Surprise Lake

Grand Teton National Park · Wyoming

Surprise Lake is one of the permitted entry points in Grand Teton National Park on recreation.gov. The daily quota is 1 group/day, and dates can sell out ahead of the season. Permit Ranger watches this pass around the clock and alerts you the moment a sold-out date opens up.

Quota

1 group/day

When permits are released

About a third of each camping zone is reservable in advance. The advance window for the whole May–October season opens in early January (2026: January 7) at 8:00 AM Mountain Time; cancellations reopen sites all season. Advance booking closes 2 days before entry - after that it's walk-up only.

Dogs

Dogs are not allowed in this area.

Popular trails nearby

Frequently asked questions

When do Surprise Lake permits open?

About a third of each camping zone is reservable in advance. The advance window for the whole May–October season opens in early January (2026: January 7) at 8:00 AM Mountain Time; cancellations reopen sites all season. Advance booking closes 2 days before entry - after that it's walk-up only. Check the recreation.gov page for the exact on-sale details for your dates.

What if my dates are sold out?

Cancellations happen all season as plans change. Add Surprise Lake to a trip window on Permit Ranger and you get an instant alert the moment a date you need opens back up.

How competitive is Surprise Lake?

We are still collecting demand data for this pass.

Does Permit Ranger book the permit for me?

No. Permit Ranger never books on your behalf. When a watched date opens, you get an alert with a direct link so you can book it yourself on recreation.gov.

Nearby passes

Book on recreation.gov · All Grand Teton National Park passes · Grand Teton National Park permit guide