Grand Teton's Hiking Swan Lake Loop Long Version

Planning the Hike into the Swan Lake Loop trail included two cans of Bear Spray. Once on the trail each passerby told of Bear contact only minutes away. All in all, we counted five separate stories of Bears crossing the trail heading to higher ground. A Volunteer Ranger told of a Bear swimming across the small part of the lake and taking to higher ground. Knowing Long Version of the Grand Teton trail was our goal we took up with fellow hikers and lagged behind only a safe distance. We did not see any Bears until almost the end of the hike. On a beach across the marine harbor, we finally saw a Bear at some distance taking a drink and then jumping in for a swim and frolicky. Soon many folks steered their watercraft toward the Bear for a better look. The Herron Lake trail was closed due to heavy Bear activity, but the Swan Lake trail was open and beautiful. We still have the two cans of Bear Spray for another hike on another day.