No Nonsense Guide for Hiking to Delta Lake - Grand Teton NP
The Secret's Out
Looking for the best hike in Grand Teton National Park? Look no further! This once well-kept secret has now become a popular destination when visiting the park.
Delta Lake is a pristine alpine lake located in Grand Teton National Park, offering stunning views of the surrounding peaks and a tranquil atmosphere for hikers and nature enthusiasts. The trail to Delta Lake is known for its challenging terrain and steep elevation gain, making it a popular but demanding hike for experienced adventurers.
Before you get too excited, be aware that this isn't an official park trail, and Park Rangers don't provide information or conditions. Only experienced hikers should attempt the hike, as the last mile is unmarked, steep, and involves some rock scrambling.
What to Wear + Bring
Boots
As for any serious hike, it's essential to wear your favorite pair of hiking boots and a high ankle boot is recommended due to the challenging terrain. Despite wearing high boots, I still managed to roll my ankles a few times while rock scrambling. This could be attributed to the nature of the terrain or perhaps the fact that I'm a real-life Gumby.
Outfit
No matter the season, always dress in layers for this hiking challenge. The weather at the lake is unpredictable, windy, and slightly colder than the starting point as you gain elevation. I found my hiking shorts, tank top, and light sweatshirt to be enough for my mid-summer hike. The sweatshirt was great for the early morning start, and again at the lake. By the time I began to descend, the summer heat and sun made for a warm hike down. (Could you imagine hiking UP in that?)
Hydration
As always, water, water, water. A good rule of thumb is to take one liter of water for every two hours of hiking (this may need to be adjusted depending on how hot it is). For Delta Lake, having 2.5 or 3 liters of water should be more than enough for most people. I brought around 2 liters of water with me, but I would recommend more than that. Due to the weight of my camera gear and limited space in my bag, I felt like I had to sacrifice an extra 16 oz. that, in the end, I could've used. I reccommend using a water bladder in your backpack for easy, convienent drinking while hiking. Stay hydrated, friends!
Backpack Essentials
I always carry a few emergency-related items in my bag to ensure that I am prepared for any situation. One of the essential items is a reliable headlamp, which comes in handy during outdoor adventures and those early trailhead start times. Another must-have tool is a multitool, which offers versatility and practicality with its various functions such as knives, pliers, screwdrivers, and more. Additionally, a compact, waterproof and well-equipped first aid kit is crucial for addressing minor injuries, from cuts and scrapes to treating blisters while hiking. Lastly, Don't forget your sunscreen! Much of the trail is not shaded and the sun can be brutal on this hike. These items give me a sense of security and preparedness, allowing me to tackle unforeseen circumstances with confidence.
Nutrition
Snacks are essential for any hike. Make sure you bring a nice variety of protein, salty snacks, and I even brought along some fresh fruit (banana and tangerines). I must admit, I totally packed leftover pizza from the night before too... thanks Moose Creek Ranch! It made for a nice snack break at the top with an epic view:
Self proclaimed "Snack Rock" ft. cutie BF
Protection from Bears
Last and certainly not least: It is important to carry bear spray and a bear bell when hiking, even if you haven't encountered bears before at the park. If you don't wan't to purchase a can of bear spray, several local stores in Jackson Hole have bear spray rentals. If you do come across a bear, keep your distance, avoid scaring them, and wait for them to clear the area, as it's their home and we are the guests.
When to Go
Due to the high elevation and heavy snowfall, the trail is typically accessible only between June and October, and even then, hikers should be prepared for snowy patches and muddy sections along the way. The final stretch to reach the lake, especially the last half mile, is not maintained by the park, adding an extra element of adventure and caution to the journey. Despite these challenges, visiting Delta Lake in late July or early August can be an immensely rewarding experience, as the weather is generally favorable and the trail conditions are at their best, allowing hikers to fully appreciate the beauty of this hidden gem in the Tetons.
I recommend for any National Park, arrive EARLY. If you enter the park before 6 am, you not only avoid paying the gate fee, but you can avoid the crowds. Personally, I arrived at the trailhead just after 4 am, and there were already several cars in the parking lot.
Getting to Delta Lake
To get to Delta Lake, you’ll need to enter Grand Teton National Park. Admission is $35.00 for a one week pass per car or "free" with the America the Beautiful Pass. As I mentioned, if you arrive before 6 am, you can avoid that gate fee. Then, head to the Lupine Meadows trailhead parking lot. Note that the road to the parking lot is gravel, but well-maintained and passable with any normal passenger car. Delta Lake Trail is accessed via Lupine Meadows Access.
