Hiking the Surprise & Amphitheater Lakes Trail via Lupine Meadows in Grand Teton National Park
Distance: 10.0 miles / 16.0 km
Elevation Gain: 2,960 ft. / 902 m
The Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail in Grand Teton National Park is a beautiful and nearly all-uphill day hike that climbs its way to not one, but two stunning emerald-green lakes high up in the Teton Range!
That said, the physical requirements alone are the reason why many visitors don’t opt for the roughly 5.0-mile (8.0 km), 3,000-ft. (914 m) climb, which has a lot to do with both the long hike itself and the fact that the vast majority of day hikers beginning from the Lupine Meadows Trailhead are there to either climb the Grand Teton or hike to Delta Lake.
This is why I believe that the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail is truly a Grand Teton hidden gem, as just a fraction of hikers choose to visit these beautiful neighboring alpine lakes—especially considering how busy the trail might seem with the crowds at the trailhead and how competitive it can be to find a place to park!
Surprise & Amphitheater Lakes Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail is located at the Lupine Meadows Trailhead, a joint trailhead that serves countless different day hikes and climbs, like the hike up the Delta Lake Trail, as well as the climb up the Grand.
This is exactly why the Lupine Meadows Trailhead is one of the top three busiest trailheads in Grand Teton National Park, next to the Jenny Lake Trailhead and the Phelps Lake Trailhead.
That said, this traffic is largely driven by the increased popularity of Delta Lake over the years, which is to say: you need to park early in order to find parking at all, as most stalls are typically taken well before sunrise, with it being nearly impossible to find a spot about 30 minutes after during the busy summer travel season!
Seriously, get there early, or you’re at the mercy of someone returning from their hike hours later.
Google Maps Directions: Surprise & Amphitheater Lakes Trailhead (Lupine Meadows)
Hiking Checklist - Yellowstone–Tetons
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in the Yellowstone–Teton area.
Hiking the Surprise & Amphitheater Lakes Trail
The Lupine Meadows Trailhead can be found at the far southern end of Lupine Meadows Road, just a few steps past the last parking area.
This final lot is the hardest place to find parking, as spots are typically taken in the afternoon hours by those beginning an overnight climb up the Grand or other nearby peaks.
Take these signs seriously, as I have hiked the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail many times, and I have never not seen a bear.
In fact, on the hike when I took these photos, I saw four different bears, which is why I feel confident saying it’s at least as likely as not that you will have an encounter.
In the beginning, there isn’t much to know about the hike up to Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes, as the first 0.4 miles (0.6 km) of the trail are very flat.
However, this doesn’t last long, meaning that after these initial sections, the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail is almost always climbing.
This is exactly where I had my first Black Bear encounter on the day I took these photos—not 10 minutes into the hike!
This big boulder marks the start of what is a long, near-constant ascent to both Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes.
This is where the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail crosses Glacier Gulch Creek.
This is where the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail starts to turn west and up the ridge that leads toward the Valley Trail junction and the start of the switchbacks.
The big boulder in the photo below marks 1.0 mile (1.6 km) from the Lupine Meadows Trailhead, meaning that, from this point, there is only about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) left to the Valley Trail junction and the start of the switchbacks.
This is where the Grand Teton can start to be seen through the trees for the first time!
This is where the trail noticeably starts getting steeper, and it’s why some hikers may want to use trekking poles on the hike up to both Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes—something that can certainly be useful on countless different day hikes across Grand Teton National Park, as many trails in the Teton Range involve a lot of elevation change!
When the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail starts following the crest of the ridgeline, it’s a nice sign that there is only 0.4 miles (0.6 km) to go before the Valley Trail junction.
Surprise & Amphitheater Lakes-Valley Trail Junction
After 1.8 miles (2.9 km), the Valley Trail finally splits from the rest of the trails that climb higher up the Tetons, including the trail to both Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes.
Once here, go straight at this junction to continue up the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail and begin the switchbacks beneath Disappointment Peak.
This is the beginning of the switchbacks, which continue to be one of the busier parts of the hike to both Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes, as the vast majority of hikers continue up the trail from this point until the hidden junction for Delta Lake at the sixth switchback.
This is where the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail turns the first of 18 switchbacks before the hike levels out just below Disappointment Peak.
This is the second of 18 switchbacks.
One of the most notable things about the switchbacks is that there is a lot less shade following the Valley Trail junction.
