
The Jade Lakes Loop is a moderate 6 mile lollipop loop hike in the southern Absaroka Mountains that brings hikers to a pair of glistening alpine lakes. Beginning at the stunning Brooks Lake, the hike is a visual feast from start to finish.
Jade Lakes Loop Trail Description
From the trailhead, head through the fence and into the expansive meadow alongside Brooks Lake on your right. Few trails start as beautifully as this one, and the hike through the wide meadow is an incredibly pleasant experience. The horizon is surrounded by steep mountain cliffs as you cross an occasional stream draining into Brooks Lake. You’ll pass by some willows along your way where you’ll then reach a fork in the trail, beginning the loop.
There’s no right or wrong way, so feel free to head clockwise or counterclockwise. It should be noted though that if you head clockwise, you’ll eliminate the bulk of the elevation gain all at once, while counterclockwise is a more gradual ascent. For this writeup, I went counterclockwise, so this post will reflect that.
You’ll climb slightly above Brooks Lake where you’re treated to a stunning view of the Pinnacles rising above the lake. As you wind around the base of a large hill, you’ll head into a thin forest. It’s through here you’ll begin to notice that there are a number of trails, all seeming to parallel each other, which would be an accurate assessment. They all tend to head into the same area, so don’t fret if you find yourself on a slightly different trail.

As you emerge from the forest, you’ll crest a small ridge with a dramatic view northward as another wide meadow extends far to the north. The trail will head to the east side, continuing to wander through the open expanse. The easy hiking ultimately meanders to a fork, signed for Upper Brooks Lake at 1.8 miles in. Head left to go to the Jade Lakes.
From the junction, you’ll begin to cross the meadow, also crossing a creek along the way. You’ll quickly wind along the west side of the meadow just below the forest line. A quick ascent brings you to another junction at 2.3 miles in. Head left to continue to the Jade Lakes. A fun fact about this next stretch is that it’s also a quick segment of the Continental Divide Trail.
Switchbacks await as you begin to make a quick climb into the dense forest, the trail getting steeper along the way. The thick old forest becomes a consistent sight along your climb, and as you reach the top of this stretch, you’ll make a quick descent, dropping down to Lower Jade Lake. The blue-green spectacle appears small at first, until you follow around its shores, showing off more depth that was previously hidden from the forest.

The peace and serenity remain consistent as you wind from the northern shore to the west. Along the way, a small spur leads out to an inviting peninsula. Shortly after, the trail will head away from the lake as it nears the south end.
From here, you’ll quickly climb above a creek feeding Lower Jade Lake, originating from Upper Jade Lake. Shortly after, Upper Jade Lake comes into view, sprawling into the distance below a wall of large mountain cliffs. A junction waits as you reach the lake at 3.75 miles in. Head left to continue along the loop.

Crossing the runoff from the lake, you’ll wind along the southern shore, the blue-green waters glowing among the more muted forest colors. After beginning to trend southward, you’ll begin climbing up above the lake, soon veering away from the lake entirely, but granting you one last captivating view before descending the opposite side of the hill you just climbed.
Descending gradually through meadows and forests, you’ll drop toward a pond just ahead. After crossing the runoff from the pond, you’ll begin to wander through a thicker forest, the mountains and large meadows visible through the trees on your right.
Continue descending through the woods where the landscape will open up at another meadow. It’s here you’ll reach an unsigned 4-way junction at 4.6 miles in. The original trail used to go straight, however erosion has made it unsafe as it traverses a steep hillside. In this, head left to take the new route through the forest.

Climbing up and over a small hill, you’ll reconnect with the old trail just a short distance later. Another quick stretch later, and you’ll reach another unsigned junction at 5.1 miles in. This one is easy to miss, as the fork is upon a small ledge on the right side of the trail. If you catch it, you’ll know you’re on the right trail by the blue-stained dirt. If you miss it, don’t worry – another route can get you down just a bit farther ahead.
The steep fork traverses down the hillside, first through the forest, then emerging from the forest to jaw-dropping views of Brooks Lake and the Pinnacles rising high above. The steep descent soon settles a bit more evenly as you drop down to rejoin the original trail where you can easily head back to the trailhead.
Getting There
From Jackson, take Highway 89 north for 30.1 miles. Pass by the Moran Entrance to Grand Teton National Park and continue east on Highway 26 for 32.7 miles, heading toward Dubois. Look for the signs pointing out the Brooks Lake Recreation Area, and turn left onto Brooks Lake Road. Follow that for 4.9 miles, turning right just before reaching Brooks Lake Lodge, where you’ll head down toward the boat access area.