The Upper Palisades Lake hike is a strenuous 7.25 mile trek that heads to a tropical-looking glacial lake deep in the Snake River Mountains. Along the way, you pass the gorgeous and popular Lower Palisades Lake, beyond which, traffic significantly drops off.
Upper Palisades Lake Trail Description
From the trailhead, cross the large footbridge crossing Palisades Creek and begin hiking up the forest alongside the creek. The beautiful forest occasionally provides great views of the large limestone cliffs that line the creek. The easy hiking will occasionally veer away from the creek.
Lower Palisades Canyon
At 1.1 miles in, you’ll cross Palisades Creek on your first of many footbridges after wandering through serene riparian woods. Here you’re provided stunning views of the surrounding mountains before ascending into the woods above the creek. Maple, juniper, pine, and more populate this gorgeous forest. You’ll then pop out on a hillside high above the creek before heading back into the woods.
A scree field lines the trail, momentarily breaking up the woods. This will become a consistent pattern for a while as you go from woods, to rocky terrain below the cliffs lining the creek. Often the woods will be a quick grove, other times thicker.
Lower Palisades Lake
As you cross another footbridge, you’ll enter a narrow section of the canyon, staying low against the creek as you pass below the rising cliffs. You’ll quickly cross another footbridge as you continue to stay low with the creek. Rushing rapids will define the creek as you cross once more, after which, you’ll make a quick switchback up a hill.
You’ll veer away from the creek and climb gradually as the trail gets rockier, also providing great views down the canyon. As you continue to climb a few more switchbacks, you’ll reach a junction at 4.2 miles in, complete with a large camping area, where you’ll want to stay left. The trail will wind around the south side of Lower Palisades Lake, initially offering brief glimpses through the trees, then a much more compelling view at the footbridge crossing the runoff.
The Palisades Creek Trail continues up the northwestern side of Lower Palisades Lake. At the other end of the lake, beaver dams help to create a vibrant wetlands area feeding the lake. As you climb slightly above the wetlands, Palisades Peak comes into a bit better view before climbing higher and back into the woods. Soon the sound of a flowing creek can be heard again as you leave the wetlands area.
Upper Palisades Canyon
Winding beside the braided creek, you’ll head back down into willows and cross a small footbridge. The trail continues up through the meadow between two creeks as you notice a small cabin on the right. It’s here that you’ll also reach a junction with the Chicken Springs Creek Trail forking to the left. Continue straight to maintain some easy hiking through the meadow.
With Palisades Creek still to your right, you’ll wind through woods as you twist around the base of hills. You then emerge high above the creek with a stunning view of Palisades Peak rising high above. From here, you’ll descend down to the creek to cross a large footbridge.
Pass through thick brush and woods before beginning an ascent up a large hill. Switchbacks guide you up as evergreens become more prominent. You’ll here the rush of the runoff from Upper Palisades Lake far below for a few moments along the climb. At one end of a switchback, you’re treated to a spectacular view down Palisades Canyon, the surrounding mountains rising high above.
Shortly after the view, you continue climbing and emerge above Upper Palisades Lake, its inviting blue-green waters stretching into the distance below the mountains. The official trail continues left, while access to campsites fork off to the right. Stay as long as you’d like, or setup camp at an established site, then head back whenever you’re ready the same way you came in.
Getting There
From Alpine, Wyoming, drive north on Highway 26 for 20.7 miles. At Palisades Creek Road, turn right and follow the main road to its terminus at the trailhead 2.3 miles later.