Hiking the Moose Ponds Loop Trail in Grand Teton National Park
Distance: 2.0 miles / 3.2 km
The Moose Ponds Loop Trail in Grand Teton National Park is a beautiful and easy day hike on the south side of Jenny Lake that passes through a very quiet stretch of forest and various meadows along the base of the Teton Range!
That said, what sets the Moose Ponds Loop Trail apart from countless other nearby trails in Grand Teton is that it is one of the best places to see and photograph wildlife, both early and late in the day!
I would even go as far as to say that the Moose Ponds Trail is the best trail visitors can do if they want to see wildlife in the park, though nothing is ever a guarantee.
In my experience, I have personally seen Black Bears, Moose, and countless Mule Deer on the Moose Ponds Loop Trail, but whether you want to hike it on your own, be accompanied by a local guide, or even try both, I recommend adding this beautiful loop to your Grand Teton bucket list, as it’s a great way to escape the crowds in an otherwise very busy area of the park!
When is the Best Time to See Wildlife on the Moose Ponds Loop Trail?
Wildlife encounters can happen anywhere at any time, but if you want to better your chances, I recommend starting the Moose Ponds Loop Trail early in the morning or late in the evening, just as the sun is about to set behind the Teton Range.
With that in mind, early morning does not mean 8 a.m. during the beautiful summer months. It means sunrise, while it’s still cool out and the traffic in the park has not picked up yet.
Again, nothing is ever a guarantee, but if you plan to visit when the air is cool and the crowds are minimal, you have the best chance of spotting various species—especially by spending some time at the Moose Ponds themselves!
Moose Ponds Loop Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Moose Ponds Loop Trail can begin from one of three different trailheads.
First, hikers can begin from one of two trailheads located directly off the loop and Lupine Meadows Road, but as a third option, hikers can also begin from the Jenny Lake Visitor Center, which is the farthest route from the start of the loop.
That said, I personally prefer utilizing one of the two trailheads off Lupine Meadows Road, as both are some of the least competitive options compared to how busy the Jenny Lake Trailhead is on any given day throughout the beautiful summer travel season.
Google Maps Directions: North Moose Ponds Loop Trailhead / South Moose Ponds Loop Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Yellowstone–Tetons
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in the Yellowstone–Teton area.
Hiking the Moose Ponds Loop Trail
North Moose Ponds Loop Trailhead
This is the North Moose Ponds Loop Trailhead, located closest to the Jenny Lake Loop Trail.
Personally, I like parking here because the southern trailhead tends to be more popular, since it often acts as a spillover lot for the Lupine Meadows Trailhead at the end of the road.
Moose Ponds Loop Trail
When the trail splits just a few steps after beginning the hike, there’s either the option to go right toward Jenny Lake first or left to begin the much less trafficked side of the loop first.
That said, I chose to go left in the clockwise direction because I have personally had more frequent wildlife encounters when getting away from the Jenny Lake Loop, though you really never know where you might come across a Moose or a bear.
For the most part, the Moose Ponds Loop has very minimal elevation change, apart from one very short hill as the trail approaches the Jenny Lake Loop.
This is why I believe the Moose Ponds Loop Trail is one of the best kid-friendly hikes in Grand Teton National Park!
This is where the Moose Ponds Loop Trail parallels Lupine Meadow Road, which I like getting out of the way in the beginning, as the busyness of the road typically means it’s not the best place to look for wildlife.
This split is nothing more than a social trail, where both paths meet again just a short distance ahead.
Moose Ponds Loop-South Moose Ponds Trailhead Junction
At the very far southern end of the Moose Ponds Loop, the trail will pass two back-to-back splits near the alternative southern trailhead.
At the first, go right, then straight to stay on the Moose Ponds Loop, where the trail will begin heading away from Lupine Meadows Road and enter some of the much more beautiful and quiet sections as it works its way toward the Teton Range.
This is where the Moose Ponds Loop turns back to the north and starts heading away from Lupine Meadow Road toward the Moose Ponds themselves, roughly 0.7 miles (1.1 km) from this point.
Since there is quite a bit of exposure on the Moose Ponds Loop Trail, I recommend hiking in a hooded sun shirt to stay safe at these higher elevations, which average about 6,800 ft. (2,073 m) throughout.
I want to emphasize this even further if you plan to combine the Moose Ponds Loop with the Jenny Lake Loop and any of the hikes near Cascade Creek on the west side, as this tends to be quite a long day outside—especially if you plan to continue up Cascade Canyon once at Inspiration Point.
On this day, I chose to hike the Moose Ponds Loop as the last thing I did in the evening before heading back to Jackson to grab some food, which actually paid off, as there were a couple of Moose in the ponds just a short distance ahead!
Moose Ponds
Shortly after the Moose Ponds Loop exits the tall overstory forest, the trail passes this upper viewpoint, which looks across both Moose Ponds.
In my experience, it can be one of the better vantage points to hang out and look for wildlife, but as I describe below, sometimes it’s all left up to chance!
You never really know!
This is where the Moose Ponds Loop Trail starts working its way around the north side of both ponds.
These Aspen trees are what can make the Moose Ponds Loop Trail a great, easy adventure during peak fall colors, which typically occur around the last week of September and into the first week of October in Grand Teton National Park!
Right when I walked up in the late evening to take these photos, two Moose had just left the ponds and headed straight into the trees!
Sometimes it’s just the luck of the draw, but it’s why I always like to say that booking a wildlife tour through one of the local outfitters out of Jackson is one of the best ways to better your chances when visiting Grand Teton National Park—especially if you’re only staying in the area for a few days.
Immediately after passing the area closest to the Moose Ponds shown above, the trail starts a very short, roughly 40-ft. (12 m) climb up to the Jenny Lake Loop Trail.
This is the top of the short hill that climbs steeply above the two Moose Ponds.
Upper Moose Ponds Loop-Jenny Lake Loop Junction
After 1.8 miles (2.9 km) since leaving the North Moose Ponds Trailhead and starting the loop in the clockwise direction, the trail finally reaches the short section it shares with the Jenny Lake Loop Trail on the south side of Jenny Lake.
Once here, go right to continue on the Moose Ponds Loop back to the northern trailhead. However, if you are interested in utilizing the North Moose Ponds Trailhead to hike the Jenny Lake Loop to both Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, go left to begin hiking toward Cascade Creek on the west side of Jenny Lake.
Read My Separate Post: Jenny Lake Loop Trail
This short stretch on the south side of Jenny Lake is a very easy downhill hike to the Lower Moose Ponds junction, where the loop splits away.
Lower Moose Ponds Loop-Jenny Lake Loop (Valley) Junction
After a little more than 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the Moose Ponds Loop Trail leaves the Jenny Lake Loop at the junction shown below.
At this split, go right, and the Moose Ponds Loop will return to the North Moose Ponds Trailhead in less than 0.1 miles (0.2 km).
Read My Separate Post: Jenny Lake Loop Trail
Moose Ponds Loop Junction
This is where the Moose Ponds Trail completes the 2.0-mile (3.2 km) loop and returns to the North Moose Ponds Loop Trailhead.
At this split, go left if you chose to park here, or straight if you chose to begin from the southern trailhead.
