Lower Slide Lake is one of the most geologically dramatic lakes in Wyoming – a lake born in minutes when the largest rockslide in U.S. history dammed the Gros Ventre River in 1925. Set in a stunning valley northeast of Jackson, ringed by the scar of the Gros Ventre Slide and the Bridger-Teton high country, it offers trout and pike fishing, paddling and a front-row seat to one of the West’s great natural events. This guide is part of our growing Wyoming Lakes Database.
Lower Slide Lake at a glance
- Formed: 1925, when the Gros Ventre landslide dammed the Gros Ventre River
- Setting: a natural landslide-dammed lake in the Bridger-Teton National Forest
- Elevation: ~7,000 ft, in the Gros Ventre valley northeast of Jackson
- Location: Teton County, near Kelly (off the Gros Ventre Road)
- Top fish: cutthroat trout, lake trout (Mackinaw), mountain whitefish, northern pike
The lake the mountain made
On June 23, 1925, an estimated 50 million cubic yards of rock slid off Sheep Mountain and crashed into the Gros Ventre valley – the largest rockslide in U.S. history. In minutes it buried the valley floor under more than 200 feet of debris and dammed the Gros Ventre River, creating Lower Slide Lake. Two years later, part of the natural dam failed, sending a catastrophic flood downstream through the town of Kelly. Today the lake remains behind the slide dam, and the Gros Ventre Slide Interpretive Trail tells the whole dramatic story.
Fishing Lower Slide Lake
The lake offers good mountain fishing for cutthroat trout, lake trout (Mackinaw), mountain whitefish and northern pike. A Wyoming fishing license is required. Anglers fish from boats, float tubes and the shore; the cold, clear water and dramatic setting make it a memorable place to cast. Pike have become well established in the lake, offering a toothy bonus.
Recreation and the setting
Lower Slide Lake is a scenic spot for boating, kayaking, canoeing and fishing, with a boat launch and nearby Forest Service camping (Atherton Creek Campground). The short Gros Ventre Slide Interpretive Trail above the lake offers easy walking and superb views of the slide and lake, and the surrounding Gros Ventre valley is rich in wildlife – elk, moose and bighorn sheep. It’s an easy, rewarding trip from Jackson Hole.
Water level
As a natural landslide-dammed lake, Lower Slide Lake’s level varies with the Gros Ventre River’s flow and the season. Check conditions before launching.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Lower Slide Lake is northeast of Jackson near Kelly, Teton County, off the Gros Ventre Road in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole and the Gros Ventre Wilderness are nearby.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: a Wyoming license is required.
- Geology & history: don’t miss the Gros Ventre Slide Interpretive Trail above the lake.
- Camp nearby: Atherton Creek Campground sits on the lake.
Frequently asked questions
How was Lower Slide Lake formed?
It was created in 1925 when the Gros Ventre landslide – the largest rockslide in U.S. history – dammed the Gros Ventre River, flooding the valley behind a 200-foot debris dam.
What fish are in Lower Slide Lake?
Cutthroat trout, lake trout (Mackinaw), mountain whitefish and northern pike.
Where is Lower Slide Lake?
In Teton County, northeast of Jackson near Kelly, off the Gros Ventre Road in the Bridger-Teton National Forest.
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.
