How to Hike to Delta Lake in Grand Teton National Park

We’ve hiked to the stunning Delta Lake several times, and it’s the one-day hike in Grand Teton National Park that we always recommend to friends and family. This hike has it all! From the opal-colored waters fed by nearby glaciers to the straight-on view of the iconic Teton peaks, the hike to Delta Lake is the quintessential Grand Teton experience.

This 7.2-mile trek in western Wyoming comes with 2,250 feet of elevation gain. More so, the final climb up to Delta Lake is extremely steep and requires some scrambling, so be sure you are ready for an adventure!

It’s no walk in the park, but sitting on the bank of Delta Lake with the Grand Tetons towering overhead is well worth the effort.

In the article below, we explain what makes the hike to Delta Lake so awesome and give you all the information you need to complete this epic Wyoming adventure.

Delta Lake, Wyoming

Delta Lake trailhead map

The map below displays the two possible trailheads for the Delta Lake hike: Lupine Meadows or Taggart Lake trailhead. Also marked on the map are Delta Lake, Surprise Lake and Amphitheater Lake.

• To view more details about each location, click on the marker on the map.
• To save this map for future use, click the star next to the title. From your phone, open the Google Maps app and click the “saved” tab, followed by the “Maps” icon. From your Gmail account, navigate to Maps –> “Saved” –> “My Maps” –> “Maps” tab.
• To email this map to yourself, click the three dots in the upper right corner.

Delta Lake, Wyoming | Trail Guide

Getting to the trailhead

The hike to Delta Lake begins from the Lupine Meadows trailhead, located at the end of Lupine Meadows Road, a gravel road off Teton Park Road just south of the Jenny Lake Visitor Center. The road is well-maintained but not paved. Any car should be fine but keep an eye out for potholes.

The trailhead parking lot is fairly large but does fill up. It is a popular area so it’s always better to be early. There is overflow parking closer to Teton Park Road.

Alternative trailhead | Bradley & Taggart Lakes

To extend the hike and see two more beautiful alpine lakes in the foothills of the Teton range, you can alternatively start the hike to Delta Lake via the Bradley-Taggart trailhead. The trail passes by Bradley and Taggart Lakes before intersecting with the trail to Delta Lake via Lupine Meadows about 4.5 miles in.

Starting from Bradley – Taggart trailhead will add about 5.5 miles roundtrip and 500 feet of elevation gain to the hike. If you plan to continue to Surprise Lake we’d definitely recommend starting from Lupine Meadows.

The Valley Trail

You will start your journey to Delta Lake heading south on the Valley Trail. The first 1.3 miles or so will take you through some lower forests with sporadic views overlooking nearby Bradley and Taggart Lakes. It’s a relatively flat and peaceful introduction.

After about 1.3 miles, the elevation starts picking up and you’ll begin heading west towards the mountains. About two miles into the hike, you will reach an intersection. Make sure you continue heading straight towards Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes. This is where the fun (and the switchbacks) begins…

Switchbacks, Switchbacks and more Switchbacks

After passing the intersection, you will start slowly winding your way up towards the mountains one switchback after the other. Its definitely a trudge but you are rewarded with increasingly stunning views of Bradley and Taggart Lakes. If hiking earlier in the season (June through early July), the mountainside will be covered in an array of flowers just popping with color.

Like any trail in Grand Teton, always be on the lookout for wildlife. During our time on this trail, we saw many marmots, one black bear and what appeared to be some grizzly cubs far in the distance. Which reminds us – don’t forget your bear spray!

After five, long switchbacks, you will reach another intersection. There will be a trail departing to the left that heads into Garnet Canyon. Continue on the trail heading to the right that leads to Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes.

Final scramble to Delta Lake

After one more switchback, you will reach the departure point for Delta Lake. To your right, you will see an unmarked trail that departs from the main trail. There is a small wooden ladder leading down from the main trail to an admittedly rough-looking spur trail. Take this side trail to continue to Delta Lake.

Once you leave the main trail, the “off trail” section up to Delta Lake is not maintained by the park service. It is well-trodden in most places, so you have little chance of truly getting lost.

But there are some rock-strewn sections and boulder fields with little visible trail. We definitely pulled out our AllTrails Pro map in a few instances just to make sure we were heading in the right direction.

