a family of otters. We paddled out
of Colter Bay, though any of the marinas offer a great place to
start. We like to paddle in mid-morning when the lake is
glassy. We paddle towards the direction the wind will most
likely originate from and adjust our course as needed. If the
wind does pick up we surf the wind-chop back.
The weather can change very quickly. The
glassy surface of a still morning can become whipped to white
caps within 8 to 10 minutes. (That happened to us.) The
wind-chop became swells within 30 minutes. High clouds on a
sunny day can turn into a sudden mountain storm, complete with
lightning and thunder. Jackson Lake supplies water for Idaho
farm irrigation, so the water levels can vary year to year and
within the season. Check with the marina staff for the weather
report and current water levels.
Photos: Carly Swisher doing a Across Bow turn. Cristina Acosta carrying her board to the Colter Bay marina. Mt. Moran in the background.
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