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10 Best Lakes in Wyoming

Wyoming is a relatively high state, with its lowest point being 945 metres and its highest being Gannett Peak at over 4,200 metres above sea level. Its different elevations means that the state’s diverse landscape made up of mountains, national parks, national forests, national historic trails, national recreation areas and wildlife reserves can be explored at different altitudes.

The state is home to more than 4,000 lakes that are beautiful and boast some picturesque scenery. The lakes are pristine, meaning the lakes and clean and healthy. With so many gorgeous lakes within the state, keep reading to learn about the 10 best lakes in Wyoming;

1. Yellowstone Lake

Yellowstone Lake – Flickr

Yellowstone Lake is the largest body of water in Yellowstone National Park, northwestern Wyoming. The lake is 7,732 feet (2,357 m) above sea level and covers 136 square miles (350 km2) with 110 miles (180 km) of shoreline. It is the largest freshwater lake above 7,000 ft (2,100 m) in North America and the second largest in the world, at so high an elevation.

The lake and its environs are a haven for aquatic birds, such as Canada geese, several species of ducks, sandhill cranes, common loons, American white pelicans, and the rare trumpeter swan. It is also prized for trout fishing, although the native cutthroat trout are now endangered by introduced predators, notably lake trout.

In winter, the lake freezes over and the snow-covered landscape invites you to explore on skies or snowshoes. During Summer, you can enjoy exploring the thermal basins, hiking trails and the beautiful wildlife.   

2. Jackson lake

Jackson Lake – Unsplash

Jackson Lake is in Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming. It is a natural lake fed by the Snake River, its volume was increased by construction of the Jackson Lake Dam, originally built as a log-crib dam in 1906. A new concrete and earthen dam replaced the original by 1916. The dam was reconstructed in 1989 for increased earthquake protection.

The lake is up to 15 mi (24 km) long, 7 mi (11 km) wide, 438 ft (134 m) deep and an elevation of 6,772 ft (2,064 m) above sea level. There are over 15 islands in the lake, including the largest, Elk Island, and Donoho Point. Numerous species of fish inhabit the lake including Brown trout, lake trout, cutthroat trout, pike and salmon.

In summary, Jackson Lake delivers a spectacular scenic setting in which to enjoy all the wealth of outdoor activities.

3. Jenny Lake

Jenny Lake – Unsplash

Lake Jenny is tucked away at the base of the Teton Range in northwestern Wyoming. The lake is estimated to be 256 feet (78 m) deep, at an elevation of 2,067 metres above sea level and encompasses 1,191 acres (482 ha). It is named after a Shoshone Indian woman who married an Englishman, Richard “Beaver Dick” Leigh.

The lake was formed approximately 12,000 years ago by glaciers pushing rock debris which carved Cascade Canyon, forming a terminal moraine which now impounds the lake.

Lake Jenny is considered to be a centerpiece in Grand Teton National Park, with many hiking trails, scenic boat rides, and quick access to the major climbing routes onto the tallest peaks of the Teton Range.

4. Phelps Lake

Phelps Lake – Unsplash

Phelps Lake is located on the southern section of the Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming. The lake sits at the base of the towering mountains and the mouth of Death Canyon.

The lake is estimated to be 1.5 mi (2.4 km) long, 75 mi (1.2 km) wide and at 6,633 feet above sea level. There is no road access to the lake, with visitors arriving on foot from the Death Canyon Trailhead or Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve. Phelps Lake is best known for its ‘jumping rock’ that acts as a natural diving board.

Phelps Lake is loaded with lively cutthroat trout, brook trout, whitefish, and lake trout.

5. Leigh Lake

Leigh Lake – Wikipedia

Leigh Lake is located southeast of Mount Moran in Grand Teton National Park. The lake is 2.4 miles (3.9 km) wide, 2.8 miles (4.5 km) long, at an elevation of 2,096 metres above sea level and has a surface area of 725 hectare.

