Triangle Lakes

Difficulty: Moderate
Trip Type: Day Hike / Multi-Day Backpacking
Distance: ~10.5 miles from trailhead / ~2.3 miles from Shadow Lake
Elevation: 10,453 feet
Coordinates: 45.11942, -109.59152
Time: ~2.5 hours from Shadow Lake
Access: Unmaintained off-trail navigation. Departs from Shadow Lake basecamp.
Bugs: Minimal (little to no bugs)

Getting there

The journey begins at the West Fork Rock Creek Trailhead. Drive past the campgrounds along the gravel access road to reach the primary parking and staging area.

The hike

If you are traveling straight from the vehicle turnaround, the route to Triangle Lake spans roughly 10.5 miles one way and involves almost 3,380 vertical feet of elevation gain. For backpackers tracking from your multi-day basecamp at Shadow Lake, this destination sits about 2.3 miles past camp. If tracking sequentially along your upper basin route, Triangle Lake is located just a short walk past your last stop at Bowback Lake.

The approach involves navigating the unmaintained high country beyond the main trail. The cross-country walking between these upper bench lakes remains relatively easy and straightforward, allowing you to traverse across the rocky alpine landscape directly to the shores of Triangle Lake.

Tips & safety

• High Country Navigation: There are no maintained paths leading through this upper basin section. Continuous cross-country route-finding is required to travel between the lakes on the high bench.

• Weather: High-altitude mountain weather can turn fast here. Come fully prepared for sustained winds or sudden storms.

• Fishing: FWP and GNIS data listed for Yellowstone Cutthroat.