Yellowstone NP, WY – This 5.0 mile round-trip out and back trail travels through pine forest to the 107 acre Beula Lake sitting at an elevation of 7,400 feet in the southwest section of Yellowstone National Park. The outlet of Beula Lake forms the headwaters of Falls River. Located just below the southern boundary of Yellowstone National Park, the trailhead is located off of Grassy Lake Road in the Targhee National Forest. This hike is included in Bill Schneider’s “Falcon Guide: Hiking Yellowstone National Park: A Guide to More than 100 Great Hikes.”
Beula Lake Trail begins by climbing
Beula Lake Trail climbs several hundred feet quickly and provides intermittent views of Grassy Lake Reservoir through the trees. About 1/2 mile from the trailhead, reach the signed junction with the South Boundary Trail and continue straight to reach Beula Lake, entering Yellowstone National Park. The climb moderates and the trail undulates mildly as it travels through forest with varying sight-line distances. There are no other junctions until you reach the lake.
Beula Lake Trail travels through pine forest
Early sign of fall (leaf color) when we hiked this September 9
You’ll know you are close to the lake when the trail suddenly climbs steeply downhill approximately 2.2 miles from the trailhead. Take a minute to look through the trees for a view of the lake with the Pitchstone Plateau above it. Descend several hundred feet to the Beula Lake decorated with lily pads. We spotted a pair of sandhill cranes to the east. There are two campsites located along the south shore of the lake.
Beula Lake and distant mountains through the trees at the top of the final descent
Beula Lake
To reach the trailhead, from the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway (the road between Yellowstone’s South Entrance and Grand Teton NP), turn west onto the Flagg Ranch/Grassy Lake Road turnoff at Flagg Ranch Village. Make a quick right onto Grassy Lake Road. Continue 9.3 miles to an unsigned turnout on the right side of the road. The turnout is about 1/4 mile past the Targhee National Forest sign. Signage for the trail is visible as you begin to hike uphill.
We hiked this trail while staying at Headwaters Campground at Flagg Ranch. From Flagg Ranch we also hiked:
- Terraced Falls via Cascade Creek Trail (Yellowstone)
- Bechler Short Loop (Yellowstone)
- String Lake Loop (Grand Teton)
- Emma Matilda Lake Loop (Grand Teton)
- Pacific Creek Trail (Teton Wilderness)
For other Yellowstone Hiking Trails from our prior trips:
- Yellowstone Day Hiking Part 1: Artist Paint Pots, Yellowstone Picnic Area/Specimen Ridge, Trout Lake, Slough Creek, Beaver Ponds, Hellroaring Creek, Mary Mtn, Pelican Creek, Fairy Falls
- Yellowstone Day Hiking Part 2: Mount Washburn, Bunsen Peak, Elephant Back
- Upper Gallatin River Valley via Bighorn Pass Trail
- Nez Perce Creek (western Mary Mountain Trail)
- Fawn Pass/Fan Creek Trail
- Pebble Creek Trail
- Rescue Creek Trail
- Gneiss Creek Trail
- Riddle Lake Trail
- Chain of Lakes Trail
- Black Canyon of the Yellowstone River Backpacking Trip
