We could see the Tetons, Gallatins, and Absarokas, as well as Heart, Shoshone, and Yellowstone Lakes. The views along the switchbacks make you forget that it's a steep trail. Stay at Heart Lake and enjoy your time there.
tlockling - Mar 27, 2016 3:14 am Date Climbed: Aug 1, 1989
1989
Up there a year after the fire. Still a nice view.
Matt Inman - Aug 6, 2015 12:00 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2013
Heart Lake Trail
My first long hike in grizzly country. Bear spray in hand, it was an easy hike past the thermal area to the shores of Heart Lake. At that point, I had only seen a few backpackers nearing the end of a ten day trip, and a park employee painting the cabin near the lake. At the lake is where the real hike begins. 3.5 miles uphill and it's very steep. Once it flattens out closer to the top it's a pretty cool hike. There was snow off the side of the trail and it's rocky and kindof exposed. I'm pretty bad with heights, and at the lookout at the top, I was nervous. Someone who climbs will laugh at that, but it is a long ways down. The views of Heart Lake area amazing. Thanks to the park employee who filled my water bottle after my filter blew up on me and I had no back up. Didn't see a single bear.
jdarr67 - May 2, 2014 6:33 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2012
Heart Lake Route
Climb this every year for work and lucky enough to use the fire lookout overnight each time. Views of the Tetons are spectacular. Heart Lake is a true gem.
We did this as a day hike from Heart Lake trailhead. This was a good time to go because of the amount of daylight and the trail isn't usually open until after June due to bear activity in the area. It was raining and cloudy in the morning and cleared up in the afternoon.
skorpeo - Apr 18, 2010 6:23 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 1982
A long time ago
With sister and two friends. It was a beautiful hike as i recall.
Joseph Bullough - Sep 30, 2009 2:27 pm Date Climbed: Sep 25, 2009
Easy
An easy hike from our camp on the west shore of Heart Lake. Amazingly warm for late September - shorts and t-shirt weather on the summit. Way too many switchbacks on the trail; we bee-lined down the northeast slopes on the descent and probably shaved at least a mile off the hike.
melissaacree - Nov 16, 2007 9:52 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2007
Heart Lake
Did this as an overnight backpacking trip. Followed the 7 mile trail to heart lake and camped there at the base of Mount Sheridan. Got an early start in the morning, spectacular views of several distant mountain ranges all along the way.
The friend I hiked this with had to be at work in the middle of the afternoon, so we got an early start and moved fast.
weeds19 - Mar 21, 2007 1:16 am Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2003
Backpacking trip
This was part of a three day backpacking trip that I took with about ten other friends. The peak was a side trip that yielded amazing views of the valley. The lookout on the summit is also well tended and the guy manning it was friendly and informative. On the way down I literally almost ran into an elk (~10ft) before I saw him.
I did this one when I worked at Lake Hotel as an overnighter. We ate Lakers from Heart Lake, summited and had a great glissade down the north side back to camp. We hiked out in the dark so we could make it to work the next morning. I did that (night hiking in Grizzly country) way too many times that summer.
Zac Finley - Dec 1, 2006 3:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2006
Last Hike of the Summer
Got an early start in order to get all 22 miles in one day. The hike to Heart Lake is beautiful. Saw a grizz about 300 yards off the trail in a meadow below Factory Hill. The hike from the lake to the summit was nice as well. Ranger that lives on the summit was very nice, inviting me in his lookout cabin for coffee. After his advice, I made my way back down the mountainside off trail to get a better look at the Rustic Geyser Basin. Climbing, jumping, and bounding over the dead fallen lodgepoles I fell a couple times, gettin up with no hesitation, until, the steep tall grass before me got steeper, and I got tripped up on another branch. It was at this point I rolled my right ankle. I didn't know it at the time, but I had just torn 3 ligaments. Despite the pain, I know I had to keep it moving before it stiffin up and I'd lose all ability to walk. Slowly makin my way in the direction of the trail, I limped right past the elk carcass responsible for the heavy grizz activity in the area at the time. Then clouds rolled in over Heart Lake and hail and rain poured on me from the heavens. Being by myself, 8 miles to go to the trailhead, 3 torn ligaments, and lightening bolting over the lake I was walkin along, things weren't lookin so great. After another mile along the lake I stopped to ask the ranger at the patrol cabin what he thought I should do. He insisted on stayin with him for the night. I was hesitate to do so, so I told him, I walk another mile and see how things go. Things didn't go so well. I was gradually movin slower as the ankle swelled more and more, and the sun was gettin lower and lower behind already dark clouds. Breakin my good walking stick in frustration, I turned around towards the ranger's cabin after hiking for almost another mile. I stayed with him overnight. The next morning he radioed in for an extra horse. I rode out on horseback with a different ranger all the way back to my Jeep. Driving the stick back to the dorms and to the clinic was an interesting task.
Arthur Digbee - Oct 16, 2016 9:43 pm
Views !We could see the Tetons, Gallatins, and Absarokas, as well as Heart, Shoshone, and Yellowstone Lakes. The views along the switchbacks make you forget that it's a steep trail. Stay at Heart Lake and enjoy your time there.
tlockling - Mar 27, 2016 3:14 am Date Climbed: Aug 1, 1989
1989Up there a year after the fire. Still a nice view.
