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- Dec 23, 2013
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This report will contain a lot of stuff so be prepared.
After backpacking out to Grebe Lake for four days, Sheila and I headed to Old Faithful to stay in the Old Faithful Lodge Cabins for two nights. On the morning of the eighth, we met up with Mr. and Mrs. @TractorDoc for breakfast at the Old Faithful Inn and after getting my belly full at the buffet, the Tractordocs headed for Canyon country and Mount Washburn while the Scat clan headed south for some grunt work at Riddle Lake.
I hadn't been to Riddle Lake since my hike years ago to Delusion Lake, so I was excited to see it again and actually spend a little time at the lake this time.
Riddle Lake is located between Yellowstone Lake (West Thumb) to the north and Heart Lake to the south. The trail is approximately 2.4 miles long - 2 miles to the lake and another 0.4 mile along the north end shoreline. I would continue on a bit further, so it turned out to be roughly a six mile out and back hike.
Overview maps
The hike to the lake is mostly flat, through the forest, with an occasional small meadows along drainages. As one approaches the lake, there is a large meadow/marsh on the west side of the lake that you hike along the north end of. The weather was perfect for hiking with highs in the low seventies. It did cloud up a little while we were at the lake, and the wind picked up a bit which made it a little chilly if you weren't moving.
Arrived at the Riddle Lake Trailhead. The trailhead sign seems to be missing something.
I am here.
Views along the trail
A small section that was burned back in 88 to go through
Hitting the big meadow/marsh on the west side of Riddle
First look at Riddle Lake, with the Red Mountains, Mount Sheridan and Factory Hill in the distance
Lily pads were abundant on the west side of the lake
Happy to have reached the lake
Riddle Lake and the Red Mountains
Lake and shoreline views as we made our way along the north side of the lake
Aster in bloom along the lakeshore
The forest and grassy shoreline turns to a small gravel beach along the northeast side of the lake
At this point we headed off the beach to a group of trees for some shade and to eat some lunch. Before I ate my lunch though I had to put my sleuth hat on in order to find something.
Back in the 1970's and before, the Park Service maintained a backcountry campsite at Riddle. I wanted to explore and see if I could find the old campsite while I was at the lake.
On my way to find the site
This was my first clue that I might be getting close - top of an old can that someone used a bottle opener to punch a couple holes
through,
Second clue. This looked an awful lot like a trail that someone would use to get down off the
bank to get water from the lake as opposed to a game trail. So up the short trail I went.
This is what the area at the top of the trail looked like
I discovered sewn logs throughout an area that would represent the size of a current backcountry campsite, with no sewn logs
anywhere beyond a certain perimeter. I was convinced that I had found the old location of the backcountry campsite at Riddle
Lake.
Overjoyed with my find, I celebrate with a Circus Peanut.
Cameras used on the Riddle Lake hike and on the Grebe Lake backpacking trip.
Like at Grebe, there were two swans on Riddle Lake, but no cygnets with them.
Fire lookout on Mount Sheridan
Ready to head back to the trailhead
Riddle Lake Trail
I thought these logs made a neat little pattern in the grass
Beautiful fall fireweed along the trail
Emerging from the trees
Back at the Sube.
After our hike we headed back to Old Faithful to do some shopping and then eat dinner.
A Knotty, Lotty, Latte Stout
Bison chili
Jackfruit Tacos. These were quite good, but only after you squeezed the lime juice on them, otherwise they were bland.
A quick trip to the Bear Pit for a Cold Smoke Scotch Ale
A nightcap at the Old Faithful Geyser
Nice! The view of the moon through this lens was incredible.
He looks pretty refreshed after the climb up Washburn. What his secret?
Old Faithful Inn on our way to breakfast
Took a picture of this sign after the ranger who was keeping an eye on a bull bison that I mentioned in another post made us
deviate from our path to the general store.
We arrived at the general store a little early as it hadn't opened yet, so we walked along the boardwalk to see some thermal
features. @TractorDoc will have to tell you what their names are as I have already forgotten them.
So after a quick look in the general store, we were off to Jackson for the night. Along our way south through the park, I stopped at the divide trailhead to check on the old Howard Eaton Trail.
This section of the trail runs from Spring Creek to DeLacy Creek, passing through Norris Pass
I am here.
Images of the old Howard Eaton Trail. We turned around after about a half mile when we reached this "I" blaze and headed back
to the car.
Then onto Jackson
Typical views of the Tetons.
Of course you know we stopped at Moos for a Oreo dark malt.
And onto the Merry Piglets for some Tex-Mex. Sheila enjoyed the "Big Pig" with our dinner - a 32 oz. margarita
While I had an old fashion with my chili poblano and chicken enchilada.
And the next day we were off for home.
Breakfast at the Virginian - a spinach, fresh jalapeño omelet with pepper jack cheese. Best omelet ever!
In Logan, we stopped for Aggie Ice Cream
Where I enjoyed another Oreo malt. It's not as good as the one they make at Moos. Step up your game Aggies!
