Lewis Lake is the quiet gateway to Yellowstone’s wild south – a 2,700-acre lake near the park’s South Entrance that doubles as a fine brown-trout fishery and the launch point for canoe trips into the roadless backcountry. One of only three Yellowstone lakes open to motorboats, it’s a scenic, less-crowded alternative to the park’s giants and the doorway to remote Shoshone Lake.
This guide covers Lewis Lake: the fishing, boating and the channel to Shoshone, and access. It’s part of our growing Wyoming Lakes Database.
Lewis Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~2,700 acres, on the Lewis River in southern Yellowstone
- Location: southern Yellowstone National Park, Teton County, Wyoming (near the South Entrance)
- Boating: one of only three Yellowstone lakes that allow motorboats
- Top fish: brown trout, lake trout, some cutthroat
Fishing Lewis Lake
Lewis is best known for its brown trout, which run up the Lewis River Channel to spawn in fall and can be caught in good size, along with lake trout and the occasional cutthroat. A Yellowstone National Park fishing permit is required (not a state license). The fall brown-trout run draws dedicated anglers, and the lake fishes well from boat and shore.
Boating and the channel to Shoshone
Lewis Lake is special as one of only three lakes in Yellowstone open to motorboats (alongside Yellowstone and the Bridge Bay area), and it has a campground and a boat launch. It’s also the gateway to Shoshone Lake: paddlers cross Lewis and work up the Lewis River Channel to reach the largest backcountry lake in the Lower 48. Canoeing and kayaking on Lewis itself is excellent, with quiet shorelines and big views.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Lewis Lake is along the South Entrance Road of Yellowstone, about 10 miles north of the South Entrance and within easy reach of Grand Teton and Jackson Lake. Lewis Falls, on the river just below the lake, is a worthwhile roadside stop.
Know before you go
- Permits: a Yellowstone fishing permit and a boating permit (with AIS inspection) are required.
- Cold water: frigid even in summer – wear a life jacket and watch for wind.
- Best seasons: summer for boating; fall for the brown-trout run.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Lewis Lake?
Brown trout (the highlight, with a famous fall run), lake trout and some cutthroat. A Yellowstone fishing permit is required.
Can you use a motorboat on Lewis Lake?
Yes – it’s one of only three Yellowstone lakes that allow motorboats, with a boat launch and campground (a park boating permit and AIS inspection are required).
Where is Lewis Lake?
Along the South Entrance Road in southern Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, about 10 miles north of the South Entrance.
Related: explore more of the largest lakes in Wyoming, or head back to the Wyoming Lakes Database.
