INSPIRING JOURNEYSA CAMPAIGN forJENNY LAKE

G R A N D T E T O N N A T I O N A L P A R K

INSPIRING JOURNEYS,

a Collaboration between

Grand Teton National Park and

Grand Teton National Park Foundation,

will Celebrate an

Extraordinary Milestone in

America’s Conservation History—

the 100th Anniversary of

the National Park Service

on August 25, 2016.

“Through interpretation, understanding ;

through understanding, appreciation ;

through appreciation, protection.”

FREEMAN T ILDEN

Au tho r o f I n t e r p r e t i n g Ou r H e r i t a g e

JENNY LAKE

Join us in celebrating Jenny Lake’s storied past,

its modern-day popularity, and its timeless ability to inspire

and invigorate those who visit its shores.

Inspiring Journeys is a public-private partnership that will renovate Jenny Lake’s

trails, bridges, key destinations, and visitor complex to meet the curiosity of today’s

worldwide visitors. It will be a journey that rings in the second century of the

National Park Service as it enables unforgettable experiences, expands understanding

of this singular place, and ultimately awakens a desire to protect and preserve national

parks for future generations.

A PLACE of INSPIRATION

YESTERDAY

Civilian Conservation

Corps

President Franklin Roosevelt created the CCC in 1933 to provide employment for 2.5 million

young men, ages 18-25, during the Depression, and they were housed in 4,500 camps in every state,

Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. In exchange for food, shelter, clothes, medical care, a structured envi-

ronment, and $30 a month, they built thousands of miles of roads, trails, and telephone lines, developed

thousands of acres of public campgrounds and state park lands, and completed erosion and revegetation

work on millions of acres. Grand Teton National Park had four CCC camps, including one located south of

Jenny Lake from 1935 to 1942. Its mess hall and bathhouse survive today and serve as office and storage

space for Exum Mountain Guides.

For more than a century, protecting vast tracts of the most scenic and untouched country for the enjoymentof every citizen—not just those who could afford such expansive beauty—has made national parks America’s best idea.

Generations of visionaries helped preserve and shape landscapes like Grand Teton National Park, and people continue to reappriceless benefits from this generosity. A 1926 tour along the base of the Teton Range led John D. Rockefeller, Jr. to embark on

one of the most significant acts of philanthropy, conservation, and national park building in our country’s history. The craggy peaks, free-roaming wildlife, and historic locations found in Grand Teton embody Rockefeller’s legacy, and thesesights continue to resonate with millions, encouraging them to cherish wilderness and appreciate their natural and cultural heritage.

Jenny Lake lies at the heart of this beloved and picturesque national park. The beauty of the Tetons and glacial lakes captured

Rockefeller’s imagination long ago and continues to be a source of inspiration for all who embark on personal journeys.

PAST JOURNEYS

TODAY

Current conditionsare not sustainable

Poor conditions exist at

Jenny Lake’s popular hiking

destinations and trails.

As a result, both visitor

experiences and park

resources are negatively

impacted.

Grand Teton, one of our country’s most popular national parks,is home to diverse wildlife and plant communities, rich cultural history, and spectacular scenery. Jenny Lake, Grand Teton’s

most visited destination, is where a trip to this famous park begins for nearly 1.9 million people each year, a number that was inconceivable in the 1930s when the Civilian Conservation Corps crews built park trails. Some visitorsstroll to the shore where granite pinnacles meet the glacial lake, while others climb aboard a boat for the short ride to the west

side of the lake and trails that lead to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point—two of the park’s quintessential destinations.

Over the years, this area has become worn and ragged as visitors seek the famous views that define Jenny Lake. The cumulative

damage now threatens fragile habitat and prevents people with limited abilities or wilderness experience from exploring all the area has to offer. Past planning efforts provided for some of the site’s needs, but significant opportunitiesexist to improve the experience and convey the importance of protecting resources to a multitude of park visitors.

PRESENT JOURNEYS

continued

Despite these challenges, Jenny Lake continues to be the place where visitors choose to have an on-the-ground introduction

to Grand Teton’s fascinating history and come face-to-face with the grandeur of the Teton Range. With a gateway to wilderness and an audience that continues to grow, this area is ideally suited to be a vibrant touchstone for the park’s long

conservation story.

A first impression of wilderness?

Just a 10-minute boat ride after

parking your car, the popular

hiking destinations on the west

side of Jenny Lake are an incredible

introduction to wilderness.

