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Lakes in Wyoming

27 lakes in Wyoming with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Teton County has the most (22). The darkest skies are at Yellowstone Lake (Bortle 1).

Top lakes

Yellowstone LakeLake
Yellowstone LakeTeton County
Jenny LakeLake
Jenny LakeTeton County · 2,069 m
Leigh LakeLake
Leigh LakeTeton County · 2,097 m
Isa LakeLake
Isa LakeTeton County · 2,529 m
Two Ocean LakeLake
Two Ocean LakeTeton County · 2,103 m
Shoshone LakeLake
Shoshone LakeTeton County · 2,376 m
Jackson LakeLake
Jackson LakeTeton County
Phelps LakeLake
Phelps LakeTeton County · 2,023 m
Lewis LakeLake
Lewis LakeTeton County · 2,372 m
Emma Matilda LakeLake
Emma Matilda LakeTeton County · 2,096 m
String LakeLake
String LakeTeton County · 2,097 m
Heart LakeLake
Heart LakeTeton County · 2,274 m

Lakes by county

All lakes (27)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Yellowstone LakeYellowstoneTeton County—Cody1
Jenny LakeGrand TetonTeton County2,069 mMoose Wilson Road1
Leigh LakeGrand TetonTeton County2,097 mDriggs1
Isa LakeYellowstoneTeton County2,529 mWest Yellowstone1
Two Ocean LakeGrand TetonTeton County2,103 mMoose Wilson Road1
Shoshone LakeYellowstoneTeton County2,376 mWest Yellowstone1
Jackson LakeGrand TetonTeton County—Driggs1
Phelps LakeGrand TetonTeton County2,023 mMoose Wilson Road2
Lewis LakeYellowstoneTeton County2,372 mWest Yellowstone1
Emma Matilda LakeGrand TetonTeton County2,096 mMoose Wilson Road1
String LakeGrand TetonTeton County2,097 mMoose Wilson Road1
Heart LakeYellowstoneTeton County2,274 mJackson1
Bradley LakeGrand TetonTeton County2,142 mMoose Wilson Road1
Taggart LakeGrand TetonTeton County2,105 mMoose Wilson Road1
Grebe LakeYellowstonePark County2,447 mWest Yellowstone1
Trapper LakeGrand TetonTeton County2,109 mDriggs1
Lake De SmetJohnson County1,393 mBuffalo2
Bearpaw LakeGrand TetonTeton County2,089 mDriggs1
Holly LakeGrand TetonTeton County2,870 mDriggs1
Surprise LakeGrand TetonTeton County2,917 mMoose Wilson Road1
Timberline LakeGrand TetonTeton County3,143 mMoose Wilson Road2
Lower Slide LakeTeton County2,107 mJackson1
Marion LakeGrand TetonTeton County2,816 mMoose Wilson Road2
Mica LakeGrand TetonTeton County2,915 mDriggs1
Trout LakeYellowstonePark County2,122 mLivingston1
Lake Alice (Wyoming)Lincoln County2,362 mAfton2
Flaming Gorge ReservoirSweetwater County—Green River2

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph lakes

Lakes reflect best in calm air — usually the first hour after sunrise, before breezes ripple the surface.

  • For mirror reflections, get low and close to the water; the reflection grows with a lower camera.
  • A polarizer can remove reflections to show the lakebed — or keep them, depending on rotation.
  • Mist often lifts off lakes on cold mornings after warm days, especially in autumn.
  • Include shoreline rocks, reeds or a log as foreground to give the reflection depth.
  • Expose for the brighter sky; reflections are typically half a stop to a stop darker.

Season: Autumn mornings bring mist and fall color; high-elevation lakes are usually ice-free only from early summer to mid-autumn.