Hiking the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail in Great Basin National Park
Distance: 2.7 miles / 4.3 km
The Alpine Lakes Loop Trail in Great Basin National Park is a beautiful and easy day hike through the glacial cirque beneath Wheeler Peak, where hikers can enjoy not one but two picturesque alpine lakes in the shadow of the highest peak in the park!
On top of this, the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail is one of the best family-friendly adventures in Great Basin National Park, as the elevation change is very minimal—not to mention, those who are willing to brave the cold temperatures can enjoy a fun but often very cold swim!
This is all to say that there’s a lot to love about the hike to both Stella and Teresa Lake, especially considering that the loop is often combined with other nearby adventures, including the Wheeler Peak Summit Trail, the Bristlecone Loop Trail, and the Glacier Trail beyond—all of which are among the best adventures in Great Basin National Park!
Alpine Lakes Loop Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail is located at the very end of Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, in the same parking area that serves the Bristlecone Loop Trail, the Glacier Trail, the Island Forest Trail, and the alternate route up Wheeler Peak.
That said, the Bristlecone–Alpine Lakes Trailhead is the most popular trailhead in Great Basin National Park, though using the word 'popular' does not mean the same thing here as it does in countless other parks, such as all the different trailheads off the Yosemite Valley Loop Trail in Yosemite National Park.
Google Maps Directions: Alpine Lakes Loop Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Great Basin
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Great Basin National Park.
Hiking the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail
As previously mentioned, the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail begins at a joint trailhead that serves the Island Forest Trail, the Bristlecone Loop Trail, the Glacier Trail, and the alternate route up Wheeler Peak.
That said, the Alpine Lakes Loop is at the center of all these different adventures, meaning that each of these respective trails branches away at various points along the loop.
Alpine Lakes Loop-Island Forest Junction
After just a few steps, the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail reaches the first of four different day hikes that branch off the loop, the first being the very short and easy Island Forest Trail.
Once here, go right to continue on the Alpine Lakes Trail toward the start of the loop. However, I recommend keeping the Island Forest Trail in mind for the hike back, as it’s such a quick adventure to add to an already fairly short day hike on the Alpine Lakes Loop.
Read My Separate Post: Island Forest Trail (Coming Soon)
Alpine Lakes Loop Trail
After just 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the Alpine Lakes Trail reaches the start of the 2.5-mile (4.0 km) loop to both Stella and Teresa Lake, with Stella Lake being closer if you go right and Teresa Lake being closer if you go left.
Personally, I don’t think either direction makes much of a difference in terms of enjoying the loop or taking photos, but I believe both lakes are best photographed in the late afternoon hours before the sun dips below the north ridge on Wheeler Peak.
The only exception to this sentiment is Stella Lake at sunrise, when the beautiful alpenglow on the summit lights up the glacial cirque!
In this article, I decided to go right in the counterclockwise direction toward Stella Lake.
Regardless of which direction you choose to hike the loop, the entire trail follows a very gradual uphill path to Stella Lake, which is why I believe the Alpine Lakes Loop is one of the best trail-running hikes in Great Basin National Park!
If trail running is something you’re considering, I recommend using the shoes I have linked below, as they work well for both hiking and trail running on all the best adventures across Great Basin.
Most high-elevation forests in Great Basin National Park consist of a mix of Aspen and Engelmann Spruce trees—not to be confused with the ancient Bristlecone Pines, which are only found in three separate places across the Snake Range.
The vast majority of the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail is located above 10,000 ft. (3,048 m), which is true of all the day hikes that begin from the Bristlecone–Alpine Lakes Trailhead.
This is why I highly recommend hiking in a hooded sun shirt to stay safe, as it’s much easier to burn at these high elevations—especially if you plan to add the Bristlecone Trail, the Glacier Trail, or the hike up Wheeler Peak to the Alpine Lakes Loop.
Lower Alpine Lakes Loop-Wheeler Peak Summit Junction
After 0.9 miles (1.4 km), the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail reaches the first of two junctions with the Wheeler Peak Summit Trail.
That said, I’ve written a great side-by-side comparison about hiking Wheeler Peak from each trailhead, which I encourage you to learn more about at the beginning of my separate post linked below.
In any case, go straight at this split to continue on the Alpine Lakes Loop toward Stella Lake, as the trail to the right is simply the 1.1-mile (1.8 km) Wheeler Peak Summit Trail that leads out to the trailhead off Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive.