More than ever, national parks must

model how best to care for and

preserve our natural treasures.

TOMORROW

Inspiring Journeys is a collaboration between Grand Teton National Park and Grand Teton National Park Foundationthat builds upon the long tradition of private philanthropy that helped establish today’s park. This initiative

also celebrates an extraordinary milestone in America’s conservation history—the 100th anniversary of the

National Park Service. As the agency approaches its centennial, Inspiring Journeyswill create an inviting trail system and captivating visitor experience for the 21st century—one that educates, inspires, and addresses

resource protection and accessibility, all while retaining the timeless Civilian Conservation Corps aesthetic that

visitors associate with our national parks.

FUTURE JOURNEYS

continued

From dramatic on-the-ground changes that will enrich the classic Grand Teton experience and enable new

levels of backcountry exploration, to an enhanced understanding of the people, the place, and the preservation efforts that

shaped the park, Inspiring Journeyswill transform Jenny Lake into a portal for hands-on discovery and allow visitors of varying abilities to connect with the park in meaningful, memorable ways.

At its core, Inspiring Journeys is about trails. Significant work will occuron Jenny Lake’s network of backcountry trails to enhance hiking

options and reverse years of accumulated trail damage, providing a safer and more

inspiring experience for hikers of all abilities. Work will include: restoration of

trail tread by adding grade checks and water bars to improve drainage and traction

on steep, eroded trail segments; the reroute of segments to avoid sensitive areas;

reclamation of damaged trail and habitat; removal of fencing; and construction

of bridges that are designed to last substantially longer than current bridges.

This effort will revitalize aging routes, introduce a series of looped paths, and

create a trail system that is easy to maintain, yet retains the historic feel that has

long characterized the Jenny Lake area. An improved west boat dock

will provide additional gathering and queuing space for visitors. Redesign of

Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point will give these key destinations predictable surfaces for walking, defined

spaces for viewing, and natural seating areas for resting and picnicking.

An interpretive plaza—a destination in itself that will be similar in scale and character to the current visitor

complex—will offer exhibits, topographic relief models, and interactive features to engage and

educate. Upon arrival at the Jenny Lake area, a main artery will bring visitors through the plaza and beyond to reveal

sweeping Jenny Lake views along with newly created lakeshore overlooks and access points. Durable trail

surfaces and landscaping, expanded restrooms, and improved picnic areas will be incorporated.

New signs and markers will outline routes and destinations for visitors interested in continuing into

the wilderness on the other side of Jenny Lake. This welcoming plaza will also provide meaningful opportunities to connect

with the area and provide a sense of place for those with limited time or ability to venture into the backcountry.

Transforming the Jenny Lake Experience

New Chasm Bridge, itself a destination

A major crossing of Cascade

Creek is moved downstream to

a dramatic location over a

chasm of tumbling water,

creating a first and spectacular

hiking destination. Decommis-

sioning the cluster of trails

dubbed “confusion junction”

by rangers and installing new

trail sections creates a short

loop trail, perfect for those with

limited time or mobility. In all,

three new bridges are included

in the Hidden Falls area.

Conceptual rendering of new Chasm Bridge

Below new bridge location c. 1950

Destinations worthy of the effort

The primary hiking destinations—

Hidden Falls and Inspiration

Point—will be restored, made

more durable, and reorganized

to create a much improved

experience for hikers who

work so hard to arrive at these

popular destinations.

Conceptual rendering of improvements at Inspiration Point

Conceptual rendering of improvements at Hidden Falls

Historic view of Hidden Falls

Overlooks and water access

You don’t have to go into

the wilderness to fully

experience the area.

Trails in the frontcountry

lead to and connect a series

of lakeshore overlooks

and water access points.

Existing conditions along the Jenny Lake shore without overlooks

Conceptual rendering of primary frontcountry overlook at Jenny Lake

Interpretive Plaza

This is the beginning of any

Jenny Lake adventure.

Through excellent design

and quality construction, the

collection of buildings, trails,

hardscape, landscape, and

many interpretive features

will coalesce into an outdoor

visitor complex worthy of

this premier destination.

South Jenny Lake area today looking north

Conceptual rendering of improvements at Interpretive Plaza looking south

Conceptual rendering of improvements at Interpretive Plaza looking north

PLANS

FRONT COUNTRY

BACK COUNTRY

WESTBOATDOCK

INSPIRATIONPOINT

HIDDENFALLS

EASTBOATDOCK

INTERPRETIVEPLAZA

JENNY LAKE

STRINGLAKE

FRONT COUNTRY / BACK COUNTRY LOCATION DIAGRAM

Project Area and Overall ScopeGrand Teton National Park lies at the heart of the

Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and Jenny Lake

is the centerpiece of Grand Teton.

