Surprise Lake. National Park Service
15 Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes
Description: A popular day hike or overnighter to two high-country lakes in the shadow of the Grand Teton
Start: Lupine Meadows Trailhead
Total distance: 9.6 miles out and back
Best season: Mid-July through mid-Sept
Maps: Earthwalk Press Grand Teton map; National Park Service handout map.
Finding the trailhead: Take US 89 north of Jackson for 11.5 miles and turn left (west) at the Moose Junction. Drive past the Moose Visitor Center and through the entrance station (about a mile after turning off the highway). Follow this paved park road for another 6.6 miles from the entrance station and turn left (west) onto a gravel road at the Lupine Meadows turnoff. Follow this road for 1.4 miles until it ends at the trailhead parking lot. From the north, drive 21.8 miles from the Jackson Lake Junction and turn right (west) at the Lupine Meadows turnoff. The trailhead has toilet facilities and a huge parking area, but this trailhead is so popular that it can be full, especially at midday. You can find a general store at the South Jenny Lake turnoff about a mile to the north. Trailhead GPS: 43.734525 / -110.741637
The Hike
This is one of the most popular hikes in the park, so expect to see lots of people on the trail and a large parking lot full of vehicles at the trailhead.
From Lupine Meadows, the first 0.5 mile of the Valley Trail goes through mature forest with nice views of Grand Teton off to the right. It then climbs up a ridge to the junction with the trail to Garnet Canyon, which also goes to Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes. Turn right (west) here and start a series of switchbacks up to the lakes. At several points you get sweeping views of Bradley and Taggart Lakes to the southeast and Jenny Lake to the northeast, as well as the rest of the valley floor.
Surprise Lake. National Park Service
At the 3-mile mark, turn right (west) again at the junction with the Garnet Canyon Trail. When you get to Surprise Lake, the only surprise will be how beautiful it is, with Teepee Pillar, Disappointment Peak, Mount Owen, and much more of the Teton Range, including Grand Teton, majestically looming in the background over the lake.
Amphitheater Lake, only 0.2 mile up the trail, is at least as nice, with an amphitheater view of the high peaks. After enjoying these two gems of the Teton Range, retrace your steps to the Lupine Meadows Trailhead.
Camping: Surprise Lake has three campsites on a ridge on the east side of the lake with a mostly obstructed view of the lake and the high peaks, and a moderate walk to water.
Side trips: You can take a side trip up to the end of Garnet Canyon, which adds 2.2 miles to the total distance of your trip.
Miles and Directions
0.0Lupine Meadows Trailhead
1.7Junction with trail to Bradley Lake; turn right
3.0Junction with trail to Garnet Canyon; turn right
4.6Surprise Lake
4.8Amphitheater Lake; retrace your steps to the trailhead
9.6Lupine Meadows Trailhead