Lewis River Channel / Dogshead Loop - Canoe, Hike, and Kayak near Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
Continental Divide Trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA,Grant Village,Wyoming
44.32019784173166, -110.59967788704182
Address: Continental Divide Trail, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA
GPS: 44°19'12.7"N 110°35'58.8"W
Maps | Directions
State: Wyoming
Trail Length: 10.00 miles
Trail Type: Loop
Hike Difficulty: Intermediate
Elevation Gain: 3 feet
Trails/Routes: 2.1-11.5 mi

Lakes Rivers Trails Motorized Use

Canoe, Hike, and Kayak

Anyone who doesn't want to backpack through Yellowstone but is looking to experience the real beauty of Yellowstone will truly love this hike.

Walking along the Lewis Channel is one of the best parts of this hike. After passing the trailhead, Lewis Lake shines brightly as the sun hits it. This is the perfect scenery and views of the Grand Teton. If you head west on your hike, you will soon come to the river channel which is very serene because the trail brings you right along the edge of the lake. 

As you reach the end of the Lewis Channel trail you’ll see the Outlet Patrol Cabin and Shoshone Lake. The lake is a shimmering lake of crystal clear water and is surrounded by mountains covered in tall trees. There is a lot of driftwood along the shore which offers a wonderful spot to stop for lunch. One of the Shoshone Lake’s claim to fame is that it’s the largest lake in the continental United States without a road to it. Spend some time listening to the silence and feeling peace surround you.

This is a favorite hike and scenic area filled with birds like Osprey, Bald eagles and Ravens. Don't forget to pack your inflatable kayak to enjoy the water and nature around you. 

38.3K Written by endovereric
947 Edited by jamiegarrard

Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.

Read More
  1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
  2. Travel & camp on durable surfaces
  3. Dispose of waste properly
  4. Leave what you find
  5. Minimize campfire impacts
  6. Respect wildlife
  7. Be considerate of other visitors

Directions

From Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park

  1. Head south on Grant Campground Rd (0.7 mi)
  2. Turn right onto Grant Village Rd (1.0 mi)
  3. Turn left onto US-191 S/US-287 S/US-89 S
    Partial toll road
    Parts of this road may be closed at certain times or days
    (5.2 mi)
  4. Turn right (374 ft)
  5. Turn right (46 ft)
or

From Cody take the North Fork Highway to the East Entrance. At the Fishing Bridge Junction turn left onto the Grand Loop Road to the West Thumb Junction. Turn left again. Grant Village is two miles and the trailhead is another five miles past Grant. Look for the sign on the right stating “Lewis Channel and Dogshead.”

to add photos & videos and suggest edits

Guest Review/Comments

/5
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Edit Review Delete Review
Reply Cancel
DogsHead - LewisChannel Loop by hike734

Trails

Distance ?

11.5 miles

Elevation Gain ?

2 feet

Real Ascent ?

934 feet

Real Descent ?

932 feet

Avg Grade (0°)

0%

Grade (-13° to 9°)

-23% to 17%

Distance ?

2.1 miles

Elevation Gain ?

-16 feet

Real Ascent ?

58 feet

Real Descent ?

74 feet

Avg Grade (0°)

0%

Grade (-4° to 1°)

-7% to 3%

Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.

Other Hiking Trails, Canoeing Areas, and Kayaking Areas Nearby

Add Location 6.9 mi

Heart Lake Trail

Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park

0.2 miles S

The trail is very clear and leads to a moderate eight mile hike to Heart Lake. This hike has many possibilities. Day hikers need to push their time to make sure they are on the trail early to allow...

Backpack, Camp, Hike, Hot Springs

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

hot springs Hot Spring

backpack Backpacking Trail

4.8 mi

Riddle Lake Hike

Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park

2.8 miles N

Riddle Lake hike is a 5 mile roundtrip hike. Riddle Lake is an alluring body of water with a sandy beach. The hiker gets the best of both worlds on this hike. Impressive pine and mountain views,...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

0.1 mi

Lewis Lake Campground

Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park

3.0 miles SW

Lewis Lake is located in the southern part of Yellowstone National Park. It is 4 miles southeast of Shoshone Lake. Lewis Lake offers a plethora great water activities. This lake offers...

