How To Run the Delta Lake Trail in Grand Teton

If you love uphill running, you’ll love the Delta Lake Trail in Grand Teton National Park.

If you don’t, you’ll hate it.

But, regardless of whether you love it or hate it, you’ll appreciate the beauty either way. With its turquoise waters lined by snow-covered banks. And then, there’s the Grand Teton itself sitting above the lake like a watchman.

It’s a truly epic run, and I haven’t even described what it’s like to get there.

Gentle switchbacks, boulder fields, and steep hill climbs all get thrown into the mix on this trail. And if that’s your style (like it is mine), then this is the perfect trail to do. If you’re lucky, you may even come across some wildlife along the way.

Ready to tackle it yourself? Let’s break down what you need to know to run the Delta Lake Trail.

Delta Lake Trail overview

• Trail start: The trail starts at the Lupine Meadows trailhead.
• Distance: ~7.2 miles out-and-back
• Elevation gain: ~2,300 feet
• Terrain info:The trail is a pretty clear singletrack that slowly winds its way up through the forests at the base of the mountains. You’ll have switchbacks for the first 2-3 miles of the trail. Then, the last .5-1 mile is rock scrambling and steep hill climbing to the lake.
• Extra notes: Dogs aren’t allowed on this trail. Go early to avoid crowds.

Prefer to watch? Check out the video below ⬇️

How to run the Delta Lake Trail in Grand Teton National Park

Lupine Meadows to trail split

The trail starts at Lupine Meadows trailhead, which is a popular spot so I’d recommend arriving early to grab a parking spot (and avoid crowds). There’s a toilet at the trailhead you can use. But I didn’t see any water fill-ups, so make sure to bring enough for the entire run/hike.

From the trailhead, the first couple miles are relatively straightforward.

It’s undulating singletrack for the first half mile, then it starts ascending quickly. If you’re like me, you love running uphill, so a 10%+ grade for another half mile is a fun addition. But that’s before you get to the switchbacks (five in total) where it has 20%+ grades.

Don’t be ashamed to hike this section — I did.

Plus it gives you time to enjoy the gorgeous views out to your side on the switchbacks. Below you, you’ll see more and more of Bradley and Taggart Lakes. The view at the end is gorgeous, but the views along the way aren’t anything to sneeze at either.

Eventually, around the three-mile mark, you’ll reach the trail split.

Trail split

Here, the trail is easy to miss.

Or, at least it was for me while a bunch of hikers casually sat right around it, pretty much blocking it from easy view. It’s right off what would be the sixth switchback.

The trail to the left continues on to Ampitheater Lake (which you have the option of adding on later). But the trail right off the switchback is the trail you want, that’s the trail to Delta Lake. You’ll know you’re on the right trail because it dips down slightly instead of continuing up like the trail to Ampitheater.

Split to Delta Lake

Next, the trail will get pretty technical.

If it’s clear of people (and animals, hopefully), you can run some of this part if you want some technical fun. It’s rooty and you’ll run slightly downhill until you reach the boulder section.

Here you’ll climb (or skip) across the boulders in a ‘make-your-own-trail’ style run. And that’s kind of setting the tone for the rest of this run (climb) to Delta Lake. Loosely follow the trail through a forested area and then more stones. You’ll know you’re at the final climb when it’s an almost vertical trail of roots.

Once at the top, round the giant rock and Delta Lake sits right in front of you.

If you’re lucky like us, there won’t be many people there. We sat on a big rock on the left side that gave us the perfect view of the lake and Grand Teton. Some people were brave enough to take a dip in the cold waters. Kaitlyn and I simply enjoyed our Gu’s and drank some water to recover.

Then, with the people we had passed arriving, we started to head back after about 15-20 minutes.

Adding on Surprise Lake and Ampitheater Lake

The way back is simply going the same way you came up.

The best part about the way back is it’s all downhill. So, if you love running downhill, you can just let go and have a blast (especially if the trail is clear).

But there is an alternative option if you want to tack on a bit more mileage. And that’s adding on Surprise Lake and Ampitheater Lake. Once back at the trail split, the trail to the left that goes downhill will be the way back to the trail head, finishing the 7-mile run. But the trail to the right, that goes uphill, continues on to the two lakes. Adding these two on would add around 2-3 extra miles, so it would end up being around a 12-13 mile run in all.

Kaitlyn and I started this trail to head to the two lakes. But, about a mile in, a black bear just off trail plus an incoming storm caused us to turn around and head back to the trailhead.

So, a great option to add on to your run, and a great transition into the next section.

What to take with you on your run

Every runner has their own trail running gear checklist, and that’s unique to them.

But there are certain things you absolutely must take with you on the Delta Lake Trail (and other runs in Grand Teton National Park). Let’s get into them:

• Trail running shoes: This may seem obvious, but find your best trail runners you can travel with that also have grip. The more technical sections of the trail require it.
• Bear spray: It sounds overused, but it’s true. You’re in bear country. And whether the odds of seeing one are low or not, you’ll be happy you have bear spray if you do. It works, and is effective against bears.
• Water: Unless you have a filter, there are no water sources along the trail. So bring more than you think you’ll need. I had around a liter, and refilled with a filtered water bottle at the top for another liter. So two in all.
• Trekking poles (optional): As I mentioned, it’s uphill the entire way to the lake. Trekking poles aren’t bad to have in this situations. And, they can help keep you stabilized on the downhills.

Best time to visit Delta Lake Grand Teton

The ideal time to run the Delta Lake Trail in Grand Teton is between July and September. June isn’t bad, but there are sometimes reports of snow still. And that can make the final scramble more dangerous.

If you want to avoid crowds, aim to start the trail by sunrise. But, regardless of the time you go, the views will be amazing.

Tips for running the Delta Lake Trail in Grand Teton

• Navigation: The Delta Lake Trail isn’t a maintained or marked trail by the National Park Service (you’ll see a sign saying this along the way). So, I recommend downloading the route from the one in my signup form, AllTrails, or another service to follow the route.
• Weather: If It’s wet or icy, save the trail for another day. The steep sections can be dangerous, and the loose dirt can make it easy to slip. And even being injured out here is a bad idea.
• Wildlife awareness: Once again just in case you didn’t get it. You’re in bear country! So be smart and be aware of your surroundings. Take bear spray, make noise/play music, or even attach bells to your pack to avoid suprising a bear.

Ready to run the Delta Lake Trail?

The Delta Lake Trail in Grand Teton National Park is definitely a tough trail.

But the reward at the end is more than worth it. If you only have time for one trail in Grand Teton, I think this should be the one. Even if you don’t run it and decide to hike it, the views alone make up for it. So, pack your gear, hit the trail early, and enjoy one of Grand Teton’s best-kept secrets.

Be sure to check out my other national park trail guides, like the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park, to help plan your national park runs. And if you want more trail guides, running tips, and destination ideas, don’t forget to join my email list for updates and more!