Jackson Lake
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Jackson Lake is a lake located in north western Wyoming in Grand Teton National Park. The lake is natural, except for the top 10 meters, which is due to the construction of Jackson Lake Dam, built in 1911. This top level of the lake is utilized by farmers in Idaho for irrigation purposes. The lake is the remnant of large glacial gouging from the neighboring Grand Teton Mountains, and is still fed by runoff from small glaciers in near the peaks of those mountains. The main source of water is the Snake River, which flows in from the North. Jackson Lake is one of the largest high altitude lakes in the U.S. at an average elevation of 6,500 feet above sea level. The lake is up to 15 miles long, 5 miles wide and over 400 feet deep. The water of the lake averages below 60 degrees even during the hottest summer months and can freeze to more than 6 feet thick in the winter.
Numerous species of fish inhabit the lake including Brown Trout, Lake Trout and Cutthroat trout, as well as Pike and Salmon.
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 and 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.