Read My Separate Post: Wheeler Peak Summit Trail
Upper Alpine Lakes Loop-Wheeler Peak Summit Junction
After just 0.1 miles (0.2 km) from the first Wheeler Peak junction, or 1.0 mile (1.6 km) from the Bristlecone–Alpine Lakes Trailhead, the Wheeler Peak Summit Trail branches away and begins making its way up the north ridge.
At this second split, go straight once again to continue hiking to Stella Lake, just a few steps around the corner!
Read My Separate Post: Wheeler Peak Summit Trail
Stella Lake
This is Stella Lake, which in my opinion, has the better view of Wheeler Peak compared to Teresa Lake.
This is exactly why I said earlier that sunrise is one of the best times to hike to Stella Lake, especially considering that Wheeler Peak is first to see the alpenglow as the highest peak in the Snake Range!
Are There Fish in Stella and Teresa Lake?
No. The only lake with fish in Great Basin National Park is Baker Lake, but Stella and Teresa Lakes are too shallow and, as a result, freeze solid during winter months.
On that note, this actually speaks to something more important, which is that both Stella Lake and Teresa Lake are fed by snowmelt, meaning that during the late summer and early fall months, they dry up considerably, looking more like small tarns than alpine lakes.
These photos were taken in the middle of June, when much of the snow in Great Basin had melted for the year but before the lakes had begun to shrink during the hottest weeks of the summer.
After Stella Lake, the Alpine Lakes Loop continues for roughly 0.75 miles (1.2 km) before reaching the south side of Teresa Lake.
This is the high point on the Alpine Lakes Loop, meaning that, from this point to the beginning, the trail gradually winds its way back to the trailhead.
That said, what I hope this shows is that the 380-ft. (116 m) difference in elevation is hardly noticeable over the full 2.7-mile (4.3 km) hike.
Something to keep in mind is that there are no bears in Great Basin National Park.
However, there are Mule Deer and Mountain Lions, with Mule Deer being sighted far more often across the Snake Range.
On one occasion, I actually heard a Mountain Lion in Great Basin, though I have never been fortunate—or unfortunate—to see one!
This is where the gradual descent to Teresa Lake begins.
This is where Alpine Lakes Loop Trail reaches the south side of Teresa Lake, but in my opinion, the best views are where the trail meets the lake again on the other side.
This is the south side of Teresa Lake.
Alpine Lakes Loop-Teresa Lake Junction
This is where the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail reaches the north side of Teresa Lake and the best views of the lake with Wheeler Peak in the backdrop.
Once here, go right to walk over to Teresa Lake, or go left to continue around the loop toward the Bristlecone Trail a short distance ahead.
It’s certainly debatable about whether Stella Lake or Teresa Lake is more beautiful, but when the lakes are mostly full in the late spring and early summer, Teresa Lake always has more of turquoise-blue color, while Stella Lake is more emerald green.
Once back on the Alpine Lakes Loop, there is only 0.1 miles (0.2 km) between the junction with Teresa Lake and the split for the Bristlecone Loop.
Alpine Lakes Loop-Bristlecone Junction
This is the fourth and final time the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail passes a junction with another day hike, this one being the trail to both the Bristlecone Loop Trail and the Glacier Trail beyond.
In my opinion, both trails are, without a doubt, some of the best things to do in Great Basin National Park, which you can learn more about in my separate articles linked below.
In any case, go straight once again to continue hiking the Alpine Lakes Loop back to the beginning, where the trail will simply wind its way through the beautiful Aspen–Engelmann Spruce forest for the rest of the hike.
Read My Separate Posts: Bristlecone Loop Trail / Glacier Trail
After the Bristlecone–Glacier junction, the Alpine Lakes Trail simply continues downhill to the start of the loop, similar to the gradual beginning sections before Stella Lake.
In my experience, this eastern side of the loop tends to be slightly busier than the other half, due entirely to the fact that both the Bristlecone Trail and the Glacier Trail are such popular day hikes in Great Basin.
However, as previously mentioned, calling anything 'busy' in Great Basin National Park is a bit of a loose statement!
Alpine Lakes Loop Junction
This is where the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail completes the 2.5-mile (4.0 km) loop beneath Wheeler Peak, just 0.1 miles (0.2 km) from the trailhead.
That said, go right to return to the Bristlecone–Alpine Lakes Trailhead, and again, consider adding the Island Forest Trail onto the hike on the way back, since it takes so little time to walk the short loop and learn about this beautiful environment the National Park Service calls an "island in the sky."
