How to Hike to Delta Lake in Grand Teton National Park + Tips & FAQs

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Looking to take on the famous Delta Lake hike on your trip to Grand Teton National Park?

There are some truly magical hikes in Grand Teton National Park, but my absolute favorite hike might be the Delta Lake hike. I have to admit, I found this hiking trail via Instagram, and once I saw pictures of it, I knew I had to take it on myself.

After some research, I found out that the trail goes outside of the park boundaries, meaning that a section of it is not maintained by the park. For some reason, this made me a little nervous–would I be able to find the trail spur where you turn off to get to the lake? How hard is that boulder section that I read so much about.

Thankfully, it ended up being a lot easier that I thought. Once I had a map downloaded on my phone and I had my satellite device fully charged and ready to go, I felt a lot more comfortable. Hopefully this guide will help you feel a lot more prepared going into the hike too!

In summary: This guide covers every part of the Delta Lake hike in Grand Teton, including where to park, information on each section, and tips and FAQs to help you enjoy your own adventure.

Quick tip: Layers are useful for this hike. Since you are gaining some elevation, it’s good to have a rain jacket and a light fleece if the weather changes fast!

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How to hike to Delta Lake

When Daniel and I visited Grand Teton National Park in August of this last year, we knew we had to check out the famous Delta Lake trail. Everyone talks about those incredible turquoise waters, and I can tell you – they don’t disappoint! But getting there takes some work, and you’ll want to know exactly what you’re in for before you tackle this challenging but rewarding hike.

We started our hike around 6:00 am, and I’m so glad we did–the Lupine Meadows parking lot was already almost full when we arrived. If you’re planning to hike Delta Lake, definitely plan for an early start. This is one of the most popular hikes in the park, and for good reason!

You’ll begin at the Lupine Meadows trailhead, following the Valley Trail for the first part of your journey. The trail starts deceptively gentle through a beautiful forested area, but don’t let that fool you–you’ve got some serious elevation gain ahead! I thought I was getting off easy, but things got a lot harder farther in.

After about 0.4 miles, you’ll reach your first junction. Here’s where you’ll want to head straight toward Garnet Canyon (following signs for Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes). This is where the real work begins–you’re about to tackle six long switchbacks that will test your legs but reward you with increasingly spectacular views of Bradley and Taggart Lakes below.

After completing that sixth switchback (yes, you’ll want to count them!), you’ll reach the unofficial turnoff for Delta Lake. This is really important to note: the Delta Lake spur trail isn’t maintained by the National Park Service, which means you won’t find it on official park maps. This is why I highly recommend having some sort of app like AllTrails downloaded so you know where to turn off.

Look for a set of worn dirt steps heading downhill on your right and a sign letting you know that you are heading outside of the park boundary–this is your cue that you’re in the right spot.

From here, the trail gets significantly more challenging. You’ll encounter three boulder fields that require some scrambling. Daniel and I found that staying to the right (northwest) of the boulder fields made navigation easier, and we could usually spot the trail continuing on the other side. While the route isn’t official, it’s popular enough that you can typically follow the well-worn path and cairns.

The final push up Glacier Gulch is no joke–it’s probably one of the steepest sections I’ve hiked in any national park. The trail here is loose dirt and gravel, and you’ll want a solid pair of footwear to take it on. Take it slow, use trekking poles if you have them (I definitely wished I had brought mine!), and don’t be afraid to take plenty of breaks.

All that effort becomes worth it the moment you catch your first glimpse of Delta Lake. That milky turquoise water against the backdrop of the Tetons is absolutely breathtaking. Daniel and I spent nearly an hour at the lake, having our breakfast of beef jerky and Sour Patch Kids and watching the morning light hit the peaks. Even in August, the water was absolutely freezing – while some brave souls go for a dip, I was content just to enjoy from the shore!

For the descent, take extra care on Glacier Gulch–the loose gravel that was challenging on the way up can be downright treacherous on the way down. We actually found going down trickier than going up in many ways, so don’t rush this part.

You’ll also likely run into a bunch more people heading up since it’s later in the day. This can make navigating the boulder field a little bit more of a challenge. This can lead to a lot of stopping and starting, so watch your footing and wait for others to pass so you avoid a traffic jam.

To finish the hike, continue back the way you came until you reach the parking lot. We got back around 12:00 pm and the parking lot was jam packed.

Map of the Delta Lake hike

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Tips for hiking Delta Lake

Here are some tips I found helpful when taking on Delta Lake.

• Get there early: I would recommend 6:00 am at the latest. After that, it can be difficult to find parking and since this is a crowded trail, it can somewhat dangerous navigating the boulder fields with so many people.
• Bring sun protection: Once you hit the switchback section, you don’t have a ton of tree cover. On hot days, this can be pretty miserable–bring your hat and sunscreen.
• Bring your bear spray: Grand Teton is home to both black bears and grizzly bears. Make sure you have your bear spray in an accessible spot on you and that you know how to use it.
• Wear your hiking boots and bring poles if you use them: Navigating those boulder fields is tough, and poles can be really useful keeping yourself upright. You’ll also want to make sure that you have solid footwear for support on those big rocks!

Delta Lake hike FAQs

Here are some frequently-asked questions I get about the Delta Lake hike.

Conclusion

If you want a tough option for a hike in Grand Teton National Park, then the Delta Lake hike is my first recommendation! It did not disappoint–I couldn’t believe how stunningly gorgeous it was and it was worth all of the elevation it took to get there. Just remember to count your switchbacks while on the trail so you know where to turn off for the lake.

Have any questions about taking on Delta Lake? Let me know in the comments!