Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail Hiking Guide
This is the big climb of the Teton day hikes: about 3,000 feet of switchbacks from Lupine Meadows to a pair of alpine lakes tucked under Disappointment Peak. It's sustained rather than technical, and the views over the valley grow with every turn. Altitude, not terrain, is what slows most people down.
Permit: Grand Teton National Park charges an entrance fee: $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle or $20 per person on foot or bike (16 and older), each valid 7 days; the park annual pass is $70 and the America the Beautiful pass ($80) also covers entry. Non-US residents 16 and older pay an extra $100 per person unless entering on an annual or America the Beautiful pass. The park is cashless. No permit is needed for a day hike.
Distance and Gain
The park lists 9.8 miles round trip with 3,070 feet of gain, an average slope of 13 percent. AllTrails maps it slightly longer at 10.4 miles with 2,985 feet. The park describes the trail switchbacking for five miles before Surprise Lake, then another quarter mile to Amphitheater Lake, with narrow sections, roots and rock along the way.
Altitude
The park flags this hike as hazardous for people who aren't used to high elevation, and notes that the best cure for altitude sickness is to go back down. If someone in your group gets a pounding headache, nausea or unusual fatigue, turn around. Go slower than feels necessary early, drink often and eat on the way up.
At the Lakes
Surprise Lake comes first, and Amphitheater Lake sits just beyond it in a cirque directly below Disappointment Peak. Both look out across the valley as well as up at the peaks. Snow can linger in the lake basins well into summer; the park's July report found the trail clear but snow in both basins. It advises against snow travel without experience and gear.
Getting There and What It Costs
The hike starts at the Lupine Meadows Trailhead off the Teton Park Road, which is open to cars from May 1 through October 31. The same trail system leads toward Garnet Canyon and the unofficial Delta Lake route, so watch the junction signs. Park entry is required: $35 per car or $20 per person for a week, card only. Grizzlies and black bears range across these slopes, so travel in a group of three or more and carry spray.
Hiking tips for Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail
- Spend a day in the valley before this hike if you've come from low elevation.
- Turn around at the first signs of altitude sickness; descending is the fix.
- Start early so you're off the upper switchbacks before afternoon storms.
- Watch the signed junctions; the routes to Garnet Canyon and Delta Lake branch off this trail.
- Carry a warm layer for the lakes even on a hot day in the valley.
Nearby trails to explore
- Delta Lake via Lupine Meadows
- Taggart Lake and Bradley Lake Loop
- Cascade Canyon Trail (Grand Teton)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Three thousand feet of switchbacks pass faster with someone matching your pace. Use TrailMates to find Jackson Hole hikers heading to Amphitheater Lake. Download the TrailMates app to connect.