As far as beautiful, high-mountain lakes with almost crystal-clear water go, Montana and Wyoming give each other a run for their money. You'll find several good contenders in both states, but we thought we'd lead some folks OUT of Montana to this gem of a lake.

Finding lakes with the clearest water has become somewhat of a bucket-list game for many Americans. Another reason we thought we'd highlight the most gorgeous places in states OTHER than Montana. Our beautiful places could use a rest after the heavy use of the last several years.

For now, we're highlighting Jenny Lake, located in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. This 12,000-year-old glacier-formed lake is not a secret or a 'hidden gem'. It's actually one of the most visited places in Grand Teton National Park. But if you've never been there, or it's been many years - it's only 140 miles from West Yellowstone!

Travel and Leisure Magazine recently listed 10 great places in the U.S. to find the bluest water in America, and Montana didn't make the cut. Obviously, our neighbor Wyoming did and you can see the full list from T&L here. Looks like it's absolutely worth the effort to make the trip.

Google Maps
Google Maps
loading...
Jenny Lake - Photo by Aishwarya Gunde on Unsplash
Jenny Lake - Photo by Aishwarya Gunde on Unsplash
loading...
The Moose 94.7 FM logo
Get our free mobile app

If you've never been to Jenny Lake, surely you know where to find Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. The Google Map above will give you a good idea of the best way to get there...although you can go any way you want. By our calculations, Jenny Lake is about 140 or 150 miles from West Yellowstone, Montana.

Jenny Lake - Photo by Colin + Meg on Unsplash
Jenny Lake - Photo by Colin + Meg on Unsplash
loading...

According to Wikipedia: "Jenny Lake is named after a Shoshone Indian woman who married an Englishman, Richard "Beaver Dick" Leigh.[7][8] Jenny, and their 6 children, died of Smallpox in 1876."

Grand Teton National Park: "Our facilities operate seasonally from mid-May through early October each year. Lodging reservations are available on a 12-month rolling basis and can be booked online or by calling 307-543-3100. All in-park camping is by reservation only and can be booked on a six-month rolling basis at Recreation.gov.

Jenny Lake Visitor Center - NPS - J Bonney
Jenny Lake Visitor Center - NPS - J Bonney
loading...

Best Groups for Montana Foraging and Mushroom Hunting

If you love gathering fresh and wild edibles, these are the best online resources to learn the basics or share your expertise. Foraging is a labor of love for special food, and it requires important knowledge along with lots of patience. Check these out!

Gallery Credit: mwolfe

LOOK: Closest national parks to Fort Collins

Stacker compiled a list of the closest national parks to Fort Collins, CO Metro Area.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

Montana Hiking Trail Etiquette: Dos and Don'ts

We have countless, wonderful hiking and walking trails within easy reach of town. But being a Montanan means caring for your surroundings, AND others. Keep in mind these trail basics while enjoying the outdoors. Safe hikers are happy hikers.

Gallery Credit: mwolfe

More From The Moose 94.7 FM