Colter Bay, along the first leg of this trip.
26 Swan Lake and Heron Pond
Description: An easy circuit with special treats for wildlife watchers
Start: Hermitage Point Trailhead
Total distance: 3.0-mile lollipop loop
Best season: June through Sept
Maps: Earthwalk Press Grand Teton map; National Park Service handout map; Grand Teton Association’s Colter Bay brochure
Finding the trailhead: Take US 89 into the park and turn west into the Colter Bay area, which is 11 miles south of the park’s northern boundary or 5.2 miles north of the Jackson Lake Junction. After turning into Colter Bay from the main highway, drive 0.9 mile on a paved road, then turn left (south) at the first turn after passing the general store. The trailhead is a little hard to find the first time you go into the Colter Bay area. It’s located at the south end of the big parking lot near the boat launch. Be careful not to take the trail that heads off to the east behind the trailhead sign. Instead, walk to the end of the parking lot toward the boat launch where trailhead signs mark the beginning of the trail. Go to the visitor center (just north of the trailhead) for toilet facilities. Trailhead GPS: 43.901205 / -110.641466
The Hike
Be sure to take a map and plan on closely noting the directional signs along the route. There are several junctions along this short loop, and if you’re enjoying the scenery too thoroughly (which would be easy), you might get on the wrong trail.
The trail starts out as a service road (it has a locked gate and is only occasionally used by vehicles). Along this stretch of trail, you can enjoy outstanding views of Colter Bay, with Mount Moran providing a classic backdrop.
Colter Bay, along the first leg of this trip.
At the end of the dirt road, you reach the first junction, where the loop section of this trip begins. Go right (south), unless you decide to take the route in reverse. The trail turns into a well-used singletrack but is still in excellent shape.
This area is heavily used by the Colter Bay horse concessionaire, so expect to see a few horses along the way—and a few horse apples on the trail.
After 0.2 mile you reach a fork in the trail. If you don’t mind a little hill, go right for a nice view from the Jackson Lake Overlook. Either trail takes you to Heron Pond about a half mile later.
Heron Pond is mostly covered with pond lilies. You can usually see pelicans, Canada geese, and other waterfowl species on the pond. In the evening hours, you might see beavers dining on the pond lilies, and you might also see a moose in the willows that surround the pond.
Enjoying the view over Heron Pond.
At the south end of Heron Pond, you reach a four-way trail junction. Take the sharpest left turn and head up a small hill toward Swan Lake. Like Heron Pond, Swan Lake is covered with yellow pond lilies. The lake gets its name from two trumpeter swans that lived here in the 1980s. The rare swans never produced any young, but they fiercely defended their territory, chasing away other swans that might have successfully nested in this prime habitat.
After the lake you pass by abandoned sewage ponds and then come to a junction with a trail heading off to the right (north) to the Colter Bay corral. Go left (west) and 0.1 mile later rejoin the abandoned service road for the 0.4-mile walk back to the trailhead.
Camping: No camping allowed on this route.
Option: This loop can be taken in reverse with no increase in difficulty.
Side trip: If you want a longer hike, you can add to your day by hiking down to Hermitage Point.
Miles and Directions
0.0Hermitage Point Trailhead
0.4Junction with Swan Lake Trail; turn right
0.6Junction with Jackson Lake Overlook Trail, alternate route; turn right
0.9Jackson Lake Overlook Trail rejoins main trail
1.0Heron Pond
1.4Four-way junction; turn sharp left
1.9Swan Lake
2.5Junction with trail to corrals; turn left
2.6Rejoin main trail to Colter Bay area; turn right
3.0Hermitage Point Trailhead