Sight · Grand Teton National Park
A Teton-facing shore at the end of a steep alpine climb.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Grand Teton Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Grand Teton National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Grand Teton audio tourRecorded for this area
Lupine Meadows: The Climb to Amphitheater Lake“You're approaching Lupine Meadows, the starting point for the climb to Amphitheater Lake below Disappointment Peak.”
Plays on the road 1.8 mi from Surprise Lake in the Parkwolf Grand Teton Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“…We have been driving around with the audio tour and it has been informational and spot on. The whole family has been impressed. We used it for Yellowstone and Grand Teton.”
Guide
Surprise Lake is a high alpine lake beneath the rocky slopes above Lupine Meadows. It lies about five miles up the strenuous Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes route, before the trail continues another quarter-mile to Amphitheater Lake. The full round trip to Amphitheater Lake is 9.8 miles with 3,070 feet of climbing, so treat this as a demanding day hike rather than a quick viewpoint.
The lower trail climbs through lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir and Douglas fir before passing a meadow. Views open over Jackson Hole, Bradley Lake and Taggart Lake; Grand Teton and Mount Owen appear through the trees early in the climb.
A short spur leads down to Surprise Lake. Walk along its southeastern shore for a direct view of Grand Teton. Amphitheater Lake is another quarter-mile farther along the route if you want to continue. The steep basin, water and high peaks make the shore the best place to pause for a photograph.
This route was once called the Glacier Trail. Along with the nearby Garnet Canyon Trail, it belongs to Grand Teton's early hiking network.
Wildlife
172 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
195 sightingsBrown BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
32 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
1,816 sightingsMooseMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
614 sightingsBisonMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
738 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Grand Teton. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingDelta Lake Trail7.6 mi · 6 hr · 1.8 mi awayA steep boulder climb to turquoise water below the Tetons.
ChallengingGarnet Canyon Trail8.2 mi · 5 hr · 1.8 mi awayA steep approach to a boulder field below Middle Teton.
ModerateJenny Lake Loop Trail7.1 mi · 4 hr · 3.1 mi awayThe full-lake loop brings the Cathedral Group into view.
EasyMoose Ponds Loop Trail3.4 mi · 2 hr · 3.1 mi awayWillow ponds and a Lupine Meadows loop under Teewinot’s peaks.
ChallengingLake Solitude Trail15.1 mi · 11 hr · 3.2 mi awayA full-day climb through Cascade Canyon to a high alpine lake.
ModerateInspiration Point Trail1.8 mi · 2.5 hr · 3.2 mi awayA short, steep climb above Jenny Lake to a full Teton panorama.
ChallengingHurricane Pass via South Fork Cascade Canyon20 mi · 13.5 hr · 3.2 mi awayA glacier and the Three Tetons reward a very long day.
ChallengingAvalanche Divide Trail20.8 mi · 13 hr · 3.2 mi awayA 20.8-mile alpine out-and-back to the divide below The Wall.
Sight · 0.2 mi awayAmphitheater LakeA steep climb reaches two alpine lakes below Disappointment Peak.Sight · 0.4 mi awayDelta LakeTurquoise water under the Grand, reached by a steep unofficial route.Sight · 1.6 mi awayGrand TetonA jagged summit that defines the valley skyline.
Sight · 1.7 mi awayBradley LakeA second alpine lake with a strong view of Garnet Canyon.
Sight · 2 mi awayTaggart LakeA three-mile hike ends at a glacial lake under the Tetons.
Sight · 2.3 mi awayMoose PondsA short Jenny Lake walk to moose country.
Sight · 2.3 mi awayLucas-Fabian HomesteadA homestead stop with Teton views and a 58-year-old climber's story.
Lodging · 2.6 mi awayGrand Teton Climbers’ RanchA rustic climbers’ base with shared bunks and Teton views.Parkwolf’s Grand Teton ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
