July 4, 2025 | Day 15
Friday, July 4, 2025 | Day 15
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
We woke up this morning to rain! This definitely was not what we had anticipated for the 4th of July. After being really hot for the past two weeks, it was very strange having a chill in the air. We had planned on spending the day hiking and relaxing along the lake at Colter Bay Village, but the cold weather changed our plans.
Since it was chilly, we decided it was the perfect time to check out some hot springs. We drove out to the trailhead for Polecat Hot Springs and hiked about a mile to Huckleberry Hot Springs, crossing a (rather large) stream along the way. A word of warning: the National Park Service has prohibited soaking here due to water quality, potential damage to fragile ecosystems, and wildlife presence including bears. Apparently there is a potential risk of Naegleria fowleri (a rare but dangerous brain-eating amoeba that can exist in warm freshwater) if the water gets in your nose. Symptoms arise 1-12 days after infection, but I’m writing this around weeks after our visit, so we should be in the clear! I learned all this long after we went, when I was trying to remember the name of the hot springs, and was on Google trying to find out.
Anyway, there were no signs indicating that soaking was not allowed at the trailhead or along the trail. Not to make excuses, but the staff members at a Lodge near our campground not only provided us with driving directions, but were actually the ones who suggested we go. They did tell us we couldn’t put our heads under the water, but we assumed that was due to the heat, not a potential brain-eating amoeba they failed to mention. Thankfully we are fine! No bears and no amoebas.
At the trailhead we met a group of young adults who are working this summer at Yellowstone National Park. They had today off, and were on their way back to Yellowstone from Jackson. The group was really sweet and engaging, and we enjoyed chatting while hiking and soaking at the hot springs. When we found out that they were going to go hang out at a lake later in the afternoon, Jonny asked if they would be okay with us tagging along and taking pictures. They thought it sounded fun, so we ended up making an unexpected trek into Yellowstone National Park.
The group of friends we met stopped at their cabins to change while we parked at the Grant Village Campground shower and laundry facilities to eat lunch and prep gear. Thankfully the weather cleared up and it ended up being a sunny and warm afternoon. We got ice cream at the Grant Village General Store (peppermint for Xiomara and caramel green apple for Kaleo). We then went down to the Grant Marina along Yellowstone Lake where the group paddle boarded, kayaked, and lounged on the beach. They were all super sweet with our kids, and even took them out on the paddle board. Apparently this area isn’t very popular with tourists, and provides a peaceful escape from the crowds. Our new friends say they come and hang out at this marina nearly every day after work.
After parting ways with the young adults, we headed back to our campground. Unfortunately we came across a car accident that closed the road to traffic. Rather than sitting and waiting for the road to be cleared, we turned around and ate dinner at a pull-off along the shore of Lewis Lake.