Camp, Canoe, Kayak

camp Campsite

canoe Canoeing Area

kayak Kayaking Area

Grant Village

Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park

5.4 miles N

Grant Village was built in 1984 and named after Ulysses S. Grant, president when Yellowstone became the world’s first national park in 1872. Located near the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake,...

Camp, Canoe, Kayak

camp Campsite

canoe Canoeing Area

kayak Kayaking Area

1.4 mi

Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail

Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park

6.7 miles N

Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail is a 1.7 mile loop trail that is easy and great for beginner hikers. The trail begins near the West Thumb Geyser Basin Parking Lot and is open in the summer and fall.

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

Lake Overlook

Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park

6.7 miles N

This trail is located in the southern part of the park, with the trailhead in the West Thumb Geyser Basin parking lot. This is about a 1.7 mile hike, roundtrip, that starts and ends at the...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

0.4 mi

West Thumb Geyser Basin

Grant Visitor's Center, Yellowstone National Park

6.7 miles N

West Thumb Geyser Basin is one of the smaller geyser basins in Yellowstone, yet its location along the shore of Yellowstone Lake and is ranked as the most scenic. This area was formed by volcanic...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

0.4 mi

Duck Lake

Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park

6.8 miles N

Duck Lake Trail is located near Grant Village and West Thumb. This is a simple 0.8 miles hike that takes you through the Lodgepole pine forest. This hike is special because the surrounding...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

6.1 mi

Shoshone Lake (via DeLacy Creek)

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

10.1 miles NW

If you are just coming from Old Faithful and want a break from the crowds, this hike is a perfect leg-stretching, moderate 6.1 mile hike. This hike takes you through the forest and grassy trail. As...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

2.6 mi

Lone Star Geyser Trail

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

12.3 miles NW

Lone Geyser Star Trail is a hiking and mountain biking trail that leads through the forest to the colorful Lone Star Geyser. The Geyser here has beautiful white, yellow and orange colors in the...

Hike, Mountain Bike

mountain bike Mountain Bike Trail

hike Hiking Trail

3.1 mi

Mallard Lake

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

14.6 miles NW

The Mallard Lake trail is majestically lined with trees both old an new. This is a 5 mile leading to the beautiful Mallard lake, making it a 10 mile round trip. The trail is...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

6.2 mi

Howard Eaton Trail

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

14.6 miles NW

The Howard Eaton Trail in the Old Faithful Area is a hike with incredible geothermic features and other natural views. This hike is a moderately difficult 6.5 mile there and back trail, that...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

1.5 mi

Observation Point Trail

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

14.8 miles NW

Observation Point Trail is an just over 2 mile loop that passes several geysers along the way to Solitary Geyser. Observation Point Trail provides up close views of several geysers as well as...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

Old Faithful Geyser

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

14.9 miles NW

Old Faithful is a cone geyser located in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, United States. It was named in 1870 during the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition and was the first geyser in the park...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

2.3 mi

Natural Bridge Trail

Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park

16.6 miles NE

Natural Bridge Trail is an exciting and easy 2 mile trail to the beautiful rock formation that is Natural Bridge Yellowstone. This Natural Bridge was formed by Bridge Creek as it wore a hole in...

Hike, Mountain Bike

mountain bike Mountain Bike Trail

hike Hiking Trail

0.3-0.5 mi

Mystic Falls

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

16.9 miles NW

Mystic Falls is a 70-foot cascading waterfall on Little Firehole River. The area around the falls is quiet and beautifully forested. Mystic Falls is a lesser known spot in Yellowstone National Park....

