Jenny Lake

{{Short description|Lake in Teton County, Wyoming, United States}}

{{Infobox body of water

|name = Jenny Lake

|image = Aerial image of Jenny Lake (view from the east).jpg

|caption = Aerial view of Jenny Lake in front of the Cathedral Group

|image_bathymetry =

|pushpin_map=Wyoming

|caption_bathymetry =

|location = Grand Teton National Park, Teton County, Wyoming, US

|coords = {{coord|43|45|50|N|110|43|48|W|region:US_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}{{cite gnis|id=1590084|name=Jenny Lake|accessdate=2011-10-09}}

|type = Glacial Lake

|inflow = Cascade Creek and String Lake

|outflow = Cottonwood Creek

|catchment =

|basin_countries = United States

|length = {{convert|2.2|mi|abbr=on}}

|width = {{convert|1.2|mi|abbr=on}}

|area = {{convert|1191|acre|abbr=on}}

|depth =

|max-depth ={{convert|456|ft|abbr=on}}

|volume =

|shore =

|elevation = {{convert|6783|ft|abbr=on}}

|islands =

}}

Jenny Lake is located in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming.{{Cite map|publisher=Topoquest (USGS Quads)|title=Jenny Lake, WY|url=http://www.topoquest.com/map.php?lat=43.76492&lon=-110.72904&datum=nad83&zoom=8&map=auto&coord=d&mode=zoomout&size=m|accessdate=2011-10-09}} The lake was formed approximately 12,000 years ago by glaciers pushing rock debris which carved Cascade Canyon during the last glacial maximum, forming a terminal moraine which now impounds the lake.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-26 |title=Jenny Lake at Grand Teton – 12,000 Years of History |url=https://national-park-posters.com/blogs/national-park-posters/jenny-lake-at-grand-teton-12-000-years-of-history#:~:text=A%20Bit%20of%20Jenny%20Lake/Grand%20Teton%20History&text=The%20lake%20you%20see%20today,the%20Hayden%20expedition%20of%201872 |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=National Park Posters |language=en}} The lake is estimated to be {{convert|256|ft||abbr=}} deep and encompasses {{convert|1191|acre}}. Jenny Lake is considered to be a major focal point in Grand Teton National Park, with many hiking trails, scenic boat rides, and quick access to the major climbing routes onto the tallest peaks of the Teton Range.{{cite web|title=Day Hikes|url=http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/upload/Dayhikes10.pdf|publisher=National Park Service|accessdate=2011-10-08|format=pdf|date=March 2010}}

Jenny and Jackson Lakes are the only lakes in Grand Teton National Park where motorboats are permitted; both lakes have scenic tours available.{{cite web|title=Boating and Floating|url=http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/boat.htm|publisher=National Park Service|accessdate=2011-10-09}}{{cite web|title=Concessioner Activities|url=http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/concessions.htm|publisher=National Park Service|accessdate=2011-10-09}} A 2005 study of the water quality of the lakes in Grand Teton National Park indicated that all the lakes in the park were still considered pristine and that they had not been impacted by air or water pollution.{{cite web|last=Rhea|first=Darren T.|title=Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Water, Sediment and Snow, from Lakes in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming|url=http://www.ecrc.usgs.gov/pubs/center/pdfDocs/PAH_2-05.pdf|publisher=United States Geological Survey|access-date=2011-10-09|format=pdf|date=February 2005|display-authors=etal|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425052303/http://www.ecrc.usgs.gov/pubs/center/pdfDocs/PAH_2-05.pdf|archive-date=2012-04-25|df=}}

Jenny Lake is a starting point for many day and overnight hiking trips. The {{convert|7.1|mi|adj=on}} Jenny Lake Trail loops around the lake and is considered to be relatively easy due to the small altitude gain of {{convert|700|ft}}. However, the altitude increases rapidly once Cascade Canyon is entered.

Jenny Lake is named after a Shoshone Indian woman who married an Englishman, Richard "Beaver Dick" Leigh.{{cite web | url=http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/jlfaqs.htm | title=Jenny Lake District FAQs | publisher=National Park Service | accessdate=26 July 2014}}{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n168 169]}} Jenny, and their 6 children, died of Smallpox in 1876.

Mt Owen and Mt St John across Jenny Lake.jpg|Jenny Lake at the foot of Cascade Canyon

Jenny Lake boat ride.jpg|Boat ride across Jenny Lake to Cascade Canyon

JennyLake.jpg|Jenny Lake in December