The Goodwin Lake Trail is a strenuous 3 mile (one way) hike to a picturesque and serene glacial lake at the base of Jackson Peak in the Gros Ventre Mountains.
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Goodwin Lake Trail Description
The Goodwin Lake Trail immediately begins ascending up through a sparse forest as you climb up to a large meadow. The large meadow provides gorgeous views of the Teton Mountains and Jackson Hole. As you wind around the meadow, you’ll enter a thickening forest where the ascent lightens up a bit.
You soon begin straddling a ridgeline where the hiking gets noticeably easier. Occasional meadows break up the forest, showing off views across the canyon directly to the east. This will become a familiar pattern over the course of a mile or so.
As you begin a gradual ascent once again, you’ll reach the boundary of the Gros Ventre Wilderness. Continuing to climb, you reach a gorgeous overlook of the canyon looking north as the trail begins to get rockier. You soon find yourself paralleling a creek, continuing to climb higher.
Back in the woods, you’ll ascend along the creek until you reach a fork in the trail just before reaching Goodwin Lake. The official trail easily crosses the creek and heads around the east side of Goodwin Lake, though an unofficial trail makes a full loop around the lake, if desired. In either case, welcoming and relaxing views of the lake below Jackson Peak and its northeastern ridge invite you to sit and enjoy the tranquil waters. Campsites are also available on the east side on a first-come, first-served basis if you’re interested in staying there overnight.
Getting There
From Jackson, head east on Broadway until it dead-ends into the National Elk Refuge. Stay left to begin traveling north on the dirt road through the refuge for 4.6 miles. Turn right onto Curtis Canyon Road at the signed junction, and follow that into the mountains for 4.2 miles. Look for a sign veering right marking Forest Road 30440. While you can proceed a bit farther, note that the road gets incredibly rough and brutal. Many locals have begun opting to park short of the trailhead and walk the remaining road distance due to the eroded nature of the road.