| Name: | Taggart Lake Trail |
| Type: | Loop |
| Trailhead: | Taggart Lake Trailhead |
| Map: | Google Maps |
| Round Trip Length: | 5.2 miles |
| Time: | 2 Hours |
| Nearest City: | Moose, WY |
| Best Time of Year: | June – September |
| Elevation Gain: | 545 feet |
| Highest Point: | 7,116 feet |
Taggart Lake Loop Trail is easily the best hike in Grand Teton National Park. At just over 5 miles, this Taggart Lake loop trail takes you to not one, but two alpine lakes and serves you perfect views of the entire Teton Range throughout the majority of the hike.
If you’re trying to decide whether to spend your day hiking the famous Jenny Lake or Taggart lake, I can save you a lot of time. Go with Taggart Lake. It has fewer people and better mountain views.
Taggart Lake History
Taggart Lake was carved by a glacier sliding down the peaks of the Grand Tetons and eventually melting away, creating the lake. (Feel free to swim in the lake if you enjoy cold water and not being able to feel your limbs.)
So who is Taggart and why does he have a lake?
The lake was named after William Rush Taggart. William was a geologist who accompanied Nathaniel P. Langford and James Stevenson in 1872 on there quest to be the first two people to climb Grand Teton Peak. According to Langford and Stevenson, they were successful in their endeavor. However, this accomplishment has been debated since its claim. Another party following in the same ascending route 26 years later believes the duo mistook a slightly smaller peak called “The Enclosure” as the summit of Grand Teton.
An interesting story about “The Enclosure“
The Enclosure is the second-highest point in the Teton Range. It gets its name from a small horseshoe-shaped “enclosure” at the summit. Early explorers believed that this cave was dug out by Native Americans, and not by Mother Nature. They assume this shelter was used in the Shoshone Tribes’ vision quest rituals. According to Anthropological records, during the vision quest, a person would remain on the mountain for two to five days without any food or water. While sleeping in the enclosure at the peak of the mountain, this person would acquire the power of whatever they dreamed. This extraordinary power would last them for one year before they had to repeat the ritual.
Trailhead
The trail to Taggart Lake starts at the Taggart Lake Trailhead. Easy enough, right? You’ll find the turn for the parking located between the Windy Point Turn Out and American Alpine Climbers Ranch. There is a sign for the trailhead, so it is pretty easy to find. There is also a big parking lot, which is a dead giveaway. And as with any Grand Teton hike, the earlier you start, the better chance you have of getting a parking spot.
Taggart Lake and Bradley Lake Trail
From the parking lot, you will see signs directing you to the right. Follow this path until you get to a private road then veer right again into the trees. You will know you’re going the correct direction if you come to a bridge. Ramble on across the wooden bridge and begin your climb up to the next junction.
Bradley Lake
At just over a mile, you’ll come to the Bradley Lake and Taggart Lake junction. Bradley Lake is smaller than Taggart Lake but just as beautiful, in my opinion. Go right towards Bradley lake.
At Bradley Lake, you are greeted with another junction. After you have basked in the beauty of the alpine lake, take the Valley Trail towards Taggart Lake, thus creating a lovely scenic loop that will eventually bring you back to the Bradley/Taggart Lake Loop junction you encountered earlier.
Taggart Lake
Taggart Lake sits up at 6,902 feet so you’re going to have about 300 feet in elevation gain on this part of the trail. It’s not easy, but it is doable. As you finish the climb up to Taggart Lake, you’ll eventually hit a downhill section that will bring you to your first views of the lake.
Side Note: Watch Out for Bears
Bears love to frequent Taggart Lake. We had a little bear scare on our hike. My wife and I came around a blind corner to see a teenage black bear squatting 15 feet away in the bushes snacking on some berries just off-trail. We banged some metal water bottles together to alert the bear to our presence. The bear seemed unamused and looked at us with that teenage disdain for interrupting his mid-morning meal. It was entrancing being so close to the wild creature until he stopped chewing and took a thunderous step in our direction. We understood this gesture loud and clear, so we gently (but hastily) shuffled on down the trail, warning several other hikers to look for alternate routes back to the trailhead. Always carry bear spray when in Grand Teton National Park!
There is a small hill you can climb to look at the lake through the trees, but there are better views if you continue on past another trail junction sign (which you need to come back to). There are several hidden beaches along the shoreline. When your done gawking at the mountain reflections in the lake, head back to the trail sign we mentioned.
Fishing: Taggart Lake is stocked with Cutthroat trout. You’ll occasionally come across an occasional Brook trout as well. Taggart Lake is one of the more challenging fishing holes in Wyoming. The fish are stubborn, but the views make it an okay place to skunked.
Follow the sign directing back to the trailhead. You’ll eventually come back to the Bradley/ Taggart junction, and the trail will start to feel familiar again. Just continue to follow the signs and retrace your steps back past the horse corrals, over the bridge and to your car.
More Images, Please!
For more images of Taggart Lake and our Grand Teton Trip, follow us on Instagram!
Strange Question: Can you drink Taggart Lake water?
What? Why do so many people ask this question? Yes, you can drink the lake water, but as with all water found in nature, it would be wise of you to filter it. Pooping your guts out is never the way you want to spend a camping trip.
Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.