Shoshone Lake Gear Checklist
Shoshone Lake is a roadless lake in Yellowstone's southwest corner, reached on foot in about 3 to 3.5 miles from the DeLacy Creek trailhead, or by a four-day loop around the shore. The park's food rules decide the first items in the pack: a 35-foot rope for the camp's food pole or a hard-sided canister, and bear spray within reach. People who walked it add bug protection, shoes that can get wet for the marshy west shore and creek fords, and a real map because the route is easy to lose.
What shapes your gear on Shoshone Lake
- Getting to the lake
- Starting at DeLacy Creek, one hiker put the lake about 3 miles out with campsite 8S3 a mile beyond it, and another counted 3.5 miles to 8S2. A different approach, the Dogshead trail on the Lewis Lake side, runs 10.8 miles out and back, and the park warns that it is grizzly country.
From Backcountry Post: Backpacking Yellowstone's Shoshone Lake and Mr Bubbles in May, Backcountry Post: Shoshone Lake Lollipop Loop - Yellowstone National Park - July 24, 2022 and Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Shoshone Lake / Dogshead Trailhead (8K1)
- A loop around the shore
- A July 2022 family trip split the lake loop into four days of 3.5, about 8.0, 5.1 and 5.2 miles. The long second day leaves the shoreline for the Cement Hills, and the third day crosses the Shoshone Geyser Basin and the marshy west end.
From Backcountry Post: Shoshone Lake Lollipop Loop - Yellowstone National Park - July 24, 2022
- Permits
- A backcountry permit naming a designated campsite is required for every overnight. About 75% of sites can be reserved on Recreation.gov, the park lists Shoshone Lake among the areas that are hard to get, and in summer you pick up the permit in person at a backcountry office up to two days ahead.
- Season
- The park calls late June through the end of September the prime season, with deep snow and swollen streams in May and June. A Memorial Day 2016 hiker found little snow on this lake trail and said he had seen more in July. The park says mosquitoes are widespread around lakes in June and July and fade by mid-to-late August.
From Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Backcountry Camping, Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Backcountry Safety and Backcountry Post: Backpacking Yellowstone's Shoshone Lake and Mr Bubbles in May
- Fords on the loop
- The south side of the loop crosses Moose Creek and then the Lewis River at the lake outlet. In 2022 a hiker also found collapsed footbridges on the marshy west shore, and the park suggests crossing in the morning when flows are lower.
From Backcountry Post: Shoshone Lake Lollipop Loop - Yellowstone National Park - July 24, 2022, Backcountry Post: Backpacking Yellowstone's Shoshone Lake and Mr Bubbles in May and Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Backcountry Camping
What the agency requires on Shoshone Lake
A backcountry permit and a designated campsite
Every night in the backcountry needs a permit, in any month. It names your site and dates. Camping at an undesignated spot, or within 100 feet of a water source, is prohibited.
A rope of at least 35 feet, or an approved hard-sided canister
Every campsite has a food pole or box, and you bring your own rope for the pole. Food hangs 10 feet above ground and 4 feet from the trunk. Soft-sided bear-resistant bags are not allowed, and the only canisters accepted are IGBC-approved hard-sided ones, kept on the ground by the pole.
From Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Backcountry Camping and Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Backcountry Safety
Everything scented hung or canistered, not just food
The park's list of items you must hang includes lip balm, sunscreen, bug spray, lotion, toothpaste and eating utensils that were not cleaned. Keep food and smelly items out of sleeping bags and tents.
A sleeping spot 100 yards from the cooking area
Sleep at least 100 yards from where you cook, eat and hang food, preferably upwind, and never cook in your tent.
From Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Backcountry Safety and Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Shoshone Lake / Dogshead Trailhead (8K1)
A backpacking stove
Stoves are allowed at all campsites. Fires are not: campfires are limited to established fire rings and not every site has one, and fire restrictions may apply in dry weather.
What hikers carry on Shoshone Lake
Bear spray within reach
The park tells hikers to keep it immediately available, not buried in the pack, and to spray a charging bear at 60 feet or closer. A July 2022 hiker left both cans on the kitchen counter, noticed hours down the road and bought two new ones before the trailhead. Grizzlies frequent the Dogshead route to the lake.
From Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Backcountry Safety, Backcountry Post: Shoshone Lake Lollipop Loop - Yellowstone National Park - July 24, 2022 and Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Shoshone Lake / Dogshead Trailhead (8K1)
Rope for the food pole, or a hard-sided canister
A 2025 solo hiker found a hang pole at the lake camp, set well apart from the tent pads, and says nothing scented belongs near the tent. Without a hard-sided canister you hang everything at least ten feet up.
From The Adventuring Heidi and Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Backcountry Camping
Head net and repellent
On the old Howard Eaton trail near DeLacy Creek, mosquitoes in July 2022 drove one hiker back. At the lake camp in 2025 they turned aggressive in the evening, so the hiker ate early and wore a down jacket. In late May 2016 they had not hatched yet.
