Shoshone Lake

Welcome, traveler, to the DeLacy Creek Trailhead, your gateway to one of the most magnificent and secluded environments within Yellowstone National Park. As a scholar of natural history, I am thrilled to guide you through this…

As we set off down the DeLacy Creek Trail, the first thing you will notice is the immediate enveloping presence of the forest. The transition from the sunny, open expanse of the trailhead to the dappled shade of the pine canopy…

We have arrived at the magnificent northern shore of Shoshone Lake. Step out from the shadow of the forest and allow your eyes to adjust to the sudden, brilliant expanse of light. …

Our journey along the perimeter of the lake eventually brings us to a significant hydrological obstacle: the Lewis River. Here, the trail does not graciously offer a wooden bridge or a set of dry stepping stones. …

Having successfully negotiated the river ford, we now find ourselves walking upon a path of legendary status among long-distance hikers: The Continental Divide Trail, or the CDT. This monumental footpath stretches thousands of…

We now approach the crown jewel of the western shore: the Shoshone Geyser Basin. Long before you see the thermal features, you will smell them. …

Leaving the intense heat and sulfur of the geyser basin behind, we transition back to the serene, cooling influence of the lakeshore. This stretch of the trail offers access to some of the most idyllic backcountry campsites in…

As our expedition around Shoshone Lake draws to a close, and we begin the final, long trek back toward the DeLacy Creek Trailhead and the pavement of the modern world, it is time to reflect upon the magnitude of what we have…