Cascade Canyon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cascade Canyon |
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Cascade Canyon with the Cathedral Group at left from Jackson Hole
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| Geography | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Teton |
| Lake | Lake Solitude |
Cascade Canyon is a beautiful place found in Grand Teton National Park. This park is located in the state of Wyoming, in the United States. The canyon is famous for its stunning views and interesting history.
Contents
How Glaciers Shaped Cascade Canyon
Cascade Canyon was carved out by giant rivers of ice called glaciers. This happened a very long time ago, about 15,000 years back. These glaciers slowly moved, shaping the land as they went.
You can still see many signs that glaciers were here. The canyon has a special U-shape, which is typical for places carved by ice. You can also spot large, smooth rocks called glacial erratics. These rocks were carried by the glaciers and then left behind. There are also "hanging cirques," which are like bowl-shaped hollows high up on the canyon walls.
The glaciers were incredibly deep, at least 2,000 feet (610 m) (about 610 meters) thick! As they moved, they pushed a lot of rock and dirt. This material formed big piles called moraines. These moraines now hold back the water of Jenny Lake, which sits at the bottom of the canyon.
Today, Cascade Creek flows through the canyon where the glaciers once were. Many waterfalls tumble down the canyon walls. One popular waterfall is Hidden Falls, which is about 100-foot (30 m) (30 meters) tall.
Exploring Cascade Canyon's Trails
Cascade Canyon is a favorite spot for hikers. It is located right next to Jenny Lake. The Cascade Canyon Trail runs through the entire canyon. It is one of the most popular trails in Grand Teton National Park.
You can reach the canyon in a couple of ways. One way is to walk 1.8 miles (2.9 km) (about 2.9 kilometers) along the Jenny Lake Trail from the Jenny Lake campground. Another fun way is to take a scenic boat ride across Jenny Lake. The boat drops you off on the west side of the lake, right at the start of the canyon.
Once you are at the foot of the canyon, it's about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) (7.2 kilometers) to a point where the trail splits. From there, you have choices:
- You can head north on the Lake Solitude Trail to reach Lake Solitude. This is another 2.8 miles (4.5 km) (4.5 kilometers) hike. From Lake Solitude, you get amazing views of the Cathedral Group and Grand Teton, which is a very tall mountain at 13,770 feet (4,200 m) (4,197 meters) high.
- You can go south on the South Fork Cascade Canyon Trail to Hurricane Pass. This path is 5.1 miles (8.2 km) (8.2 kilometers) long. Near Hurricane Pass, there is a small glacier called Schoolroom Glacier. You can reach it by taking a short side trail.
The canyon is surrounded by very tall mountains. Grand Teton is to the south. To the north are several peaks that are over 11,000 feet (3,400 m) (3,353 meters) high. Because of these steep cliffs, you can't see the highest points until you hike deep into the canyon.
The Historic Cascade Canyon Barn
About 5 miles (8.0 km) (8 kilometers) west of Jenny Lake, you can find the Cascade Canyon Barn. This barn was built in 1935. It was constructed by people who were part of the Civilian Conservation Corps. This group helped build many important structures in national parks during the Great Depression. The barn is now a historic site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
Images for kids
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Hidden Falls
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Jenny Lake from Inspiration Point
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Looking down on Cascade Canyon
