A few years ago we hiked to Phelps Lake in Grand Teton National Park. On a recent trip, we found out that there is a much shorter, straighter hike to an overlook of Phelps Lake. This runs just 2.0 miles roundtrip, though it is gently uphill all the way to the end point. This trail does not take you to Phelps Lake, just to the overlook. If you want to get to the lake, make sure to use our other trail info.
Getting There
Hiking to the Phelps Lake Overlook does have one drawback, and that is the road to the trailhead. We made it in our van with an experienced driver, but the road would be difficult with a car. Clearance is the main problem though there were a few large puddles and some narrow places to navigate. This road, called Whitegrass Ranch Road, or Death Canyon Road, branches off the Moose Wilson Road. It runs about 1.5 miles to the trailhead, and 1.0 mile is dirt and rough. The trailhead parking is often full, so be prepared. If it is full, you can park in several other open places back along the dirt road, but it does add to the overall distance you’ll hike to the overlook. There is a pit toilet near the trailhead.
The Hike
Phelps Lake Overlook Trail is part of a much large trail system, so you could go dozens of miles, but we climbed gently up to the saddle and saw the lake. The foliage is thick, and there are many moose in this area of the park, but we didn’t see anything larger than a bird. The trail is quite busy, and there is limited shade. It is also very beautiful. You are hiking right at the base of the large Teton mountains.
After just 1.0 mile, you reach the saddle that allows you to look out over sprawling Phelps Lake. The lake is very far below you, spread out in the basin, and it is quite impossible to reach from the overlook. The panorama of the lake is breathtaking and well worth the short hike. The trail continues on for a long distance, so you can easily go further, but at this point, we turned around and headed back to the parking area. This distance and grade was just right to make it an easy mountain hike for families.
If you have hiked lots of trails in Grand Teton, then Phelps Lake Overlook is a good one to add to your list. And if you are looking for some other trails in this area, check out our list of family-friendly hikes in Grand Teton National Park
