Parking
Use the signed Death Canyon Trailhead parking area, reached from Moose-Wilson Road via Death Canyon Road.
Overview
About Phelps Lake Overlook
Why go
- A high view over Phelps Lake in a short outing
- A clear turnaround before the longer shoreline walk
Heads up
- A steady climb with exposed roots and rocks
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Grand Teton map
Full mapElevation6,814–7,247 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
2 active Grand Teton alerts
- ClosureConstruction closures and delaysConstruction is causing current road and area closures and delays across Grand Teton; use the signed Taggart Trail detour. - Moose-Wilson Road is closed between Moose and Laurance S.Official details
- ClosureJackson Lake boat ramps closed; Signal launch riskColter Bay and Leeks boat ramps are closed; Signal Mountain Boat Ramp is open, but water is below the ramp edge and loose cobbles make launching risky.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Grand Teton Tour Guide
Your drive to Phelps Lake Overlook, narrated.
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 trailhead
Death Canyon Access: Phelps Lake from Above0:00 / 0:28
“You're nearing the access road for Death Canyon and Phelps Lake Overlook. The final road mile is rough, and a high-clearance vehicle is recommended.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Grand Teton Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Berries Before the Den
- Rockefeller Preserve: Listen Before the Lake Walk
- Sawmill Ponds: Wildlife and an Old Lumber Mill
- The Owl’s Listening Face
- 118 audio storiesacross Grand Teton’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Brown Bear, Gray Wolf, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 70 trails, 121 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“…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.”
Trail guide
Hiking Phelps Lake Overlook
Is this the quick overlook walk?Phelps Lake Overlook is a 2-mile round-trip out-and-back from Death Canyon Trailhead, climbing…
Phelps Lake Overlook is a 2-mile round-trip out-and-back from Death Canyon Trailhead, climbing about 470 feet to a viewpoint high above the lake. Allow one to two hours. It is a good choice when you want the lake-and-valley view without taking on a longer day hike. The overlook is above the water, not on the shore.
The forest climbThe route starts on a wooded trail and gradually gains height before the climb steepens near…
The route starts on a wooded trail and gradually gains height before the climb steepens near the viewpoint. Expect exposed roots and rocks underfoot; the short distance does not make it a flat stroll. The final approach opens out from the trees, and the overlook gives you a clear view over Phelps Lake and the valley.
The lake is farther downIf you want to reach the shoreline, continue about another mile downhill beyond the overlook.
If you want to reach the shoreline, continue about another mile downhill beyond the overlook. That is a separate extension, not part of the 2-mile figure here; plan for the extra return effort as well. Keep this route distinct from the longer Phelps Lake shoreline loop and from the much longer Valley Trail approach from Teton Village.
Make the access workStart at the Death Canyon Trailhead, reached from Moose-Wilson Road via Death Canyon Road.
Start at the Death Canyon Trailhead, reached from Moose-Wilson Road via Death Canyon Road. There is no trail activity fee or reservation; the park entrance fee applies. Pets are not allowed on this route.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Grand Teton
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.
