Grebe Lake is a beautiful 156-acre backcountry lake in north-central Yellowstone National Park – one of the best places in the country to catch Arctic grayling. Reached by an easy 3-mile hike between Norris and Canyon, this meadow-rimmed lake at 8,000 feet is a fly-fishing destination and a peaceful wilderness escape from the park’s busy roads. This guide is part of our growing Wyoming Lakes Database.
Grebe Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~156 acres
- Elevation: ~8,023 ft, in north-central Yellowstone
- Access: a flat ~3-mile hike (one way) from the Grebe Lake trailhead between Norris and Canyon
- Top fish: Arctic grayling and Westslope cutthroat trout (native species)
- Permit: a Yellowstone National Park fishing permit is required (not a state license)
A native grayling lake
Grebe Lake is famous for its Arctic grayling – a striking, sail-finned native fish that’s rare in the lower 48. In a major 2017 restoration, the Park Service removed non-native rainbow trout and reintroduced native fluvial Arctic grayling and Westslope cutthroat trout, which are now the lake’s primary fish. Set in rolling lodgepole forest and open meadows below Observation Peak, it’s both a fishery and a wonderfully scenic backcountry lake.
Fishing Grebe Lake
This is a renowned fly-fishing lake for grayling and cutthroat. A Yellowstone National Park fishing permit is required (a Wyoming state license does not cover park waters), and park regulations apply – including catch-and-release for native species, so check current rules. The marshy-to-grassy shoreline gives good walk-and-wade access around much of the lake. Fishing is best early in the season (June into early July) and slows as summer warms the water; bring a float tube or fish from shore.
Hiking, camping and what to know
The Grebe Lake Trail is a flat, easy ~3 miles each way – a great half-day hike through meadows that often hold elk and bison (give wildlife room). Backcountry campsites at the lake can be reserved through the park for an overnight trip. This is grizzly country, so carry bear spray, make noise and store food properly. There’s no developed swim area; the water is cold.
Getting there and what’s nearby
The Grebe Lake trailhead is on the Norris-Canyon road in Yellowstone National Park, about 8 miles from Norris and 4 miles from Canyon Village. Canyon, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Cascade Lake are nearby.
Know before you go
- Park permit: a Yellowstone fishing permit is required (not a state license).
- Native fish: grayling and cutthroat – follow catch-and-release and park regulations.
- Bear country: carry bear spray and store food properly; best fishing is early season.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Grebe Lake?
Native Arctic grayling and Westslope cutthroat trout, restored to the lake in 2017.
How do you get to Grebe Lake?
By a flat, easy hike of about 3 miles each way from the Grebe Lake trailhead on the Norris-Canyon road in Yellowstone.
Do you need a permit to fish Grebe Lake?
Yes – a Yellowstone National Park fishing permit is required; a Wyoming state license does not cover park waters.
Where is Grebe Lake?
In north-central Yellowstone National Park, between Norris and Canyon Village.
Related: explore the small lakes of Wyoming, or head back to the Wyoming Lakes Database.
Explore more Wyoming lakes: the largest lakes in Wyoming and the deepest lakes in Wyoming.
