Surface Elevation: 6,772 ft. (2,064 m)
Jackson Lake is located in north western
Wyoming in
Grand Teton National Park. This natural lake was enlarged by the construction of the Jackson Lake Dam which as originally built in 1911, enlarged again in 1916 and rebuilt once again by 1989.
The top 33 ft (10 m), of the lake is utilized by farmers in Idaho for irrigation purposes. The lake is the remnant of large glacial gouging from the neighboring Teton Range to the west and the
Yellowstone Plateau to the north. The lake is primarily fed by the
Snake River which flows in from the north and empties at the Jackson Lake Dam.
Jackson Lake is one of the largest high altitude lakes in the U.S. at an elevation of 6,772 ft (2,064 m) above sea level. The lake is up to 15 mi (24 km) long, 7 mi (11 km) wide and 438 ft (134 m) deep. The water of the lake averages below 60 °F (16 °C) even during the summer.
Numerous species of fish inhabit the lake including nonnative brown and Lake trout and the native Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout and Mountain whitefish.
Scenic Hotspot
There are over 15 islands in the lake, including Elk Island which is the largest and Donoho Point. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, a separate National Park area, is located near the northern end of Jackson Lake and extends to the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park. This roadway combines with the roads in
Grand Teton National Park that follow the eastern side of the lake, providing access for boating and fishing.
There are several different marinas and lodges along the eastern shore such as Leeks marina,
Colter Bay Village,
Jackson Lake Lodge and
Signal Mountain Lodge. All of these except Jackson Lake Lodge have boat access points and ramps. The western shore of Jackson Lake is primitive, with only hiking trails and a handful of primitive campground spots.
