Grebe Lake
Encyclopedia
Grebe Lake is a 156 acre (0.63131016 km²) backcountry lake in Yellowstone National Park
most noted for it population of Arctic Grayling
. Grebe Lake comprises the headwaters of the Gibbon River
. Grebe Lake is located approximately 3.1 miles (5 km) north of the Norris-Canyon section of the Grand Loop Road
. The trail to the lake passes through mostly level Lodgepole Pine
forest and open meadows. The lake was named by J.P. Iddings, a geologist with the Arnold Hague
geologic surveys. There are four backcountry campsites located on the lake.
form of Arctic Grayling. The original stocks came from Georgetown Lake near Anaconda, Montana
. The fluvial
form of Arctic Grayling was native to the Madison
and Gibbon River
s below Gibbon Falls
. In an effort to re-establish grayling in western states, over 72 million grayling eggs were harvested from Grebe Lake between 1931 and 1956 and distributed to hatcheries. Most lake dwelling grayling in the west today can be genetically traced to the Grebe Lake stocks,. Grebe Lake was closed to fishing until 1944 because of the fish culture operations at the lake. Wolf Lake 2 miles (3.2 km) west and Cascade Lake 3 miles (4.8 km) east also contain grayling.
. It a popular summer angling destination for park visitors. Although the lake can be fished from shore, many anglers carry in float tube
s to access the deeper portions of the lake,. Using a float tube on Yellowstone lakes requires a park service boating permit. The lake is open to angling during the entire Yellowstone season (end of May to early November) but generally cannot be easily accessed until mid June because of snow on the trail. The trailhead to Grebe Lake is approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Canyon on the Norris to Canyon road 44°43′3"N 110°32′58"W.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
most noted for it population of Arctic Grayling
Arctic grayling
Arctic grayling is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. It comprises five subspecies native to the Nearctic and Palearctic ecozones. T. a. arcticus is widespread throughout the Arctic and Pacific drainages in Canada, Alaska, and Siberia, as well as the upper...
. Grebe Lake comprises the headwaters of the Gibbon River
Gibbon River
The Gibbon River is a river in Yellowstone National Park, in Wyoming, the United States. It rises in the center of the park at Grebe Lake. It flows for a short distance into Wolf Lake. Below Wolf Lake, the river flows through Virginia Cascades into the Norris valley. It flows near the Norris...
. Grebe Lake is located approximately 3.1 miles (5 km) north of the Norris-Canyon section of the Grand Loop Road
Grand Loop Road Historic District
The Grand Loop Road Historic District encompasses the primary road system in Yellowstone National Park. Much of the system was originally planned by Captain Hiram M. Chittenden of the US Army Corps of Engineers in the early days of the park, when it was under military administration...
. The trail to the lake passes through mostly level Lodgepole Pine
Lodgepole Pine
Lodgepole Pine, Pinus contorta, also known as Shore Pine, is a common tree in western North America. Like all pines, it is evergreen.-Subspecies:...
forest and open meadows. The lake was named by J.P. Iddings, a geologist with the Arnold Hague
Arnold Hague
Arnold Hague was a United States geologist who did many geological surveys in the U.S., of which the best known was that for Yellowstone National Park. He also had assignments in China and Guatemala. He became a member of the U. S...
geologic surveys. There are four backcountry campsites located on the lake.
Arctic Grayling
In 1921, U.S. Fish Commission personnel stocked Grebe Lake, at that time fishless, with the Montana strain Thymallus arcticus montanus of a lacustrineLake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
form of Arctic Grayling. The original stocks came from Georgetown Lake near Anaconda, Montana
Anaconda, Montana
Anaconda, county seat of Anaconda City/Deer Lodge County, is located in mountainous southwestern Montana. The Continental Divide passes within 8 miles of the community with the local Pintler Mountain range reaching 10,379 feet...
. The fluvial
Fluvial
Fluvial is used in geography and Earth science to refer to the processes associated with rivers and streams and the deposits and landforms created by them...
form of Arctic Grayling was native to the Madison
Madison River
The Madison River is a headwater tributary of the Missouri River, approximately 183 miles long, in Wyoming and Montana. Its confluence with the Jefferson and Gallatin rivers near Three Forks, Montana form the Missouri River....
and Gibbon River
Gibbon River
The Gibbon River is a river in Yellowstone National Park, in Wyoming, the United States. It rises in the center of the park at Grebe Lake. It flows for a short distance into Wolf Lake. Below Wolf Lake, the river flows through Virginia Cascades into the Norris valley. It flows near the Norris...
s below Gibbon Falls
Gibbon Falls
Gibbon Falls is a waterfall on the Gibbon River in southwestern Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Gibbon Falls has a drop of approximately...
. In an effort to re-establish grayling in western states, over 72 million grayling eggs were harvested from Grebe Lake between 1931 and 1956 and distributed to hatcheries. Most lake dwelling grayling in the west today can be genetically traced to the Grebe Lake stocks,. Grebe Lake was closed to fishing until 1944 because of the fish culture operations at the lake. Wolf Lake 2 miles (3.2 km) west and Cascade Lake 3 miles (4.8 km) east also contain grayling.
Angling
Today, Grebe Lake holds both Arctic Grayling and Rainbow troutRainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
. It a popular summer angling destination for park visitors. Although the lake can be fished from shore, many anglers carry in float tube
Float tube
A float tube, also known as a belly boat or kick boat, is a flotation device which anglers use to fish from. They were originally doughnut-shaped boats with an underwater seat in the "hole", but modern designs include a V-shape with pontoons on either side and the seat raised above the water...
s to access the deeper portions of the lake,. Using a float tube on Yellowstone lakes requires a park service boating permit. The lake is open to angling during the entire Yellowstone season (end of May to early November) but generally cannot be easily accessed until mid June because of snow on the trail. The trailhead to Grebe Lake is approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Canyon on the Norris to Canyon road 44°43′3"N 110°32′58"W.