Body Recovered from Bottom of Jackson Lake Believed to be Missing Kayaker
GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK — More than a year after his disappearance, a specialized team recovered the body of Minnesota kayaker Wesley Dopkins from the bottom of Jackson Lake, Grand Teton National Park officials announced Tuesday.
Dopkins, 43, of St. Paul, went missing on June 15, 2024, while paddling from Elk Island toward Waterfalls Canyon on the lake’s western shore. Conditions that day turned dangerous, and Dopkins never returned.
Soon after he went missing, rangers located his foldable Oru kayak, paddle, and dry bag drifting on the lake’s eastern side. Despite an intensive search involving helicopters, boats, ground teams, and search dogs, rescuers never found Dopkins.
On Sunday, Bruce's Legacy, a nonprofit recovery team equipped with specialized sonar located remains at a depth of 420 feet. They recovered the body on Monday. While the Teton County Coroner's Office will make a positive identification, park officials said the location and condition of the remains strongly suggest they are those of Dopkins.
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No Life Preserver
At the time of his disappearance, Dopkins was not wearing a life jacket. What exactly happened remains uncertain, but park officials noted that hypothermia is a common hazard in Wyoming’s alpine lakes, where summer water temperatures rarely rise above the mid-40s.
Jackson Lake, a sprawling reservoir on the Snake River at the base of the Tetons, is both a scenic highlight of Grand Teton National Park and a notoriously difficult body of water. Sudden storms, frigid temperatures, and extreme depths have contributed to multiple incidents over the years.
The park’s statement included a reminder to all visitors: wearing a properly fitted life jacket is the single most effective step paddlers can take to stay safe on the water. Even strong and experienced swimmers are at risk without one.
