Summer in Wyoming is probably our most interesting season. It can be snowing in Moose while it’s 80 in Cheyenne, and we won’t bat an eye. Nights can dip down into down jacket temperatures, and then a few hours later, the midday sun feels like it’s baking us. So when we’re out looking for “one last taste of summer”, there’s really no way to know what that means. However, there’s one hike out to a gorgeous, surreal lake that will make you feel like you really have been whisked away to the tropics – if you can ignore the year round snowpack that creeps into all of your pictures.
The Delta Lake Trail is one of the most incredible treks in Grand Teton National Park, and it’s something you’ve got to do before snowpack makes it impossible.
AllTrails / Alex Ramirez
This is a wilderness hike, so don’t forget basic bear safety on this trail.
AllTrails / Jessica Viraldo Though it’s heavily trafficked through September, you’ll still want to carry bear spray and hike in groups.
The first 3 miles of this hike are easy - a moderate incline that takes you to the offshoot for Delta Lake.
AllTrails / Gerrit Ebert
Once you’re off the main trail, it’s a bit steeper, rockier, and trickier.
AllTrails / Jason Gardner
There are two big boulder fields on your way down to the lake, and they can be tricky. Stay to the left of the second field for an easier trek down.
AllTrails / Amy Kasden
This is by no means an easy hike, but the view of Delta Lake is worth all of the effort it takes to get there.
AllTrails / Chad Gerdish
Seriously - look at that lake! The gorgeous water seems surreal. The Tetons are like no other place on earth.
AllTrails / Gerrit Ebert
Hike down to the water’s edge, where you can relax and enjoy the cool water. Some folks like to take a dip, but like any high elevation lake, it’s pretty darn cold.
AllTrails / Don India
Though Summer in Wyoming is quite different than anywhere else, it’s easy to imagine you’re on a faraway tropical island when you make it to Delta Lake.
AllTrails / Jason Gardner
The hike to Delta Lake ends up being around 8 miles round trip, and will take you anywhere from 4-7 hours, depending on your fitness level and how long you spend playing on the boulder fields and down by the lake itself. It’s not a maintained trail, so poles are definitely recommended, and boots tend to help out more than trail runners. Still, it’s pretty easy to find from the main trailhead, if you know where to look! Check out the map on AllTrails for more details.
AllTrails / Alex Ramirez
AllTrails / Jessica Viraldo
Though it’s heavily trafficked through September, you’ll still want to carry bear spray and hike in groups.
AllTrails / Gerrit Ebert
AllTrails / Jason Gardner
AllTrails / Amy Kasden
AllTrails / Chad Gerdish
AllTrails / Don India
Have you hiked the Delta Lake Trail before? Did you find it as breathtaking as it seems? Let us know in the comments below!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
