The return trip continues this wonderful hike. Views mainly face east (rather than west toward the mountain peaks that dominate the park) and are beautiful, if not as spectacular. The trail remains essentially flat. A short climb brings some more spectacular views (left photo shows view looking back toward the point). Then the trail winds through stands of large pine trees before reaching a large open sagebrush field where I stopped and ate lunch. While eating I enjoyed the scenery and elk trumpeting.

The trail follows a meandering stream lined with grasses where I saw many ducks and canadian geese. Eventually I reached a trail junction that I crossed on the way out and this time turned to go to Swan Lake (photo on right - see close up of the rare trumpeter swans and their nest below). The Best Easy Day Hikes book states that this couple had not produced young but has chased away any other swans that wanted to nest here (since the 1980's).

As the trail followed the lakeshore I spotted this squirrel eating an acorn (all throughout the Inspiration Point trail squirrels were plentiful but running too fast for me to catch on film, in this case I was also lucky to have my telephoto lens on). The trail then continued through more pine stands back to the trailhead. I finished the 10 mile hike about 4PM. Later that evening I had dinner at the Jackson Lake Lodge, which I would recommend for dinner and lodging (I stayed 3 nights).