This is why I highly recommend hiking in a hooded sun shirt, especially considering how much easier it is to burn at these higher elevations, which climb to roughly 9,700 ft. (2,957 m) at Amphitheater Lake.
This is where the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail turns the third of 18 switchbacks.
Many times when I’ve seen bears on the hike to both Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes, they are either cutting straight up or down the hillside, or hanging out right next to the trail looking for food.
This is why it’s important to be paying attention, no matter what part of the trail you are on.
This is the fourth switchback before the hidden Delta Lake junction at switchback six.
This is where the Delta Lake Trail turns the fifth switchback, which is a nice sign that the Garnet Canyon junction is not far ahead!
Surprise & Amphitheater Lakes-Garnet Canyon Junction
After 3.2 miles (5.1 km), the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail passes the junction where the Garnet Canyon Trail continues up to the Lower Saddle and the Grand Teton beyond.
That said, go straight at this split and continue hiking for a little less than 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to the next switchback, at which point the Delta Lake Trail branches away, as do many of the hikers who begin at the joint Lupine Meadows Trailhead below.
Surprise & Amphitheater Lakes-Delta Lake Junction
This is the sixth switchback, located about 3.4 miles (5.5 km) from the Lupine Meadows Trailhead, where the Delta Lake Trail finally splits off from the maintained National Park Service Trail that continues up to both Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes.
What this really means is that this is where the vast majority of hikers leave the established trail—that is, if they don’t miss the hidden junction!
All that aside, go left—or rather, turn the switchback—to stay on the maintained trail that continues to climb to both Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes.
Read My Separate Post: Delta Lake Trail
Almost immediately after passing the Delta Lake junction, the number of hikers on the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail drops precipitously.
However, there always seem to be a few who passed the hidden junction by mistake, but for the most part, the hike becomes much quieter and more relaxing from this point to the end!
This is the view looking south toward Bradley and Taggart Lakes.
Just like the switchbacks prior to Delta Lake, the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail continues to climb at roughly the same incline, which, again, is why some hikers may want to bring trekking poles—especially when combining both hikes into one!
This is the second switchback since the Delta Lake junction, or the 8th switchback since the Valley Trail junction.
I mention this because this switchback is a nice mental checkpoint as the switchbacks only get shorter from this point until the trail levels out just before Surprise Lake, making the entire hike feel like it’s moving much faster than everything below!
This is the 10th switchback since the Valley Trail junction.
By this point, most hikers who had unintentionally overshot the hidden Delta Lake junction have turned back, which, again, is why the hike to both Surprise Lake and Amphitheater Lake beyond is such a great, quiet, and fun adventure!
This is the 16th switchback, meaning there are only two to go before the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail levels out before Surprise Lake!
This is where the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail turns the 18th and final switchback before reaching both lakes!
This is where the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail begins to level out after the 18th switchback, which is a nice sign that Surprise Lake is a little less than 0.2 miles (0.3 km) away from this point!
Surprise Lake
This is where the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail passes the short path that leads down to Surprise Lake.
In my opinion, I’ve always liked Amphitheater Lake a little more, but both are absolutely worth seeing and spending some time at—especially since they’re only 0.2 miles (0.3 km) apart from one another!
This is where the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail continues after leaving Surprise Lake.
Surprise & Amphitheater Lakes-Surprise Lake Campsites Junction
After just a few steps from the Surprise Lake junction, the trail passes a side trail that leads to the designated campsites located between both lakes. These sites are reservable through the backcountry wilderness office near the Jenny Lake Visitor Center.
That aside, go left to continue on the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail toward Amphitheater Lake, a little less than 0.2 miles (0.3 km) away.
Surprise & Amphitheater Lakes-Disappointment Peak Junction
Just steps before the end of the trail, the path splits, with an unmarked trail leading up around the backside of Amphitheater Lake.
This is the route up Disappointment Peak, the peak in the backdrop of Amphitheater Lake.
That said, go right at this split, and the trail will lead to a number of beautiful places to swim along the west and north sides of the lake, with the west side being my favorite for photos because Disappointment Peak is centered more in the background!
Amphitheater Lake
This is Amphitheater Lake and the end of the maintained National Park Service trail that first began at the Lupine Meadows Trailhead.
As previously mentioned, there are a number of places to go swimming in Amphitheater Lake, which is noticeably warmer than the glacial-fed Delta Lake, located directly beneath the Grand and the Teton Glacier!
