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| | | Delta Lake - Grand Teton, WY | | | |
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Delta Lake - Grand Teton, WY
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| Hiking | 7.90 Miles |
2,355 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.90 Miles | 6 Hrs 16 Mns | | 1.67 mph |
| 2,355 ft AEG | 1 Hour 33 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | This is one of the gems of Grand Teton. I can't call it a hidden gem, because even though it is not acknowledged or listed on the NPS maps or guides, it is fairly popular. It is reached by following the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail for 3.4 miles, then following a steep unmaintained use trail for another 0.5 miles.
The parking lot was full when we arrived at 1100, and cars were parked along the side of the forest road for up to a quarter mile back from the lot, but we were able to snag a great spot near the trailhead that was being vacated.
The trail starts out flat for the first quarter mile, then begins a gradual ascent through a peaceful wooded area. At 1.8 miles it begins to ascend a little more steeply over a series of switchbacks. Bradley and Taggart Lakes can be seen in the distance.
The trail continues over 14 switchbacks to reach Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes. However, at the 6th switchback, there is a little 2-foot rise to the right, and just over that rise is a short descent to the use trail that proceeds up to Delta Lake. The use trail ascends 500 feet in 0.5 miles. It is technically unmaintained, but it is heavily traveled enough that it is clearly defined and easy to follow. There is an initial steep ascent, then a flat area, then a brief scramble up and across a boulder field, then 2 more boulder fields to cross. At each boulder field, it is necessary to climb up a little, then across to find the continuation of the trail on the other side. After the third boulder field, there is one final steep ascent. Just before Delta Lake, there is a sizable cascade consisting of water flowing down the mountain from the lake. There is one final scramble over a few boulders before Delta Lake comes into view.
This lake is magical. The color and vibes are stunning. When we arrived, nobody else was there, so the only sounds were the birds and the cascades in the distance. The lake is surrounded by snow-covered steep slopes on all sides. The water is freezing but refreshing. I went in shin deep, but Gen did a full plunge. We then sat on a rock under the sun and took in the ambiance. Eventually another group arrived and proceeded to jump in. We watched them for a little bit, then headed back down.
On the third switchback down, I walked past a large tree, and there was a grizzly on the other side of the tree, less than 10 feet away from the trail. I had my bear spray ready, and we slowly backed away, while talking to him, but he just continued leisurely eating the vegetation, while barely glancing at us. We made it the rest of the way down without incident.
This truly is the gem of the Grand Tetons. It's a fun trail with a moderate AEG and a tiny bit of scrambling to reach an incredible view. According to others, the view here is better than Amphitheater and Surprise Lakes, which are a little further up the main trail. There were numerous vehicles in the lot, but we didn't encounter too many people on the trail, maybe 5 groups coming down as we were going up. Encountering the grizzly was an adrenaline rush, but he barely reacted to our presence. We also saw about 8 marmots, which were fun. Definitely saved the best for last on this trip. |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
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