WanderingAway.com : Grand Teton National Park

Wyoming · September 2017

Thick smoke from wildfires in Montana blanketed much of the Grand Tetons this summer. During the early dawn hours, magic colors filled the sky, but as the hours passed, the haze became more apparent and made shooting more difficult.

Arriving in Jackson Hole during the afternoon, I spent the first day gathering supplies and scoping out places to take pictures. Getting bear spray was neccesary, as I planned a solo hike to Delta Lake the next morning.

I had booked a place to stay in Teton Village during my two days in the area, which in hindsight would have been a better idea for winter skiing. The places I planned to visit were all located north and east of the village, and the connecting roads are long and slow. A place closer to Moose or Jenny Lake would have cut down some driving, but there were fewer options in those parts.

Gros Ventre River: 43.597575, -110.697482

Mormon Row: 43.666149, -110.664458

Snake River Overlook: 43.753445, -110.624850

Jenny Lake Overlook: 43.768370, -110.717446

Jenny Lake: 43.753581, -110.723611

Hiking Delta Lake

7.7 miles out and back, 2,300 feet gain, 9,046 feet highest elevation

The evening before my hike, some locals had verified to me that Delta Lake was one of the most beautiful places to go. Most visitors to the Tetons don't know about this hike, because it is not published in any of the National Park literature. I had heard about rangers discouraging hikers from going to Delta Lake, due to the difficulty of navigating to it and lack of an official trail. I started to worry that going here solo was not a good idea, especially with frequent bear sightings in the area. Anyway, I brought a fresh can of spray and planned on practicing all the bear safety tricks, including shouting "Hey Bear" whenever there were limited sight lines.

The hike to Delta Lake starts at the Lupine Meadows trailhead. The parking area is large, but it tends to fill up quickly since a few other popular hikes also start here. There is a restroom here in case you need it.

For the first 3 miles, you will be following the trail toward Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes. On the 5th switchback, you will see an offshoot to the Garnet Canyon trail. Stay on the trail toward Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes. The faint opening toward Delta Lake is located at the 6th switchback, and it is easy to miss.

Sunrise at Lupine Meadows: 43.734665, -110.741525

Views of Bradley and Taggart Lakes along the way

Looking down from the boulder field just before reaching Delta Lake

From here, the path to Delta Lake is not maintained. The initial offshoot is narrow, dropping steeply to a muddy area, and there are a few fallen trees you may need to climb over. After emerging from the canopy, the trail gains quickly in elevation, and some light scrambling is required to cross the boulder field. Just before reaching the lake, the boot path takes you up some loose sections, where hiking poles come in handy on the way back down.

The water at Delta Lake was very clear and calm the day I hiked here, which made for some nice reflections. This late in the summer, it glows blue and green when the sun hits it.