Hiking Hermitage Point
Hermitage Point is one of my favorite hikes too. In late spring hike it’s one of the hikes that melts quickly because it’s a low elevation, flat trail. You start at the Colter Bay Marina area. It’s about 10 miles round trip. When you get to the end, at Hermitage Point, you are surrounded 270 degrees by Jackson Lake and Mount Moran is right in front of you. It’s a beautiful view. You stop off at Heron Pond on the way out and Swan Lake on the way back. You can see swans and pelicans and all types of birds. I’ve seen a great grey owl on this hike.
Several years ago I actually ran into grizzly 399 and her coys (cubs of the year). It was two other people and myself, and she was only 150 feet away, purely by accident. We all kind of ran into each other on the trail only about ¾ of a mile in. It was spectacular to see her because she’s our famous rockstar bear. She was pretty cool because she’s 23 years old and always has raised her young around people and roadsides, so she didn’t freak out when she saw us, however, my heart was pounding in my chest! I immediately got out both cans of bear spray I hike with and the safety’s off and ready to shoot if she decided to come our way. We talked loudly but calmly to her so she knew we were non-threatening. Luckily she was very calm, called out to her little ones and went on her way. It was spectacular to see, and this intimate moment with her.
Hiking Signal Mountain Trail
I have done Signal Mountain Trail only once. Every time I do a trail the first time, it’s always kind of spooky because I just don’t know what to expect. It was an overcast day so it made the trial even more eerie. Signal Mountain area is bear territory-blacks and grizzes. Luckily, I didn’t run into any bears on that trip (even though I love to see the bears). You can get all the way up to the Signal Mountain Overlook, which you could actually drive to. That’s why a lot of people don’t hike that trail. They say, “Why should I hike if I can drive?” But I like to try as many trails as I can. It’s through forested areas and meadows, and it’s three and a half miles up. I would say it’s a moderate hike. It’s not super difficult. I would like to try it again but it has to be when the grizzes have moved out of the area!
Hiking Emma Matilda?
I’ve only done Emma Matilda from Jackson Lake Lodge to Overlook Rock which gives you a nice view of Emma Matilda Lake. There’s a trail you can catch just over the bridge with a small off the road parking area. You go through some meadows, and it’s an easy five mile round trip hike without too much elevation gain. I go to, it’s called the Overlook Rock, and you overlook the Emma Matilda Lake. On the way back, you can hike past Oxbow Bend, which is a beautiful bend in the Snake River where you see Mount Moran. I’ve done this hike alone, but again, it’s after the grizzes have moved out of the area deep into the forests. Definitely would not do this hike in the Spring!
I have not yet done the whole Emma Matilda or Two Oceans Lakes loops because, unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get anyone to go with me because it is grizzly territory. I wouldn’t do those hikes with less than four people and making sure everyone has bear spray and make a lot of noise along the way!
Hi this is Carol. Thanks for reading Carol’s corner and remember love is Bon Jovi, Bears and hiking in Jackson Hole.
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