Exploring Grand Teton National Park - Day 2

Day two of our Grand Teton adventure began with a weather delay. We headed to Jenny Lake to take the boat across and start our hike, but just walking to the dock felt like an expedition. The wind was some of the strongest I’ve ever experienced—other families were crouched behind benches and signs trying to find shelter. The small lake looked like an ocean, with whitecap waves crashing across the surface. We questioned whether this was a good idea, but pressed on… until a park ranger announced they were pausing boat service—for only the second time in 23 years—due to weather. Then the power went out.

Now, losing power in a national park isn’t that big of a deal—you don’t need electricity to see mountains and trees—but it turns out you do need it to process a refund. So, we sat in our car, ready to admit defeat and head back. But just then, the skies cleared, the sun broke through, and we decided to give it one more try.

We’re glad we did.

The hike to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point was stunning. It's only a mile, but it's a mile uphill. We weren’t sure how the kids would handle it. To our surprise, Marley practically sprinted up the trail and hopped down it like a mountain goat. This is the same kid who drags his feet walking through a hotel lobby and acts like he’s dying from a bug bite—but somehow had zero fear running along the edge of a cliff.

Thanks to early spring runoff and recent rains, Hidden Falls was roaring—powerful and breathtaking. And when we finally reached Inspiration Point, the skies had cleared completely, revealing a perfect view.

The boat ride back was quiet; the kids were clearly wiped out. So we returned to the hotel for a quick nap and reset before heading back out.

That evening, we set off to finish exploring the park. We did the full loop, visited the historic buildings of Mormon Row, and stepped inside the Cunningham Cabin—one of the area's first settler homes. Along the way, we had one of our best wildlife moments yet: a large male elk wandered near us as we hiked down to a riverbank.

This was our “cover ground” day, and we made the most of it. By the time we finally sat down to eat dinner (around 9 p.m. again), we’d explored the entire park loop—mountains, wildlife, waterfalls, and all of Jenny Lake.