Besides the unmaintained, rugged trail, this section also involves the steepest section of the hike. There is one part just below the lake after you cross the boulder fields, where the incline is very steep and the dirt is loose. Be sure to take your time!

Arriving at Delta Lake

After about half a mile, you will finally make one last push before reaching Delta Lake. You will see the towering Grand Tetons directly across the shimmering waters.

Find a nice rock to spread out on, take a swim if you are brave enough for the freezing, glacial waters, and enjoy one of the best views in Grand Teton National Park.

Once you have enjoyed your time at Delta Lake, you can return back to the trailhead the same way you came up, albeit with a little less elevation gain!

Extend the hike | Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes

• + 4.3 miles and over 1,500 feet of elevation gain

The Delta Lake hike may easily be combined with the hike to Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes. To get there, return back to the main trail and then continue further up. Adding Surprise and Amphitheater lakes will cost you an additional 4.3 miles and over 1,500 feet of elevation gain, so I’d recommend going to Delta Lake first and then reassessing whether you have the time and energy left!

Like Delta Lake, Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes are high-altitude, alpine lakes, fed by snow and ice melting in the Teton Range. They are both super pretty and worth a visit, but aren’t quite as unique as the Delta Lake.

Delta Lake | FAQs

Where is Delta Lake?

Delta Lake is located in Grand Teton National Park, just 30 minutes from the adorable town of Jackson, Wyoming. From the dramatic, jagged peaks of the Teton Range, to the glacier-fed waters of the beautiful lakes, to the many moose, bears, and flowers, and the meandering Snake River, we have yet to find a place as beautiful as Grand Teton National Park.

The closest airport to Grand Teton is in Jackson, Wyoming, but there are few direct flights, and expect to pay a bit extra for the convenience. You can also fly into Idaho Falls, which is about two hours to the west, or Salt Lake City, Utah, which is a little less than five hours to the south.

How difficult is the hike to Delta Lake?

We’ll cut to the chase – this hike is steep! With 2,250 feet of elevation gain over 7.2 miles roundtrip, you will certainly get your fill of switchbacks.

The last few miles leading up to the lake are especially challenging, traversing a rugged boulder field with no clearly defined trail. In some places, the trail can be hard to follow, so it’s essential to have some means of navigation.

When is the best time to hike to Delta Lake in Grand Teton?

The best time to hike Delta Lake is during the summer months from June through September. We hiked in mid June and the wildflowers were in full bloom! Since Delta Lakes sits at an elevation of 9,000 feet, it is possible for snow to linger into June.

Always check current conditions before you set out. You can check in with a park ranger at the Jenny Lake Visitor Center for updated information.

What to pack for hiking to Delta Lake

Good gear can make all the difference hiking in the Tetons. Below we’ve compiled a list of our absolute must-haves for day hiking – we use these items every time we hike and couldn’t live without them.

• GPS device | Since the trail to Delta Lake can be challenging to find and there is no cell service, we recommend having the trail map downloaded offline (for example using AllTrails Pro), or better yet, carrying a GPS device for safety. We always hike with our Garmin InReach Mini in areas without cell service in case of emergency.
• Bear spray | Grand Teton is home to both black and grizzly bears, so always hike with bear spray carried within an arm’s reach (ie. attached to your hip – keeping it in your backpack is not helpful in an emergency)
• Hiking boots | The trail to Delta Lake is steep and slippery in place. Having sturdy hiking boots with good traction is a must. The Danner Mountain 400s are my all-time favorite hiking boots.
• Hiking Poles | To help take some of the pressure off your knees on the steep sections and give you extra traction on the final steep climb up to Delta Lake.
• Pullovers (Hers: Smartwool Merino Quarter Zip, His: Smartwool Merino Quarter Zip) | Mornings in Grand Teton can get cold, even in the summer, so expect a chilly start to your hike to Delta Lake. We love our Smartwool quarter zips for chilly mornings on the trial!
• Headlamp | Always good to have for a long day hike in case you finish hiking later than expected. We both use the Black Diamond Storm 400s.
• National Parks Pass | covers entrance to Grand Teton and all other U.S. National Parks for one year.

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Questions about hiking to Delta Lake in Wyoming? Let us know in the comments section below and we’ll our best to help!