South Shore Shoshone Lake Trail

The South Shore Shoshone Lake Trail is a 9.1-mile, one-way backcountry route from a junction southwest of Shoshone Lake to the DeLacy Creek–Dogshead junction on the southeast side. It is a through-hike, not a loop or a simple out-and-back. Allow about five to six hours of walking, then add the longer approach and exit routes. Its value is connecting the Old Faithful side with Lewis Lake country. If you mainly want lakeshore scenery, choose another route: most of this trail runs south of the water and has few lake views.

The first 0.9 mile follows the western shore, with a view across a small marshy meadow and a lakeside campsite. The trail then leaves the shore and climbs through forest, gaining about 500 feet to its high point near mile 2.1. That ridge reaches the north end of the Pitchstone Plateau, a lava flow formed about 70,000 years ago and among Yellowstone’s youngest.

From the high point, the trail gradually drops about 150 feet toward the Moose Creek ford near mile 6. Around mile 7.3 it passes a meadow where Moose Creek flows into Shoshone Lake. The Lewis River Channel comes at mile 8.8; after crossing, the route passes the Lewis River Channel Trail junction around mile 8.9 and finishes at the DeLacy Creek and Dogshead trails near mile 9.1. Dogshead is the shorter exit; the Lewis River Channel Trail is the more scenic one.

Moose Creek and Lewis River Channel are cold, unbridged fords, and either can run deep. The route description reports knee-deep water into mid-July; streams can also rise during the day. Check Yellowstone’s current backcountry conditions before setting out, and don’t cross if the water is unsafe. Grizzly bears frequent this area. Pets are prohibited on Yellowstone hiking trails and in the backcountry, except trained service animals. An overnight backcountry permit is required if you camp.

Neither end is a road trailhead. The west start is an interior junction reached on foot from other trails. At the east end, the road-access Shoshone Lake/Dogshead Trailhead (8K1) is about 4.8 miles away on the Dogshead Trail. That trailhead is just north of Lewis Lake, on the west side of the road about five miles south of the Grant Village intersection; it has an information kiosk and vault toilet. Plan the approach, exit, and transport before treating this as a one-way walk.

The South Shore segment is used by hikers linking Old Faithful and Lewis Lake, and it forms part of the Continental Divide Trail. That context suits the route: think of it as a remote connector with a couple of worthwhile lake openings, rather than a lakeshore stroll.