From Backcountry Post: Shoshone Lake Lollipop Loop - Yellowstone National Park - July 24, 2022, The Adventuring Heidi, Backcountry Post: Backpacking Yellowstone's Shoshone Lake and Mr Bubbles in May and Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Backcountry Safety
Shoes that can get wet, and camp shoes for fords
The west end of the lake is marshy, and a May 2016 hiker walked in water for much of it. In 2022 the south side meant fording Moose Creek and the Lewis River at the outlet. The park lists camp shoes or sandals as optional for river crossings.
From Backcountry Post: Backpacking Yellowstone's Shoshone Lake and Mr Bubbles in May, Backcountry Post: Shoshone Lake Lollipop Loop - Yellowstone National Park - July 24, 2022 and Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Backcountry Camping
A topographic map and compass
The park warns that trails are hard to follow. In 2025 a hiker who followed the map west from the lake junction reached a willow marsh and a creek crossing at least chest deep, then backtracked to the shoreline path for a bonus mile. In 2016 deep snow cost another hiker an hour of wandering off-trail.
From Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Backcountry Safety, The Adventuring Heidi and Backcountry Post: Backpacking Yellowstone's Shoshone Lake and Mr Bubbles in May
Rain gear and a warm layer for the night
A thunderstorm rained on one May night of a 2016 trip along the lake. The park says lows can reach the 30s and 40s and that hypothermia cases happen at 30 to 50 degrees. A 2025 hiker wore a down jacket against the evening mosquitoes too.
From Backcountry Post: Backpacking Yellowstone's Shoshone Lake and Mr Bubbles in May, Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Backcountry Safety and The Adventuring Heidi
A hammock or ear plugs, if you carry comforts
One solo hiker hauled a 2.5 pound hammock to the lake, called it luxury weight and said it was worth it for a lazy afternoon in the pines. The same hiker slept with ear plugs so snapping twigs did not feed an anxious mind.
8 people can go on one permit. Split this list between them so nobody carries two stoves.
Plan a trip hereWhat hikers regret or leave behind on Shoshone Lake
Counting on the bear spray being in the car
The 2022 hiker called leaving both cans at home the one thing a Yellowstone backpacker should never forget, and paid for two new cans on the way.
From Backcountry Post: Shoshone Lake Lollipop Loop - Yellowstone National Park - July 24, 2022
Snacks in the tent area
The 2025 hiker keeps food and toiletries at the pole and warns against eating chips by the tent. The park also says not to cook in your tent or sleep in clothes you cooked in.
From The Adventuring Heidi and Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Backcountry Safety
A dog
Pets are not allowed on park trails or in the backcountry. Trained service dogs are the exception, with added risks.
Dry feet on the west shore
The collapsed footbridges across streams on that stretch in 2022 meant wet steps and an awkward big step over a broken span. Plan for wet feet there.
From Backcountry Post: Shoshone Lake Lollipop Loop - Yellowstone National Park - July 24, 2022
Gear questions for Shoshone Lake
Do I need a bear canister at Shoshone Lake?
Not necessarily. Each campsite has a food pole or box, and you bring at least 35 feet of rope to hang food from the pole. A hard-sided IGBC-approved canister is accepted in place of hanging. Soft-sided bags are not.
From Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Backcountry Camping and Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Backcountry Safety
How far is it to Shoshone Lake from the trailhead?
From DeLacy Creek it is about 3 miles to the lake and 3.5 miles to campsite 8S2. The Dogshead route is 10.8 miles there and back.
From Backcountry Post: Backpacking Yellowstone's Shoshone Lake and Mr Bubbles in May, Backcountry Post: Shoshone Lake Lollipop Loop - Yellowstone National Park - July 24, 2022 and Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Shoshone Lake / Dogshead Trailhead (8K1)
Should I carry bear spray at Shoshone Lake?
The park says to carry it, keep it where you can reach it without opening your pack, and spray a charging bear at 60 feet or closer. The Dogshead trail page notes that grizzlies frequent that route.
From Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Backcountry Safety and Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Shoshone Lake / Dogshead Trailhead (8K1)
Are mosquitoes bad at Shoshone Lake?
They can be. The park says mosquitoes are widespread around lakes in June and July and ease by mid-to-late August. A July 2022 hiker retreated from a trail near the lake, and a late May 2016 hiker found they had not appeared yet.
From Yellowstone National Park (NPS): Backcountry Safety, Backcountry Post: Shoshone Lake Lollipop Loop - Yellowstone National Park - July 24, 2022 and Backcountry Post: Backpacking Yellowstone's Shoshone Lake and Mr Bubbles in May
Can you have a campfire at Shoshone Lake?
Only at campsites that have an established fire ring, and not every site does. Stoves are allowed at all campsites, and dry weather can bring fire restrictions.
Sources
- Backcountry Camping · Yellowstone National Park (NPS) · Agency
- Backcountry Safety · Yellowstone National Park (NPS) · Agency
- Shoshone Lake / Dogshead Trailhead (8K1) · Yellowstone National Park (NPS) · Agency
- Shoshone Lake Lollipop Loop - Yellowstone National Park - July 24, 2022 · Backcountry Post, scatman · Trip report
- Backpacking Yellowstone's Shoshone Lake and Mr Bubbles in May · Backcountry Post, Joey · Trip report
- The Grand Misadventure Day 5: Backpacking to Shoshone Lake · The Adventuring Heidi, Heidi · Blog