Parking
Death Canyon Trailhead is one mile down a rutted dirt road. Low-clearance vehicles are not recommended; if you park on the shoulder, pull fully off the road.
Overview
About Phelps Lake Trail from Death Canyon Trailhead
Why go
- Pairs the overlook with a north-shore stop in one outing
- A clear 3.7-mile round-trip if you turn around at the lake
Heads up
- The climb from the shore back to the overlook is strenuous
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Grand Teton map
Full mapElevation6,696–7,247 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 Trail from Death Canyon Trailhead, 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 Trail from Death Canyon Trailhead
The overlook and the shoreThis 3.
This 3.7-mile round-trip out-and-back starts at Death Canyon Trailhead, reaches Phelps Lake Overlook, then drops by switchbacks to the lake’s north shore. Plan on 1–3 hours. The route is moderate overall, but the return climb to the overlook is strenuous.
The overlook is only halfwayThe trail gains and loses elevation several times, and exposed roots and rocks make the footing…
The trail gains and loses elevation several times, and exposed roots and rocks make the footing uneven. The overlook is a good stopping point on its own; continuing down to the water adds a steep descent and the climb back up.
Turn around at the lakeAt the shore, the path meets Phelps Lake Loop. For this hike, turn around there.
At the shore, the path meets Phelps Lake Loop. For this hike, turn around there. Continuing around the lake changes the route into a longer loop that starts from Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve.
Plan the accessDeath Canyon Trailhead is one mile down a rutted dirt road, and low-clearance vehicles are not…
Death Canyon Trailhead is one mile down a rutted dirt road, and low-clearance vehicles are not recommended. Pets are prohibited on park trails. Overnight backcountry stays require a permit.
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.
