Yellowstone Lake
What makes Yellowstone Lake special?
First and foremost, its location is a significant factor. Yellowstone Lake is situated in Yellowstone National Park, the oldest and one of the most beautiful and unique parks in the world.
Beyond its location, Yellowstone Lake is the largest freshwater lake above 7,000 ft (2,100 m) in North America. The lake sits at an elevation of 7,732 feet (2,357 m) above sea level, covering 136 square miles (350 km²) with 110 miles (180 km) of shoreline. While the average depth of the lake is 139 ft (42 m), its greatest depth is at least 394 ft (120 m). The lake currently drains north from its only outlet, the Yellowstone River, at Fishing Bridge.
Yellowstone Lake boasts the largest population of wild cutthroat trout in North America. Despite being a Pacific Ocean fish, scientists still don't know how it ended up in Yellowstone Lake. The Yellowstone cutthroat trout (YCT) population in the Yellowstone Lake ecosystem was abundant in the 1980s. However, the introduction of nonnative lake trout in the early 2000s caused a dramatic decline in YCT. This illegal introduction now threatens the native cutthroat trout's existence. Fortunately, strong suppression efforts have reduced lake trout numbers, allowing cutthroat trout populations to increase.
The biomass of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in Yellowstone Lake historically attracted a rich and abundant birdlife. The following birds have been documented nesting in Yellowstone and feeding on the fish of Yellowstone Lake: Caspian tern, common loon, American white pelican, California gull, double-crested cormorant, osprey, bald eagle, common merganser, American dipper, great horned owl, common raven, great blue heron, great gray owl, and belted kingfisher. This diversity makes Yellowstone Lake an excellent spot for bird watching.
During the summer season, there are many activities to enjoy at the lake, including fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and boat tours. I've done the boat tour and found it very interesting and entertaining.
If you want to spend more time at the lake area, there are a couple of options for overnight stays: Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins and Lake Lodge Cabins. The Lake Yellowstone Hotel has a nice lobby with huge windows overlooking the lake and a good restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Yellowstone Lake is my favorite spot in the park. On a calm and sunny day, the water is so clear you can see the bottom. Even though the water is pretty cold and swimming is not recommended, I swim there every year. I find the water nice and refreshing on hot summer days. In my itineraries, I recommend packing a lunch and enjoying it on one of the tables along the shoreline of this beautiful lake.
If you don't have much time to enjoy the lake during your trip, I recommend stopping at West Thumb. It's a great place to see the lake and geothermal features in the same spot—some of them are right in the lake!
I hope this article was useful to you. Enjoy your trip to Yellowstone, and if you need help planning your trip, please reach out to us!