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

2.0 mi

Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

17.7 miles NW

The Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail gives hikers an opportunity to see the famous aerial view of the Grand Prismatic Spring. The vibrant rainbow waters of the Grand Prismatic Spring are...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

0.3-5.0 mi

Fairy Falls

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

17.7 miles NW

Fairy Falls is something out of a fantasy novel. Fairy Falls is a wonderful portion of Yellowstone. It has stolen the hearts of many who have had a little pixie dust sprinkled on them...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

1.9 mi

Terraced Falls

Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park

18.1 miles SW

3.6 mile easy out and back trail. 430 ft Elevation gain. The trailhead is off  Ashton-Flagg Ranch Road along Yellowstone's South border. Ashton-Flagg Ranch Road is closed during the winter.

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

0.7 mi

Grand Prismatic Spring

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

18.5 miles NW

The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park is the largest hot spring in the United States, and the third largest in the world, after Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand and Boiling Lake...

Hike

hike Hiking Trail

More Similar Arenas Near Lewis River Channel / Dogshead Loop:

Hiking Trails Canoeing Areas Kayaking Areas Things to Do

Nearby Campsites

Add Location 6.9 mi

Heart Lake Trail

Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park

0.2 miles S

The trail is very clear and leads to a moderate eight mile hike to Heart Lake. This hike has many possibilities. Day hikers need to push their time to make sure they are on the trail early to allow...

Backpack, Camp, Hike, Hot Springs

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

hot springs Hot Spring

backpack Backpacking Trail

0.1 mi

Lewis Lake Campground

Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park

3.0 miles SW

Lewis Lake is located in the southern part of Yellowstone National Park. It is 4 miles southeast of Shoshone Lake. Lewis Lake offers a plethora great water activities. This lake offers...

Camp, Canoe, Kayak

camp Campsite

canoe Canoeing Area

kayak Kayaking Area

Grant Village

Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park

5.4 miles N

Grant Village was built in 1984 and named after Ulysses S. Grant, president when Yellowstone became the world’s first national park in 1872. Located near the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake,...

Camp, Canoe, Kayak

camp Campsite

canoe Canoeing Area

kayak Kayaking Area

Bridge Bay

Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park

16.8 miles NE

Bridge Bay Campground was named for its proximity to Bridge Bay Marina on Yellowstone Lake. The area is quite scenic, with wooded areas, open meadows and some limited views of the lake. Because of...

Camp

camp Campsite

14.8 mi

Biscuit Basin to Fairy Falls and Firehole Meadows

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

19.8 miles NW

Freight Road trail is a almost 15 mile hike that leaves from Biscuit Basin or Fountain Flats Drive. This hike is a beautiful remote hike that passes several unique landmarks, breaking up this hike...

Backpack, Camp, Hike

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

backpack Backpacking Trail

Fishing Bridge RV Campground

Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park

20.3 miles NE

The Fishing Bridge Recreational Vehicle Park is located near the mouth of the Yellowstone River as it leaves Yellowstone Lake. The RV park is named after the Fishing Bridge, a wooden vehicle bridge...

Camp

camp Campsite

Loon Lake

Ashton, Idaho

22.5 miles SW

Camp, Kayak, and Swim near Ashton, Idaho

Camp, Kayak, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

camp Campsite

kayak Kayaking Area

Cave Falls of Yellowstone

Ashton, Idaho

23.3 miles SW

This campgrond is situated on the banks of Fall River in Wyoming along the south border of Yellowstone National Park. Cave Falls Campground has 23 single site units and a terrific area for...

Camp, Hike

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

Madison Campground

Madison, Yellowstone National Park

26.0 miles NW

Madison Campground is named for its proximity to the Madison River, which runs through the area in a lush mountain setting rich in wildlife. Madison Campground is at an elevation of 6,800’ and...

Camp

camp Campsite

17.5 mi

Tear Drop Lake

Ashton, Idaho

27.0 miles W

Nestled in the Targhee National Forest just off of Ashton's Fish Creek Road, this tear drop shaped lake is a family adventure waiting to happen. The lake isn't very big but it is teeming with...

Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Mountain Bike, Swim

mountain bike Mountain Bike Trail

swim Swimming Hole

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

canoe Canoeing Area

kayak Kayaking Area

1.5-3.8 mi

Little Gibbon Falls

Norris, Yellowstone National Park

27.2 miles N

Ice Lake and Little Gibbon Falls Loop is a 4.5 mile loop trail located near Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The trail is good for all skill levels and primarily used for hiking, but there are...

Camp, Canoe, Hike

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

canoe Canoeing Area

Horseshoe Lake

Ashton, Idaho

27.2 miles SW

Horseshoe Lake is hidden back in the Targhee National Forest. It's a beautiful lake with plenty of lily pads. The road to get there is well maintained and there are many options for pull-outs...

Camp, Canoe, Dive, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

camp Campsite

canoe Canoeing Area

dive Diving Platform

Canyon Campground

Canyon Junction, Yellowstone National Park

29.2 miles N

Canyon Campground is a popular choice for visitors to Yellowstone National Park, and it's easy to see why. Located in the heart of the park, the campground offers easy access to some of the...

Camp

camp Campsite

Norris Campground

Norris, Yellowstone National Park

29.2 miles N

Norris campground is centrally located in Yellowstone National Park and offers a good spot for those planning to visit many of the most famous features in Yellowstone. Norris is a relatively short...

Camp

camp Campsite

Sheep Falls on Fall River

Ashton, Idaho

29.5 miles SW

The lesser known Sheep Falls on Fall River is a local treasure off of Cave Falls road. There are primitive campsites and beautiful views for a great picnic spot. The water splits and comes down in...

Camp

camp Campsite

Big Springs

Island Park, Idaho

34.6 miles W

There's also a great little walking trail along the river with placards that tell about the ecosystem and history of the area. There's about a 1/2 mile that's paved and then a 1/2 mile...

Camp, Hike

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

Porcupine Creek

Ashton, Idaho

34.7 miles SW

Porcupine Creek is a hunting, fishing, camping, and swimming spot near Ashton, Idaho in Fremont County within Targhee National Forest.  It's surrounded by forests, meadows, and a creek...

Camp, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

camp Campsite

0.3-0.6 mi

Bear Gulch

Ashton, Idaho

36.0 miles W

Bear Gulch is an abandoned ski hill out of operation since 1969. While the vegetation is beginning to take over, there's still some great sledding to be had. It's just far enough into the...

Camp, Cross-country Ski, Hike, Sled

hike Hiking Trail

camp Campsite

cross-country ski Cross Country Ski Trail

sled Sledding Hill

Warm River Campground

Ashton, Idaho

37.8 miles W

Warm River Campground is located nine miles northeast of Ashton, Idaho, along the slow-moving Warm River at an elevation of 5,200 feet. Willows line the riverbanks and pine trees offer partial...

Camp

camp Campsite

0.9 mi

Buffalo River Campground

Island Park, Idaho

38.4 miles W

The float here is nice and easy. It's a great early season float. Later in the season the shallow spots will force you to walk a good chunk of the float. The water is super clear and often pretty...

Camp, Canoe, Kayak, Swim

swim Swimming Hole

camp Campsite

canoe Canoeing Area

kayak Kayaking Area

More Campsites Near Lewis River Channel / Dogshead Loop:

Campsites

Embed Arena

Where do you plan to embed this code?

<script src="https://www.freearenas.com/embed/afa730598"></script>

Copy
×
loading...

Edit Your Experience

Log Your Visit to This Location

We've logged that you went. Is there anything else you want to add?

Thank you for your review/comment

We've recorded your comments. Is there anything else you want to add?

By recording your visit on FreeArenas.com, you'll have a collection of all the great places you've been and provide valuable information for yourself and others in the future.

Have you been to this location?

/5
Cancel

Donate to the Cause

Help us inspire and inform every person to enjoy life and the great outdoors in a responsible way. There's a lot of ways to do this. Here's a few ways we're working on our mission right now: Providing information, Building and maintaining local trails, Helping and teaching kids to fix their bikes, Cleaning up local parks to provide safe and clean places to enjoy nature. Learn More

Update Review

/5

New Collection

Add an Arena

Just some quick info about this location to get started...