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Wyoming | Greater Yellowstone / Jackson Hole

String and Leigh LakesString Lake canoe launch to Leigh Lake portage and return

A hand-launch lake itinerary linking shallow String Lake with Leigh Lake via the established carry from the String/Leigh trailhead.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 3.6 lake/carry miles out and back
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 2–4 hours plus the boat carry
ShuttleCar shuttle
Grand Teton National Park waterway context for the String and Leigh Lakes paddle.
River contextGrand Teton waterway context; not a photograph of the exact String–Leigh carry or current conditions river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Grand Teton National Park / NPS

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 3.6 lake/carry miles out and backString Lake canoe launch to Leigh Lake portage and return
DifficultyeasyPublished difficulty is a planning classification, not a safety guarantee. Scout current hazards and keep a conservative turnaround rule.
ShuttleCar shuttleNo shuttle; carry the boat between lakes. Arrive early because NPS reports limited, frequently congested parking and seasonal road closure.
PermitsCheck posted rulesGrand Teton boat permit and Wyoming AIS decal/inspection are required; human-powered craft only on String and Leigh. Follow current PFD, wildlife, parking, and closure rules.
CampingDay tripDay trip by default. Overnight backcountry camping on Leigh/adjacent lakes requires an NPS backcountry permit; no parking-lot camping.
SeasonMay-SepPlan for late spring through early fall only after checking the live gauge, weather, water temperature, wind, debris, and land-manager notices. Shoulder-season ice, snow, and cold water can make a nominally open launch unsafe.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A hand-launch lake itinerary linking shallow String Lake with Leigh Lake via the established carry from the String/Leigh trailhead.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

String Lake canoe launch
Open mapDirections to put-in

Use only the named public or land-manager access; a nearby shoreline is not proof of a legal launch.

Finish

Take-out

String Lake canoe launch
Open mapDirections to take-out

Confirm seasonal gates, parking, fees, permits, AIS inspection, carry path, and take-out status immediately before the trip.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
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Access planner

Choose your launch and take-out

This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.

On-water distance3.6 miMixed access
On-water timeAbout 2–4 hours plus the boat carryFull route option
ShuttleCar shuttleChoose a shorter in/out pair for a shorter day.

String Lake canoe launch to String Lake canoe launch is about 3.6 mi. Use the planner to compare shorter access pairs.

Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Use only the named public or land-manager access; a nearby shoreline is not proof of a legal launch.
  • Confirm seasonal gates, parking, fees, permits, AIS inspection, carry path, and take-out status immediately before the trip.
  • Private banks and easements may constrain landing, scouting, camping, or portage; remain within the authorized corridor.

Watch for

  • cold water, wind, lightning, and sudden weather
  • mandatory carry/portage and slippery shoreline
  • limited parking, seasonal road closure, and backcountry permit rules

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

Grand Teton National Park waterway context for the String and Leigh Lakes paddle.
Grand Teton waterway context; not a photograph of the exact String–Leigh carry or current conditions river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Grand Teton National Park / NPS
U.S. public domain

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Official route corridorString Lake canoe launch to Leigh Lake portage and return; About 3.6 lake/carry miles out and back

    Grand Teton NPS String and Leigh Lakes plan identifies the access pair and operational character.

    Source

  • Defensible proxy gaugeUSGS 13011000 — Snake River near Moran, WY (proxy for Teton lake conditions)

    Gauge is upstream or downstream in the same regulated river system; it cannot substitute for a local scout or dam-release notice.

    Source

  • Threshold postureMinimum-only planning model with no numeric cutoff

    No live scoring is justified from the available route-specific evidence; the model is intentionally planning-only.

    Source

  • Public access controlString Lake canoe launch to String Lake canoe launch

    Named agency/park access points are retained, including any intentional parking or campground offset from the shoreline.

    Source

  • Safety and land managementPFD, AIS, water temperature, current hazards, and current closures govern the decision

    Review current agency rules, dam/release notices, wind, debris, and private-bank restrictions before launching.

    Source

  • Camping classificationnearby_basecamp

    Day trip by default. Overnight backcountry camping on Leigh/adjacent lakes requires an NPS backcountry permit; no parking-lot camping.

    Source

  • Image decisionGrand Teton NPS waterway context photograph

    This photo shows the same watershed, not this exact reach.

    Source

  • Overlap decisionRetained as a distinct access-to-access card

    Adjacent cards have different launch/take-out pairs, operational boundaries, difficulty, or trip length; no duplicate corridor was found in the Wyoming baseline.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

Paddler reports

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Photos

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

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Quick answers

String and Leigh Lakes paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the String Lake canoe launch to Leigh Lake portage and return route on the String and Leigh Lakes?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the String Lake canoe launch to Leigh Lake portage and return route on the String and Leigh Lakes start and end?

This route starts at String Lake canoe launch and ends at String Lake canoe launch, about 3.6 lake/carry miles out and back on the water.

Is the String Lake canoe launch to Leigh Lake portage and return route on the String and Leigh Lakes suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a easy route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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