Lewis River Channel / Dogshead Loop
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
| Address: | Continental Divide Trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA |
| GPS: |
44°19'12.7"N 110°35'58.8"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Wyoming |
| Trail Length: | 10.00 miles |
| Trail Type: | Loop |
| Hike Difficulty: | Intermediate |
| Elevation Gain: | 3 feet |
| Trails/Routes: | 2.1-11.5 mi |
Lakes Rivers Trails Motorized Use
Canoe, Hike, and Kayak
Anyone who doesn't want to backpack through Yellowstone but is looking to experience the real beauty of Yellowstone will truly love this hike.
Walking along the Lewis Channel is one of the best parts of this hike. After passing the trailhead, Lewis Lake shines brightly as the sun hits it. This is the perfect scenery and views of the Grand Teton. If you head west on your hike, you will soon come to the river channel which is very serene because the trail brings you right along the edge of the lake.
As you reach the end of the Lewis Channel trail you’ll see the Outlet Patrol Cabin and Shoshone Lake. The lake is a shimmering lake of crystal clear water and is surrounded by mountains covered in tall trees. There is a lot of driftwood along the shore which offers a wonderful spot to stop for lunch. One of the Shoshone Lake’s claim to fame is that it’s the largest lake in the continental United States without a road to it. Spend some time listening to the silence and feeling peace surround you.
This is a favorite hike and scenic area filled with birds like Osprey, Bald eagles and Ravens. Don't forget to pack your inflatable kayak to enjoy the water and nature around you.
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.htmLewis River - Dogshead Loop - Hike 734
The Lewis River – Dogshead Loop in Yellowstone National Park is a nice, fairly level, loop through a variety of lodgepole forest, lakes, and a nice section along the Lewis River Channel. While the Dogshead portion is the more direct route to Shoshone Lake, it’s less interesting than the Lewis River section. Combining them into […]
https://hike734.com/trip/lewis-river-dogshead-loop/Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- 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(5.2 mi)
- Turn right (374 ft)
- Turn right (46 ft)
From Cody take the North Fork Highway to the East Entrance. At the Fishing Bridge Junction turn left onto the Grand Loop Road to the West Thumb Junction. Turn left again. Grant Village is two miles and the trailhead is another five miles past Grant. Look for the sign on the right stating “Lewis Channel and Dogshead.”
Other Hiking Trails, Canoeing Areas, and Kayaking Areas Nearby
Heart Lake Trail
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
0.2 miles SAn 8-mile moderate hike to a remote backcountry lake with blue thermal pools, fumaroles, Rustic Geyser, and remarkable fishing for native cutthroat, mountain whitefish, and Arctic grayling.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Hot Springs 4.9 mi
Riddle Lake Hike
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
2.8 miles NAn easy 5-mile round trip through pine forest and meadows to a sandy-beached lake in Yellowstone — bear scratch marks on tree trunks remind you this area is active grizzly habitat.
Hike 0.1 mi
Lewis Lake Campground
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
3.0 miles SWYellowstone's third-largest lake draws canoeists, kayakers, and serious anglers, with a quiet campground open mid-June through early November on a first-come basis.
Camp, Canoe, Kayak
Grant Village
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
5.4 miles NNamed for President Grant near Yellowstone Lake's West Thumb, this village has lakeside dining, a geyser basin next door, campfire ranger programs, and tree-lined campsites steps from the water.
Camp, Canoe, Kayak 1.4 mi
Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
6.7 miles NAn easy 1.7-mile loop from the West Thumb Geyser Basin parking lot with a rewarding overlook of Yellowstone Lake — a great beginner hike open in summer and fall.
Hike
Lake Overlook
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
6.7 miles NA 1.7-mile escape from the West Thumb crowds, leading through forest to a mountain-top meadow overlook of West Geyser and Yellowstone Lake.
Hike 0.4 mi
West Thumb Geyser Basin
Grant Visitor's Center, Yellowstone National Park
6.7 miles NBoardwalks trace the edge of Yellowstone Lake at the scenic West Thumb Geyser Basin — hot springs, mud pots, fumaroles, lake shore geysers, and underwater vents in one compact visit.