The lake is at the terminus of both Paintbrush and Leigh Canyons and accessed from the Leigh Lake Trail. Leigh Lake is a perfect destination for canoeing, kayaking and camping with the 3,840-metre high Mount Moran acting as a backdrop.

The lake was named for Richard “Beaver Dick” Leigh, a mountain guide.

6. Lake Alice

Lake Alice – Flickr

Lake Alice is the largest natural lake found in the western portion of the Bridger-Teton National Forest in the state of Wyoming. The lake is 3 miles (4.8 km) long, 7,745 feet (2,361 m) elevation, 230-acre (93 ha), and 200 feet (61 m) max depth. It was formed by a massive landslide from Lake Mountain thousands of years ago.

The lake is the home of the only known pure lake strain of naturally reproducing Bonneville cutthroat trout. Lake Alice is great for a camping holiday, with nine campsites being found at the southeast corner of the 93 hectare lake. There is also a picnic area at the south end of the lake that offers some great fishing.

The lake is named after a young girl who drowned in the early 1900s.

7. Trout Lake

Trout Lake – Flickr

Trout Lake is located near the confluence of Pebble Creek and Soda Butte Creek in the Yellowstone National Park. The lake was formerly known as Fish Lake and Soda Butte Lake. It measures 250 yards (0.23 km) long, 250 yards (0.23 km) wide and at an elevation of 2,122 metres.

The lake is a popular area for viewing river otter and anglers for its large (14-20″) Yellowstone cutthroat trout and very large (20-30″) rainbow trout and rainbow/cutthroat hybrids. All cutthroat trout and hybrids caught in Trout Lake must be released.

The lake gets its name from its very large Yellowstone cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and rainbow/cutthroat hybrids, which is one of the lake’s main draws.

8. Shoshone Lake

Shoshone Lake – Wikipedia

Shoshone Lake is a backcountry lake in the southwest section of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The lake has an area of 8,050 acres (33 km2; 13 sq mi) elevated at 7,795 feet (2,376 m). The only way to reach the lake and the campgrounds is by hiking from the Dogshead/Channel Trailhead or along the Continental Divide Trail.

It’s the second-largest roadless lake in the contiguous United States, and it had no native species of fish before the late 19th century. The waters of Shoshone were stocked with lakers from back east, along with browns and brookies.

In addition to hiking the lake and its environs are great for camping, fishing, canoe or kayak and near the western edge of the lake there is a 1-mile trail that meanders around the Shoshone Geyser Basin. 

9. Bradley Lake

Bradley Lake – Flickr

The glacially formed lake is located near the terminus of Garnet Canyon in Grand Teton National Park, in Wyoming. Bradley Lake is .75 mi (1.21 km) long, 45 mi (0.72 km) wide and at an elevation of 7,027ft (2,142 m) above sea level. Bradley Lake Trail is located south of Garnet Canyon beneath the South Teton.

There is no camping along the lake’s shoreline, but you can enjoy fishing for cutthroat trout that range from seven to fourteen inches.

Both Bradley Lake and Taggart Lake, a few hundred yards apart, were named after members of the Hayden Survey party of 1872.

10. Lower Slide Lake

Lower Slide Lake – Flickr

Lower Slide Lake is located in Bridger-Teton National Forest, in Wyoming. The natural lake was created on June 23, 1925, due to a combination of seismic activity and heavy rain, some 50 million cubic feet of rock slid down Sheep Mountain, creating Lower Slide Lake and leaving a scar on the mountainside that is still visible today. The lake was once much larger, however part of the rock dam failed less than two years later, on May 18, 1927, causing deadly flooding downstream.

The lake waters have natural and stocked fish, including lake and Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout, and mountain whitefish. Slide Lake is an idyllic setting for camping, swimming and stand-up paddleboarding, and the surrounding Gros Ventre Wilderness is a less crowded alternative to popular destinations in Grand Teton National Park.