Heart Lake Trail
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
| Address: | US-89, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA |
| GPS: |
44°19'2.8"N 110°35'53.7"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Wyoming |
| Trails/Routes: | 6.9 mi |
Lakes Trails Fishing National Park Pet Friendly
Backpack, Camp, Hike, and Hot Springs
The trail is very clear and leads to a moderate eight mile hike to Heart Lake. This hike has many possibilities. Day hikers need to push their time to make sure they are on the trail early to allow enough time to enjoy the lake, and then get back on the trail before dark. Backpackers can hike into a campsite near the lake and/or you can hike to and around the lake and camp out for a couple of days. Many hikers have said that if you plan to spend more than a couple of days that hiking to the summit of Mount Sheridan is a must, which may add an extra day to your trip.
The trail leads you to great thermal features and is very scenic. You will see deep blue pools, fumaroles, steam vents and Rustic Geyser. Remember to use caution and respect when around these fragile features, especially since the ground can be very unstable.
The fishing from the drainage of Heart Lake is remarkable. This is one of the reasons why this location is popular. If you catch a native fish to the park, you can catch and release it. If it is nonnative, there is no limit to how many fish you can catch. Native fish include the cutthroat trout, mountain whitefish and Arctic grayling. Nonnative fish include: brown trout, brook trout, rainbow and lake trout. Fisherman are asked to only fish with single, pointed, barbless hook and lead-free artificial lures. All watercraft needs to have a permit purchased from the park service.
Due to bear activity, the trail is closed from April 1 to June 30 each year. You should carry bear spray and make noise as you hike to keep wildlife away.
More Information
Yellowstone National Park Itinerary
This Yellowstone National Park Itinerary will help you get started as you plan your vacation to Yellowstone National Park.
https://www.justgotravelstudios.com/collections/national-park-itineraries/products/yellowstone-national-park-itinerary?ref=9zpxis0diinBackcountry Conditions - Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
This page provides a map and details conditions of trail status, closures, and known hazards.
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/situationreport.htmHeart Lake Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Heart Lake Geyser Basin contains about 390 thermal features including several active geysers, situated along the valley of Witch Creek close to Heart Lake, in a little-visited backcountry thermal region
https://www.americansouthwest.net/wyoming/yellowstone/heart-lake-geyser-basin.htmlYellowstone National Park: Heart Lake
Experience world class fly-fishing, wildlife sightings, and to-die-for campsites on this 16.2-mile out-and-back to the second largest backcountry lake in Yellowstone National Park.
https://www.backpacker.com/trips/yellowstone-national-park-heart-lake/Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
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Be careful. Pay attention to posted signs and always test the waters before you get in. Some hot springs can get up to boiling temperatures. Be sure to drink plenty of water to combat the dehydrating effect of the spring.
Be respectful of other soakers and the hot spring. Don't hog the pool. Camp at least 200 yards away and keep fires in designated areas. Keep your pets out of the water and never pee in thermal feature. Glass bottles should never go near a hot spring.
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
- Head south on Grant Campground Rd (0.7 mi)
- Turn right onto Grant Village Rd (1.0 mi)
- Turn left onto US-191 S/US-287 S/US-89 SPartial toll roadParts of this road may be closed at certain times or days(5.4 mi)
- Turn left (400 ft)
The Heart Lake trailhead is at a clearing in the woods at the end of a short track that forks off the main road 5 miles south of Grant Village, and just north of Lewis Lake. It has plenty of parking space, rest rooms, a trail map, and an information board about back country travel and the danger of bear encounters, which are quite frequent in this area. Courtesy of americansouthwest.net
From Grant Village: Drive approximately 5.4 miles south toward Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park via the South Entrance Road. The Heart Lake Trail will be on the left just past the Dogshead Trail.Courtesy of trailguidesyellowstone.com
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