Hike 0.5 mi
Duck Lake
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
6.8 miles NA short 0.8-mile hike through lodgepole pine in Yellowstone near West Thumb, revealing the fire history of 1988 and a quiet, calm lake with a sandy beach feel.
Hike 6.1 mi
Shoshone Lake (via DeLacy Creek)
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
10.1 miles NWA 6.1-mile forest and grassy hike from Old Faithful to the shore of Shoshone Lake — a perfect crowd-escape option with fishing permitted (permit required) and backcountry hot spring access.
Hike 2.6 mi
Lone Star Geyser Trail
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
12.3 miles NWA 4.8-mile round-trip trail through forest to a colorful geyser that erupts 30–45 feet into the air about every 3 hours — bikeable the entire way.
Hike, Mountain Bike 3.1 mi
Mallard Lake
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
14.6 miles NWA 10-mile roundtrip Yellowstone hike through changing scenery — pine forest, rocky terrain, and grassy meadows — arriving at a calm, wildflower-ringed lake with a bird's-eye view of Old Faithful.
Hike 6.2 mi
Howard Eaton Trail
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
14.6 miles NWA moderately difficult 6.5-mile there-and-back trail from Old Faithful through spruce-fir forest, past geysers and springs, culminating at the impressive Lonestar Geyser which erupts every three hours.
Hike 1.5 mi
Observation Point Trail
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
14.8 miles NWA lightly trafficked 2-mile loop that offers an elevated aerial view of Old Faithful and passes close-up geysers on the way to Solitary Geyser — the quieter way to see the iconic geyser.
Hike
Old Faithful Geyser
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14.9 miles NWOld Faithful has erupted every 44 to 125 minutes since 2000, making it one of the world's most predictable geysers — a must-see centerpiece of Yellowstone National Park.
Hike 2.3 mi
Natural Bridge Trail
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Hike, Mountain Bike 0.3-0.5 mi
Mystic Falls
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16.9 miles NWA lesser-known Yellowstone gem — a 70-foot cascading waterfall on Little Firehole River surrounded by quiet forest, with short and long viewing trails both described as easy.
Hike 2.0 mi
Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail
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17.7 miles NWA 1.2-mile forested round-trip trail climbing to a sweeping overlook of the Grand Prismatic Spring and entire Midway Geyser Basin — the rainbow colors are best seen from above.
Hike 1.5-5.0 mi
Fairy Falls
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17.7 miles NWA 197-foot wispy waterfall deep in Yellowstone, along a mostly flat trail past Grand Prismatic Spring — at its most magical in spring snowmelt, quieter than the crowded geyser basin stretches.
Hike 1.9 mi
Terraced Falls
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
18.1 miles SWAn easy 3.6-mile out-and-back hike to a tiered waterfall along the southern Yellowstone border — the trailhead is on the Ashton-Flagg Ranch Road, which closes in winter.
Hike 0.7 mi
Grand Prismatic Spring
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
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HikeNearby Campsites
Heart Lake Trail
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
0.2 miles SAn 8-mile moderate hike to a remote backcountry lake with blue thermal pools, fumaroles, Rustic Geyser, and remarkable fishing for native cutthroat, mountain whitefish, and Arctic grayling.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Hot Springs 0.1 mi
Lewis Lake Campground
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
3.0 miles SWYellowstone's third-largest lake draws canoeists, kayakers, and serious anglers, with a quiet campground open mid-June through early November on a first-come basis.
Camp, Canoe, Kayak
Grant Village
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
5.4 miles NNamed for President Grant near Yellowstone Lake's West Thumb, this village has lakeside dining, a geyser basin next door, campfire ranger programs, and tree-lined campsites steps from the water.
Camp, Canoe, Kayak
Bridge Bay
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Camp 14.8 mi
Biscuit Basin to Fairy Falls and Firehole Meadows
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Backpack, Camp, Hike
Fishing Bridge RV Campground
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Camp
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Madison Campground
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Camp 17.5 mi
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