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(Jackson Lake in foreground, with Teton Range in background, view looking southwest from north end of the lake.), Grand - NARA - 519909.jpg

Ansel Adams · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Lakes → Wyoming → Jackson Lake

Jackson Lake

Wyoming · Natural impounded 1911 · near Moran

25,540 acres 438 ft deep 30 ft clarity Water B

Compare

5.5SCORE

Survey summary · Wyoming

25,540

Surface acres

438 ft

Max depth

89 mi

Shoreline

30 ft

Typical clarity

6,772 ft

Elevation

Amazing view of Cascade Canyon with Jackson Lake in the foreground.jpg

Another view of Grand Teton with Jackson Lake in the foreground.jpg

Photographs of Jackson Lake via Wikimedia Commons. Credit and licence on each image — hover to view, click through to the source.

Jackson Lake covers 25,540 acres in Wyoming and drops to 438 feet at its deepest point. It is a natural lake, which generally means a more stable shoreline and fewer drawdown surprises than an impoundment. Water level is the thing to understand here: the pool can move roughly 30 feet, typically drawn down in autumn. That changes dock function, boat access, and what the shoreline looks like in listing photos versus in person. Water clarity averages around 30 feet, placing it among the clearer bodies of water in the country. Short-term rental posture: Not permitted in park. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.

What stands out

Exceptional clarity, roughly 30 ft
Deep water — 438 ft max
Boating
Fishing

Watch outs

Seasonal drawdown near 30 ft — verify dock reach at low pool

Score breakdown

Water 7.9

Recreation 7.2

Value 3.5

Access 6.5

Investment 1.7

Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own attributes. How we score.

Water quality grade

Water A

ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.

Water B

GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.

Water C

FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.

Water D

PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.

Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude — not an opinion. See the formula.

Overall score, 1–10

8.0+

ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.

7.0–7.9

StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.

6.0–6.9

SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.

5.0–5.9

MixedReal strengths and real compromises.

Under 5

CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.

Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.

Fishery

Lake troutCutthroat troutBrown trout

On the water

BoatingFishingTeton viewsPaddling

No USGS gauge on this lake. We only publish a station when its own name matches this water body. Nearby gauges on other lakes would look like data and mislead you, so we show nothing instead. Why we do that.

19.60 deg C

Temperature

2026-08-04

7.20 ft

Gage height

2026-08-04

Gauge history

Daily values from USGS. Loading up to one year.

What the drawdown looks like

Full pool vs autumn low · Jackson Lake

The dock sits at full-pool elevation. At low pool the waterline retreats and the reach to navigable water changes. Scale is illustrative; the 30 ft figure is from published operations for this lake.

Where it is

True shoreline from USGS NHD 109 km²

The outline is this lake's actual boundary from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset, not an approximation — 644 boundary points. Basemap is USGS topographic with contours and hydrography. Switch layers at the top right.

Depth profile

Idealized cross-section. Max depth 438 ft, average 140 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry — verify at the property.

Level behaviour

Level stabilityManaged Typical drawdown30 ft Drawdown seasonAutumn Trophic stateOligotrophic Typical clarity30 ft Water quality gradeB Elevation6,772 ft Managing authorityBureau of Reclamation

This lake moves. A drawdown near 30 feet changes dock reach, boat access, and the look of the shoreline. Tour in the low season, or at minimum look at the gauge history above before you offer.

Dock & shoreline

Permitting authorityNPS Grand Teton Wake / speed rulesOpen water

A dock is never guaranteed. Confirm in writing with NPS Grand Teton that the specific parcel is eligible before you remove contingencies.

Short-term rental posture

Not permitted in park

Generally permitted, but rules change. Confirm the specific municipality and any HOA covenant.

Model rental income →

Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.

$920,000

Median waterfront

$6,516

Per shoreline foot

-2.2%

Year over year

144

Est. inventory

Avg days on market

$279

Est. nightly rate

Rental snapshot

Modeled occupancy71% Booked nights / yr187 Gross revenue$62,845 Net operating income$26,778 Yield on median price2.91%

Open the full model →

What a median-priced home on Jackson Lake actually costs to carry, with waterfront-specific line items most calculators omit.

$7,398

All-in per month

$209,330

Cash to close + setup

$17,088

Beyond P&I, tax, insurance

Where the annual cost goes

Principal & interest $58,168 (67%) Maintenance reserve (1.1%) $10,120 (12%) Property taxes $9,660 (11%) Hazard insurance $3,864 (4%) Utilities $2,700 (3%) Shoreline / seawall reserve $960 (1%) Dock maintenance $900 (1%) Flood insurance $878 (1%)

Annual carry

Principal & interest	$58,168
Property taxes	$9,660
Hazard insurance	$3,864
Flood insurance	$878
Utilities	$2,700
Maintenance reserve (1.1%)	$10,120
Septic service	$520
Well & water testing	$260
Dock maintenance	$900
Winterization / seasonal close	$750
Shoreline / seawall reserve	$960
Total	$88,779