About
Length (round trip)9.8 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyStrenuous
Elevation gain3,070 ft up
Typical time6 hr
TrailheadLupine Meadows trailhead
SurfaceLong switchbacks on rock and dirt
Best seasonSurprise and Amphitheater Lakes are best accessed in summer after the snow melts and in fall before the first snow arrives. Hikers should use caution when traveling over snow and not attempt Surpri...
DogsNot allowed
AccessibilitySurprise and Amphitheater Lakes is a strenuous, 9.8 mi (15.8 km) RT out and back hike with 3,070 ft (940 m) of elevation gain with an average slope of 13%. The trail includes steep switchbacks, narrow sections, and exposed roots and rock.
What you'll see ⛰️ Summit🌄 Big views🏞️ Lake🌼 Wildflowers

Travel to two alpine lakes on this strenuous hike. Leaving from the Lupine Meadows Trailhead, the trail switchbacks up the mountains for five miles before reaching Surprise Lake. From there, it's another quarter mile up to Amphitheater Lake. Both lakes offer views of the surrounding peaks, with Amphitheater Lake being situated just below the summit of Disappointment Peak. The trail gains 3,000 ft over five miles and can be hazardous for those not acclimated to high altitude. The best cure for altitude sickness is to retreat to a lower elevation.

Tips
The switchbacks are unremitting - 3,070 feet with barely a flat section. Lupine Meadows is a dirt road car park that fills by 7am. The turnoff to Delta Lake leaves this trail at the second-to-last switchback.
Location

Showing Grand Teton National Park — we don't have this trail's own trailhead coordinates yet.

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