Highlights

• The project scope includes BACKCOUNTRY hiking destinations, bridges, the west boat dock, trails, and restoration of damaged areas

• The project scope also encompasses FRONTCOUNTRY features including trails, lakeshore overlooks, water access, and, building upon the existing quality structures, the creation of an interpretive plaza

HORSE TRAIL(IMPROVED IN CURRENT

ALIGNMENT BY NPS)

CASCADECANYON

HIDDEN FALLS OVERLOOK

IMPROVED WEST BOAT DOCK

INSPIR TION

CASCADE CREEK

SOUTH CASCADE CR. TRAIL

INSPIRATION POINT TRAIL NORTH CASCADE CR. TRAIL

CHASM BRIDGE(RELOCATED FROM CONFUSION JUNCTION)

TO STRING LAKE

TO SOUTH JENNY

JENNY LAKE TRAIL

HIDDEN FALLS BRIDGES

DOCK BYPASS/ STOCK TRAIL

RECLAIMEDTRAILS

AREAS OF WORK

IMPROVED DESTINATION

PROPOSED TRAIL RE-ROUTE

ABANDONED AND RECLAIMEDTRAILS & BRIDGE

EXISTING TRAIL

EXISTING TRAIL; NOT IN SCOPE

BACKCOUNTRY TRAILS

Backcountry TrailsBackcountry improvements will provide a well planned, artfully

constructed, and intuitive network of trails, connecting more

durable and better defined gathering areas at key destinations in

order to allow meaningful wilderness experiences for generations

of park visitors.

Highlights

• Reorganizes trails and way finding

• Improves the west boat dock

• Improves key hiking destinations — Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point

• Improves trail conditions and repairs damaged areas

FRONT COUNTRY

OVERALL SITE PLAN61 623610 0 0

ASPEN OVERLOOK

COTTONWOOD CREEK

INLET OVERLOOK

LAKE OVERLOOK

ROCK BEACH: BEACH ACCESS

ROCK BEACH: ABA BEACH ACCESS

GATEWAY PLAZA

EAST BOATDOCK

LODGEPOLE KNOLLLAKE WALK

CREEK WALK

INTERPRETIVE PLAZA

CAMPGROUND WALK

WEST ENTRY

SOUTH MORAINELOOP WALK

NORTH MORAINELOOP WALK

ATT

RECLAIM OLDTRAIL ALIGNMENT

RECLAIM OLDTRAIL ALIGNMENT

Frontcountry Improvements at South Jenny Lake Complex Frontcountry improvements will create a welcoming outdoor visitor

complex that complements and enhances the existing facilities, invites

people of all abilities to engage with the place physically and intellectually

at multiple levels, and educates and prepares those visitors interested in

continuing into the wilderness area on the other side of Jenny Lake.

Highlights

• Reorganizes trails and way finding

• Creates fully accessible trails, lakeshore overlooks, and lake access points

• Reclaims and repairs damaged areas

• Improves east boat dock area

• Adds interpretive materials and improves way finding

Interpretive PlazaHere visitors will be welcomed and will connect

with Jenny Lake through interpretive features

and displays, learning many stories unique to

Grand Teton National Park.

Highlights

• Creates an outdoor visitor center

• Provides a welcoming “front door” and sense of arrival

• Includes interpretive and interactive features and displays

• Doubles the number of restroom facilities

our CAMPAIGN

YOU can HELP

With your participation in this campaign, Inspiring Journeys will give Jenny Lake

a new life as a sustainable, educational, and dynamic destination that enhances the area’s

beauty and fascinating history for decades to come.

Now, more than ever, wilderness enthusiasts have a tremendous opportunity to model

how best to preserve Grand Teton’s natural treasures and our collective heritage through

innovative projects funded by public-private partnerships.

There is tremendous power in connecting people to national parks.

We invite you to begin this journey with us today.

Thank You forYour Interest in

INSPIRING JOURNEYSCONTACT GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION

for INFORMATION on HOW you CAN

PARTICIPATE in this CENTENNIAL PROJECT

GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION307.732.0629

PO Box 249 Moose, WY 83012www.gtnpf.org

The official nonprofit fundraising partner of Grand Teton National Park and the National Park Service