Heart Lake

Elevation: 7,461 ft.

Heart Lake is a large backcountry lake, nestled at the base of Mount Sheridan in Yellowstone National Park. Heart Lake is in the Snake River drainage and is drained by the Heart River.

The Heart Lake Geyser Basin begins a couple miles from the lake and descends along Witch Creek to the lakeshore. Five groups of hydrothermal features comprise the basin, and all of them contain geysers, although some are dormant.

Angling Heart Lake

Heart Lake holds Cutthroat Trout, Lake Trout, and Mountain whitefish. Lake Trout were introduced in the 1890s. Angling is restricted to Fly fishing or artificial lures. All Cutthroat Trout and Whitefish must be released. There is no limit on the number of Lake Trout harvested. The park record Lake Trout, 42 pounds (19 kg) was caught in Heart Lake.

Heart Lake is 7.5 miles (12.1 km) from the south entrance road at Lewis Lake via the Heart Lake Trail. Heart Lake can also be reached via the Trail Creek trail that traverses the southern shoreline of Yellowstone Lake or via the Heart River trail/Snake River trail from the park's southern border. Heart Lake is within the Heart Lake Bear Management Area and access to the area is closed between April 1 and June 1 annually.