Overview

Jackson Lake is located near Jackson Hole in Wyoming and is a outdoor paradise that is perfect for fishing and boating. In fact, the lake attracts many people during the summer months and offers many other recreational opportunities.

Location

Jackson Lake is within Grand Teton National Park off of Highway 89, south of Yellowstone National Park.

Seasons

Jackson Lake is accessible all year, although when ice fishing on the lake you must avoid wet areas, open water and watch for lake overflow areas, as the ice may be unstable.

Activities

Outdoor recreation is abundant at Jackson Lake.

Fishing

Sitting at the base of the Tetons in Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Lake is deep, cold and filled with lake, cutthroat, brook and brown trout; salmon; and pike (look hard enough and you may even find some trophy-size monsters in here). With the Tetons rising above and forest all around, this is one of the most scenic spots to fish in the Jackson Hole area. While the lake itself is often fished from boat or tube, the various inlets and tailwaters of Jackson Lake Dam, at the south end of the lake, hold plenty of fish to catch from shore.

• Fishing Seasons: While the best fishing is usually from June to September, good fishing can be found right after ice out, usually early-to-mid-May, when fish are in the shallows searching for baitfish, making them especially vulnerable to bank fishermen. As temperatures warm fish move to deeper spots and experienced anglers troll the depths, concentrating on deep bars. In mid-September decreasing water temperatures trigger spawning. Fish become most active at sunset and at night, but midday action can be incredible if a big storm rolls through. In January ice fishing starts, a favorite for many fishermen because big fish are extremely accessible at this time. The best action is at sunrise until about noon, and then again in the evening. Jackson Lake is closed to fishing during October.

Boating

Those who love to get out on a boat on Jackson Lake use motorized boats, sailboats, canoes, kayaks, rowboats and inflatables. You’ll need permits for launching a boat on the lake, for both motorboats and non-motorized boats. Launching locations are at Leeks Marina, Colter Bay and Signal Mountain Lodge. There’s also String Lake boat ramp, for non-motorized boats only.

Hiking

You’ll find a number of hiking trails near the Jackson Lake Dam, like Heron Pond and Swan Lake.

Camping

Other than the developed campground at Colter Bay (first come, first served), there are a handful of boat accessible campsites along the shores of Jackson Lake. These are backcountry campsites and permits are required. Call the park directly at (307) 739-3300 with questions.