One of my bucket list items is to paddle the Tetons and it is my full intention to check that off next week. Driving to Lincoln,NE Saturday for a family birthday party then to Cheyenne on Sunday, Pinedale on Monday and enter the Tetons at sunrise on Tuesday. Plans are to paddle Jenny, String and Leigh lakes staying on Leigh at primitive sites two nights. The last night will be along the shores of Yellowstone Lake with plans to paddle there Saturday morning before heading home. Three nights of vehicle camping, three primitive and the last night in a motel before the shove home.
BWCA.com contributed through much wisdom about gear and paddling and links to websites where I can monitor solar activity and get the best weather forecasts and someone who shares the joy of planning and taking the solo. I am a bit OCD and have covered grizzly bears, cold water and sudden weather changes but any final tips are always welcome.
I am appreciative that old age has given me the means and ability to keep on keeping on.

I'm also happy you have the means to keep on keepin' on!

That's great news. Have a fun trip!

did you mean jackson lake? super nice country and the mountains are first rate.

Write up a trip report when you get back. Good luck!

Enjoy, nice bucket list item to check off, sitting in the middle of a clear, calm mountain lake, what a 360° view. The only part of it I don't envy is driving through Nebraska, but it sounds like you managed to break that up. #:)

quote TomP: "Write up a trip report when you get back. Good luck!"

Plus, we need pic's. Have a great time.

Oh yah, ....I'm jealous!

Enjoy yourself immensely!

Envious. Will be looking for the TR and pics. Have a great time.

Yes, pics!!

Shutting down the system and saying farewells. Thanks for all the encouragement, photos to follow.

Got back last night at midnight, going solo means driving alone and it is a long way out and back. Very windy on travel out with on and off rain. Cleared the last three days and warmed up. Paddled the shoreline of Jenny, String, Leigh and the area south of Coulter Bay on Jackson and then to the geyser basin on Yellowstone. Wildlife abundant and mostly do not spook when approached. Cleanest water I have ever seen and the scenery is just awesome. Paddling over active geysers is kinda cool, too.
A great trip and one I would recommend for those who want to car camp and paddle without portages. Leigh and some of the other lakes offer primitive camping similar to BWCA and I paddled by most of them, all were empty and most looked pretty nice. Bears were active and solo primitive site camping was discouraged. Wild flowers were at peak and crowds surprisingly light.

Wow, you can't get a view like that in the BW! I hope you can do up a full report.

Beautiful. Looks like an amazing area.

Great stuff. Can't wait for more.

Those two teaser pictures! Let us see a few more please.

Did you use the hammock or tent?

Beautiful pics bhouse46!

I've backpacked the Tetons and rafted the Snake River, but I hadn't considered paddling those lakes at the base of the Tetons until now. I'd be interested in more information about those lakes that offered the primitive camping sites.

I look forward to your trip report and additional photos.

Hans Solo

Way to go Ben! Like others, I'll be looking forward to more trip details.

I've day-tripped there and would love be able to have stayed on Leigh. I'm jealous! Love to see more pics.

Leigh has some nice sites, a couple close to where the moose photo was taken and at the outlet of a series of mountain streams into the lake, rather noisy but awesome place. They were currently closed due to bear activity and the cutthroat trout spawning in the area. Jackson also has paddle in sites, but the only one I checked out seemed too close to the marina for my pleasure. The first photo is on Leigh and the other is the view from that site.
Camping in the park has fees, back country camping requires permit, but is free and this includes the paddle in sites.
My Google research was pretty on target to my experience there.

quote HansSolo: "
Beautiful pics bhouse46!

I've backpacked the Tetons and rafted the Snake River, but I hadn't considered paddling those lakes at the base of the Tetons until now. I'd be interested in more information about those lakes that offered the primitive camping sites.

I look forward to your trip report and additional photos.

Hans Solo"

Have a friend who does the Leigh lake area in the fall by canoe and has awesome trout fishing. I always wanted to do the south arm of Yellowstone lake and the inlet of Yellowstone river,that is a non motorized area.

Backpacked the back country of Yellowstone and the Beartooth range. These should be on the list of all back country individuals. Don't know if I will ever make it again out their again,but the numerous trips were and still areas one of my highlights of my life. My best July 4th weekends were spent out there. Couldn't go in certain areas of Yellowstone each year because of grizzly activity in those areas. The park open those areas July 1 when griz activity lessen,but they were still around. Always hung my food pack and fish smelling clothes of that day like a 100 yards away or so at night.