Protip: You can find the hike on the AllTrails app (Delta Lake via Lupine Meadows Access) and I highly reccomend downloading the offline map to help with navigation. While in the AllTrails App, you can click the "Get Directions" button and it will open maps and guide you straight to the parking lot. You can also click "Navigate" when you start your hike and you will see a live map of your hike on trail. See below:
The trail starts at the parking lot for Lupine Meadows trailhead. Note that this trailhead also leads to Amphitheater Lake, Bradley Lake, Taggart Lake and Surprise Lake. Before hitting the trail, there is a pit toilet if needed and plenty of trash bins.
The first mile of the hike is in a peaceful wooded area with a slow and steady incline. I hiked this portion in the early morning and the moon light lit the way for the first 30-45 minutes. It was very surreal and peaceful. You will then start making your way up steep switchbacks, which provide absolutely breathtaking views of Bradley Lake and colorful wildflowers (if you happen to go in the summertime). If you count the switchbacks, there’s a total of six until you reach the offshoot for Delta Lake.
After the 6th switchback, you will be just over the 3 mile mark. That's when you can start looking for the Delta Lake "trailhead". As you approach a sharp left turn with a sign for Surprise and Amphitheather lake, look straight/right and you will see some makeshift dirt stairs heading downward.
At the end of the dirt stairs you will see the sign above.
Congrats! You've Found the Delta Lake "Trailhead"
Woo! You found the trail to one of the most beautiful lakes in the park! Now comes the fun part- the next mile, you’ll make your way up an additional 600 feet elevation gain to Delta Lake- this may not sound like a lot but the trail is STEEP.
Once you make your way down the makeshift stairs and pass the cautionary sign, you’ll follow the trail until it disappears in a boulder field. Many people say to start scrambling here, which we did.. and we ended up way off the ideal path. If you keep left when you see the boudler field, there is a dirt path you can kindof follow all the way up. There is still rock scrambling on the trail to the left but it is not as tricky as going straight out into the boulder field. You can scamble in the middle of the field all the way to the top, but on the way back down we realized there was a pretty obvious path people were taking if we would have stayed left.
Protip: Here is where your AllTrails live navigation map comes in handy
In the image above, you see the boulder field to the left? We scrambled all through that... until we saw this "dirt" path we could have been on. On the way up and back down I recommend staying on this dirt path.
Sidenote: the views over the Teton Valley were very smoky due to local wildfires.
While you're climbing, you can see the peak that towers over the lake, just keep heading towards that peak. The steepest portion is just before the lake, so steep, you may find yourself on your hands and knees trying to navigate the loose gravel. Right about the time you think to yourself "why did I do this?" you will climb one last rock and BAM!
Delta Lake
When you arrive at the lake, let your hair down, there's an ideal spot for photos. Continuing to the right side of the lake, there are large rocks perfect for a snack break, relaxation, and enjoying the epic view:
Many folks on the "gram" post about swimming here. But even in the middle of the summer heat, the wind was cool and the water was FREEZING. I personally enjoyed just taking in the reflections on the water and the views of the mountains. It was a serene escape from the bustling park below, a moment to savor the tranquility of nature's untouched beauty.
We had the lake to ourselves for a solid 30 minutes before the morning rush/crowd started pouring in.
Be extra cautious on the way down from Delta Lake. Our legs were already tired from the hike, so the added challenge of navigating the steep terrain required extra care and attention. It's important to take your time and watch your step, as the initial part of the descent can be particularly tricky to navigate.
Here's my AllTrails hiking summary:
Screenshot
What's Next?
If you're up for more of a challenge, you can proceed to Surprise and Amphitheater lakes once you get back to the main trail. This will make your hike a total of 11.5 miles. I chose to head back down the mountain after our early morning hike and did not proceed to these two lakes, but I hear they are both beautiful and worth the extra miles!
Screenshot
You can find the map for this additional trek on Alltrials here.
Where to Stay?
I highly reccommend staying at Moose Creek Ranch. I will save the details for my next blog post (hint, hint). We truly enjoyed our stay at the ranch and I'll share the details with you soon!
THANK YOU!
Thank you for taking the time to read my first-ever blog post. I'm highly passionate about helping others find the confidence they need to adventure. I hope to inspire and encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and embrace the unknown.
Join me on my journey as I explore the transformative power of stepping into the great outdoors and discovering my true capabilities. If you found this helpful, please comment, share, or follow my adventures on Instagram @the.cait.outdoors.
Recreate Resonsibly
Know before you go. Check the status of the place you want to visit for closures, fire restrictions, and weather.
Plan and prepare. Reservations and permits may be required. Make sure you have the gear you need and a back-up plan.
Build an inclusive outdoors. Be an active part of making the outdoors safe and welcoming for all identities and abilities.
Respect others. There is space for everyone and countless outdoor activities. Be kind to all who use the outdoors and nature differently.
Leave no trace. Respect the land, water, wildlife, and Native communities. Follow the seven Leave No Trace principles.
Make it better. We all have a responsibility to sustain the places we love.