Matt Inman - Aug 6, 2015 12:00 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2013
Heart Lake TrailMy first long hike in grizzly country. Bear spray in hand, it was an easy hike past the thermal area to the shores of Heart Lake. At that point, I had only seen a few backpackers nearing the end of a ten day trip, and a park employee painting the cabin near the lake. At the lake is where the real hike begins. 3.5 miles uphill and it's very steep. Once it flattens out closer to the top it's a pretty cool hike. There was snow off the side of the trail and it's rocky and kindof exposed. I'm pretty bad with heights, and at the lookout at the top, I was nervous. Someone who climbs will laugh at that, but it is a long ways down. The views of Heart Lake area amazing. Thanks to the park employee who filled my water bottle after my filter blew up on me and I had no back up. Didn't see a single bear.
jdarr67 - May 2, 2014 6:33 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2012
Heart Lake RouteClimb this every year for work and lucky enough to use the fire lookout overnight each time. Views of the Tetons are spectacular. Heart Lake is a true gem.
mountaingazelle - Jul 27, 2012 12:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2012
SheridanWe did this as a day hike from Heart Lake trailhead. This was a good time to go because of the amount of daylight and the trail isn't usually open until after June due to bear activity in the area. It was raining and cloudy in the morning and cleared up in the afternoon.
skorpeo - Apr 18, 2010 6:23 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 1982
A long time agoWith sister and two friends. It was a beautiful hike as i recall.
Joseph Bullough - Sep 30, 2009 2:27 pm Date Climbed: Sep 25, 2009
EasyAn easy hike from our camp on the west shore of Heart Lake. Amazingly warm for late September - shorts and t-shirt weather on the summit. Way too many switchbacks on the trail; we bee-lined down the northeast slopes on the descent and probably shaved at least a mile off the hike.
melissaacree - Nov 16, 2007 9:52 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2007
Heart LakeDid this as an overnight backpacking trip. Followed the 7 mile trail to heart lake and camped there at the base of Mount Sheridan. Got an early start in the morning, spectacular views of several distant mountain ranges all along the way.
Sam Page - Jul 22, 2007 8:30 pm
Day hike in summer 1993The friend I hiked this with had to be at work in the middle of the afternoon, so we got an early start and moved fast.
weeds19 - Mar 21, 2007 1:16 am Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2003
Backpacking tripThis was part of a three day backpacking trip that I took with about ten other friends. The peak was a side trip that yielded amazing views of the valley. The lookout on the summit is also well tended and the guy manning it was friendly and informative. On the way down I literally almost ran into an elk (~10ft) before I saw him.
b. - Dec 1, 2006 5:38 pm
Short WeekendI did this one when I worked at Lake Hotel as an overnighter. We ate Lakers from Heart Lake, summited and had a great glissade down the north side back to camp. We hiked out in the dark so we could make it to work the next morning. I did that (night hiking in Grizzly country) way too many times that summer.
Zac Finley - Dec 1, 2006 3:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2006
Last Hike of the SummerGot an early start in order to get all 22 miles in one day. The hike to Heart Lake is beautiful. Saw a grizz about 300 yards off the trail in a meadow below Factory Hill. The hike from the lake to the summit was nice as well. Ranger that lives on the summit was very nice, inviting me in his lookout cabin for coffee. After his advice, I made my way back down the mountainside off trail to get a better look at the Rustic Geyser Basin. Climbing, jumping, and bounding over the dead fallen lodgepoles I fell a couple times, gettin up with no hesitation, until, the steep tall grass before me got steeper, and I got tripped up on another branch. It was at this point I rolled my right ankle. I didn't know it at the time, but I had just torn 3 ligaments. Despite the pain, I know I had to keep it moving before it stiffin up and I'd lose all ability to walk. Slowly makin my way in the direction of the trail, I limped right past the elk carcass responsible for the heavy grizz activity in the area at the time. Then clouds rolled in over Heart Lake and hail and rain poured on me from the heavens. Being by myself, 8 miles to go to the trailhead, 3 torn ligaments, and lightening bolting over the lake I was walkin along, things weren't lookin so great. After another mile along the lake I stopped to ask the ranger at the patrol cabin what he thought I should do. He insisted on stayin with him for the night. I was hesitate to do so, so I told him, I walk another mile and see how things go. Things didn't go so well. I was gradually movin slower as the ankle swelled more and more, and the sun was gettin lower and lower behind already dark clouds. Breakin my good walking stick in frustration, I turned around towards the ranger's cabin after hiking for almost another mile. I stayed with him overnight. The next morning he radioed in for an extra horse. I rode out on horseback with a different ranger all the way back to my Jeep. Driving the stick back to the dorms and to the clinic was an interesting task.
Tracy - Dec 1, 2006 2:12 am
standard routeMy dad took me (age 9) and my brothers Barton (age 10) and Eric (age 7) up this one when we spent a week camping at Heart Lake in August of 1971