Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Difficulty
Easy
Elevation Change
200ft
Start/Finish
DeLacy Creek Trailhead (7K2;
Click here
)
Nearest Town/Junction
Old Faithful, West Thumb
Summary
An easy hike through meadows and forest to the gravel shores of the park's
largest backcountry lake.
The DeLacy Creek Trail offers the quickest access to Shoshone Lake, one of the park's
largest and loveliest lakes (in fact, Shoshone Lake was originally called DeLacy Lake).
The trailhead is on the Grand Loop Rd, east of Craig Pass near the DeLacy Creek Picnic
Area, halfway between Old Faithful and West Thumb Junction. The parking area is on the
north side of the road, the trail on the south.
June and July bring lovely wildflowers along the route but also plenty of boggy ground
and biting insects, so bring bug repellent before August. The meadows are good habitat
for moose, elk, mule deer, coyote and sandhill cranes. DeLacy Creek is the last section of
the North Shoshone Lake Trail, described on
Click here
.
The trail leads through forest for 20 minutes to a classic oxbow bend in the creek, be-
fore continuing through forest into open meadows. Ten minutes later you climb to a small
hill for your first views of the lake and the valley. About 30 minutes later, just after
passing the meandering lily-choked creek, you'll get to the gravelly shore of the huge
Shoshone Lake
. Enjoy a picnic on the beach and then return the way you came.
Bechler Region
Bechler boasts the highest concentration of waterfalls in Yellowstone and some of the best
backcountry hot-spring soaks anywhere. Its forests also escaped the worst of the 1988
fires. The area's remoteness means it's best suited to experienced hikers taking long back-
country trips but some rewarding shorter hikes are possible. In early summer trails may be
knee-deep in water, so inquire about conditions at another ranger station before driving all
the way out here.
