A month ago I was invited on a girls trip to hike to Delta Lake. A place I had never actually heard of. All I was told is that it was steep, in bear country, and there was a potential risk of altitude sickness. Sign me up, how bad it could be?
We arrived late to the entrance to Grand Targhee National Forest. There is no disbursed camping in the park which means we couldn't just pitch a tent anywhere we wanted. My sister booked a site at Colter Bay Campground and it definitely made it easy since we were getting in so late.
When I take the boys camping we are tent camping. This gave me the tent vibes but with a little more security and convenience. The inside even had a stove for colder nights which opted against using. We had our sleeping bags and actually were almost too warm throughout the night.
We started a fire, laughed and cooked dinner. They even had nice, clean bathroom amenities which always makes me feel spoiled when camping.
The place had great bunk beds and some shelving to store some items. Other than that pretty simple, not too far in the "glamping" world. There was a local mini grocery store which we didn't go to but I am sure is nice for longer camping stays.
Remember when staying in bear country to NOT sleep with any type of food in your tent. The bear boxes are there for a reason. Food needs to remain locked in those when not out for use.
Our spot was in a great location on the outside of the tent loop. When having to stay in actual campgrounds I always try to pick a spot on the edge or facing away from everyone else. It usually will provide the best views and more peace and quiet from other campers. My sister did a wonderful job looking at the map and selecting when booking.
We headed from the campsite to the trail head. It was about a 45 minute drive. Along the way we took in the sites, the beauty of the area just overwhelms me no matter how many times I see it. We stopped for a second to join the crowd as four grizzly bear's were working their way through the trees.
As you get closer to the trailhead it is good to watch the small signs. They are pretty easy to miss if you are not paying attention and distracted by the scenery. The trailhead to the lake is called Lupine Meadows Trailhead which is just north of Jackson Hole. It is a small parking lot and we got there later than we had wanted to and it had already filled up. The lot was full and people were parked pretty far down the road along both sides of the road.
There are multiple lakes that are destinations off of this trailhead. If you stop to look at the signs you will not see any directions or information on Delta Lake. So follow the trail as if you are going to Amphitheater Lake. We didn't have enough time to do more than Delta Lake nor could my legs have handled it.
We can be fast hikers when we want to be but to me that takes all the fun out. We would have missed so much by rushing through this amazing hike. Take some time and enjoy the views they are definitely worth it.
It is about 1.7 miles to a fork in the trail. To head to Delta Lake keep heading straight which is the trail that curves to the right. The trail initially starts with a slight incline but not until you reach this point does it really start to climb significantly. This trail gains 2000 feet in elevation the four miles it is to Delta Lake.
The trail is heavily exposed so dress accordingly. Thankfully, we were there on a cool overcast day. But wear your sunscreen and take lots of water. I saw so many people with no water or in proper shoes. I slipped twice coming out, so do better than me and check the traction on your shoes. My hiking boots are getting worn and it is time for some new ones with better tread.
I just happened to notice this incredible rack peaking through the brush as we worked our way through the switchbacks. We stood and watched him eat. I was in awe of not only the size of his rack but the beautiful velvet on them.
The animal life around this trail have definitely have seen their fair share of tourists. They were hardly phased by the endless amounts of people walking by even though half of the people didn't take the time to acknowledge their existence.
After heading from the last mile marker there will be six switchbacks until you reach a set of stairs on the right hand side at the end of the sixth switchback. There are no signs here but this is where you have to turn off to head to Delta Lake. If you are not paying attention it can be easily missed.
This is definitely where you put in the work. The last mile is where it gets extremely difficult. It is steep and rocky. People were sliding down on the butt's, taking breaks and honestly most just taking their time.
The rocks are often loose and the dirt packed and smooth, so make sure each step is planted and controlled. The trail is barely visible in some parts as you maneuver through rock. The lake is up and towards the left as you head through this part. Only at one point right before the final part of the trail you will head down some rocks and straight up to the final portion of the trail.
The views once you reach the lake though are worth it. There are mostly rocky spots to find a place to stop and take it in. We ate our lunch on top of a rock that provided the best view to take in the Tetons.
We watched on as a few decided to take a swim in the frigid water. I walked across the rocks and let my feet take in the water. It didn't take long before I could feel the numb tingling head through my feet. It provided the weary feet a great refresher.
Visitors came and looked on and scavenged for crumbs as we inhaled each bite of food. We definitely felt we earned it.
I don't care how many hikes I go on, how many lakes I see. They each take my breath away in their own distinct way. Even more so when you put in the work to get to the destination. I am saddened by the end of the difficult part alway when I reach the goal. The mental, physical and sometimes emotional push can be my drive. It helps me grow each time especially when I feel like giving up or unsure if I will actually be able to finish what I set out to accomplish.
We took in the last bits of wildlife and towards the end of the trail I caught a glimpse of the body of this elk through the trees. At first I couldn't tell what it was and then knew by the coloring that it was an elk. She was massive and I thought for sure it was going to be a bull until I moved to where I could see her head. She was perfectly content bedded down amongst the lush brush which mostly served as her protector from the eyes of the rest of the world. To me there is nothing like chasing elk in this world, they are absolutely magnificent creatures.
Below is the map I traced as we hiked. I don't hike anywhere without my OnX to not only know my destination, it tracks my distance, but also can serve as a guide on the way out to make sure you are sticking to your destined path. Happy Hiking Friends!
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