The End.
After backpacking out to Grebe Lake for four days, Sheila and I headed to Old Faithful to stay in the Old Faithful Lodge Cabins for two nights. On the morning of the eighth, we met up with Mr. and Mrs. @TractorDoc for breakfast at the Old Faithful Inn and after getting my belly full at the buffet, the Tractordocs headed for Canyon country and Mount Washburn while the Scat clan headed south for some grunt work at Riddle Lake.
I hadn't been to Riddle Lake since my hike years ago to Delusion Lake, so I was excited to see it again and actually spend a little time at the lake this time.
Riddle Lake is located between Yellowstone Lake (West Thumb) to the north and Heart Lake to the south. The trail is approximately 2.4 miles long - 2 miles to the lake and another 0.4 mile along the north end shoreline. I would continue on a bit further, so it turned out to be roughly a six mile out and back hike.
Overview maps
The hike to the lake is mostly flat, through the forest, with an occasional small meadows along drainages. As one approaches the lake, there is a large meadow/marsh on the west side of the lake that you hike along the north end of. The weather was perfect for hiking with highs in the low seventies. It did cloud up a little while we were at the lake, and the wind picked up a bit which made it a little chilly if you weren't moving.
Arrived at the Riddle Lake Trailhead. The trailhead sign seems to be missing something.
I am here.
Views along the trail
A small section that was burned back in 88 to go through
Hitting the big meadow/marsh on the west side of Riddle
First look at Riddle Lake, with the Red Mountains, Mount Sheridan and Factory Hill in the distance
Lily pads were abundant on the west side of the lake
Happy to have reached the lake
Riddle Lake and the Red Mountains
Lake and shoreline views as we made our way along the north side of the lake
Aster in bloom along the lakeshore
The forest and grassy shoreline turns to a small gravel beach along the northeast side of the lake
At this point we headed off the beach to a group of trees for some shade and to eat some lunch. Before I ate my lunch though I had to put my sleuth hat on in order to find something.
Back in the 1970's and before, the Park Service maintained a backcountry campsite at Riddle. I wanted to explore and see if I could find the old campsite while I was at the lake.
On my way to find the site
This was my first clue that I might be getting close - top of an old can that someone used a bottle opener to punch a couple holes
through,
Second clue. This looked an awful lot like a trail that someone would use to get down off the
bank to get water from the lake as opposed to a game trail. So up the short trail I went.
This is what the area at the top of the trail looked like
I discovered sewn logs throughout an area that would represent the size of a current backcountry campsite, with no sewn logs
anywhere beyond a certain perimeter. I was convinced that I had found the old location of the backcountry campsite at Riddle
Lake.
Overjoyed with my find, I celebrate with a Circus Peanut.
Cameras used on the Riddle Lake hike and on the Grebe Lake backpacking trip.
Like at Grebe, there were two swans on Riddle Lake, but no cygnets with them.
Fire lookout on Mount Sheridan
Ready to head back to the trailhead
Riddle Lake Trail
I thought these logs made a neat little pattern in the grass
Beautiful fall fireweed along the trail
Emerging from the trees
Back at the Sube.
After our hike we headed back to Old Faithful to do some shopping and then eat dinner.
A Knotty, Lotty, Latte Stout
Bison chili
Jackfruit Tacos. These were quite good, but only after you squeezed the lime juice on them, otherwise they were bland.
A quick trip to the Bear Pit for a Cold Smoke Scotch Ale
A nightcap at the Old Faithful Geyser
Nice! The view of the moon through this lens was incredible.
He looks pretty refreshed after the climb up Washburn. What his secret?
Old Faithful Inn on our way to breakfast
Took a picture of this sign after the ranger who was keeping an eye on a bull bison that I mentioned in another post made us
deviate from our path to the general store.
We arrived at the general store a little early as it hadn't opened yet, so we walked along the boardwalk to see some thermal
features. @TractorDoc will have to tell you what their names are as I have already forgotten them.
So after a quick look in the general store, we were off to Jackson for the night. Along our way south through the park, I stopped at the divide trailhead to check on the old Howard Eaton Trail.
This section of the trail runs from Spring Creek to DeLacy Creek, passing through Norris Pass
I am here.
Images of the old Howard Eaton Trail. We turned around after about a half mile when we reached this "I" blaze and headed back
to the car.
Then onto Jackson
Typical views of the Tetons.
Of course you know we stopped at Moos for a Oreo dark malt.
And onto the Merry Piglets for some Tex-Mex. Sheila enjoyed the "Big Pig" with our dinner - a 32 oz. margarita
While I had an old fashion with my chili poblano and chicken enchilada.
And the next day we were off for home.
Breakfast at the Virginian - a spinach, fresh jalapeño omelet with pepper jack cheese. Best omelet ever!
In Logan, we stopped for Aggie Ice Cream
Where I enjoyed another Oreo malt. It's not as good as the one they make at Moos. Step up your game Aggies!
The End.
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