Yellowstone Lake Itinerary: Where to Stop, Eat, and Explore

Sedge Bay on the East Side of Yellowstone Lake is a great spot for a picnic and to walk the water's edge.

Fishing Bridge in the southeastern corner of Yellowstone National Park is more than just a convenient place area to stay in. It’s the ideal home base for exploring the vast expanse of Yellowstone Lake and all the little gems that surround its shores. With its refreshing waters, dramatic backdrops, and wildlife-rich shoreline, Yellowstone Lake has a full day's worth of things to see and do.

This itinerary is full of popular highlights like the Yellowstone Lake Marina and West Thumb Geyser Basin with secret picnic spots, quiet lakeside walks, and local gems. While it starts at Fishing Bridge, you could just as easily come from Cody, Canyon Village, or beyond to enjoy everything this itinerary has to offer.

Best Places for Breakfast Around Yellowstone Lake

If you don’t want to cook your own breakfast or grab something on the go, there are a few options around Yellowstone Lake. I like to grab a doughnut and a coffee and soak in the morning light on the shores of the lake behind the Fishing Bridge Visitor’s Center.

If you're the kind of person who's unphased by waking up before the first photon of pre-dawn gray, sunrise on Yellowstone Lake will knock your socks off. Especially on a typical windless morning when the waters lay flat like a mirror.

Fishing Bridge General Store & Grill

The Fishing Bridge General Store's Cafe offers classic American breakfast items like breakfast burritos, pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon.

Fishing Bridge General Store offers breakfast and supplies to stock your cooler for the day.

There’s also a coffee bar and grab-and-go items like muffins, yogurt, and fresh fruit.

Lake Hotel Deli at Yellowstone Lake Hotel

About 10-15 minutes from Fishing Bridge, the Lake Hotel Deli offers quick-service breakfast items in a beautiful lakeside setting. Think fresh pastries, granola, fruit cups, and hot coffee to fuel your morning adventures. This is a great option if you're heading toward the West Thumb Geyser Basin or exploring the Yellowstone Lake shoreline.

Lake Hotel Dining Room

If you prefer a sit-down breakfast with stunning lake views, the Lake Hotel Dining Room offers a more upscale experience. Reservations are recommended during peak season. Menu items include omelets, classic breakfast plates, and lighter options like oatmeal or yogurt parfaits. They also offer gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly dishes.

Pro Tip: Stock Up at Fishing Bridge General Store

Since the Fishing Bridge area is more remote, it’s smart to stock up on snacks, coffee, or breakfast essentials at the General Store. If you don’t already have a lunch idea sorted out, this is the place to load up the cooler.

Morning: Wake Up with the Lake

A peaceful morning stroll along Fishing Bridge itself is an easy way to get the day started and stretch your legs. Originally built in the 1930s, this iconic structure spans the Yellowstone River where it flows out of the lake toward the Canyon area. While fishing is no longer allowed, it’s still a fantastic place to watch birds, spot river otters, and breathe in the crisp mountain air.

Mid-Morning: Explore the Marina and Water Adventures

Yellowstone Lake Marina (Bridge Bay) Bridge Bay Marina is just a 10-minute drive to the east of Fishing Bridge. There are even lakeside geysers to check out.

Boat Rental Information

You can rent a motorboat or sign up for a scenic cruise. However, there are limited options, and they go fast.

Reservations: It’s best to reserve a boat a few days in advance.

Rental Hours: 8 AM – 5 PM (weather dependent)

Must be 18+ with valid photo ID

The motorboats give you the freedom to explore coves, and you could even try fishing, with a license.

Boat Rentals (as of 2024):16-ft motorboat: $59/hour or $169/half-day (up to 4 people).

Lifejackets and fuel included.

Boating Itinerary

If you're boating, steer toward Stevenson Island to spot the eerie remains of the E.C. Waters, a steamship that ran aground in 1907. It’s a favorite among photographers and history buffs.

Scenic Boat Tour Option

The Yellowstone Lake Scenic Cruise offers a one-hour guided boat tour aboard the Lake Queen II, departing from Bridge Bay Marina.

Yellowstone Lake has lots of Boating opportunities, but you'll need to make reservations.

This tour provides insights into the lake's history and wildlife, with opportunities to view the remains of the SS E.C. Waters and spot local fauna such as eagles, shorebirds, elk, and bison along the shoreline.

Reservations: You can call of make a reservation here.

Cost: ~$20/adult, $12/child (ages 3–11)

Hidden Picnic Gems

The shores of Yellowstone Lake are festooned with well-known places and secret gems for having a picnic. A few of them offer an opportunity to hike or explore Yellowstone Lake up close.

Bridge Bay Marina Picnic Area

Location: Near Bridge Bay Campground

Amenities: Picnic tables, restrooms, marina access

Bridge Bay is a fantastic picnic stop, especially if you’re thinking about boating or fishing on the lake. The marina provides beautiful views of Yellowstone Lake and has several shaded picnic tables.

It’s also a great place to watch the boats come and go. The bathrooms are clean and with a low risk of wildlife due to human activity, you can let your kids run around a little bit to burn off some energy.

Pumice Point Picnic Area

Location: Near the shores of Yellowstone Lake

Amenities: 1 picnic table, lakeshore access, no restroom but many nearby

Pumice Point is a secret gem for a secluded picnic on Yellowstone Lake.

Pumice Point Picnic area is a secret gem of a picnic spot on the north side of Yellowstone Lake. It’s down an unmarked road north of the actual Pumice Point. You drive down a tree-lined dirt track to a primitive parking spot and a trail that opens up to a clearing on the lake shore.

It’s an awesome place for a quiet picnic surrounded by volcanic rock formations while watching the gentle waves lap against the shore. However, this is a known bear area, so before, don’t go blindly wandering down the trail with a bacon sandwich in your hand without making sure you have your bears pray with you!

Fishing Bridge Picnic Area

Location: Near the historic Fishing Bridge

Amenities: Picnic tables, restrooms, visitor center nearby

One of the final stops along this stretch, of the lower loop, is the Fishing Bridge area offers a mix of history and nature. There’s also a gas station and a massive general store where you can pick up everything you need for a picnic! 

Picnic tables are available nearby and throughout this little village. There are proper bathrooms with running water and flushing toilets. A great place to get the kids cleaned up after lunch!

Storm Point Trail & Picnic Area

Amenities: None

Storm Point's rocks can serve as picnic tables at the end of a scenic lakeside hike.

If you’re in the mood for a light hike to a picnic area, you can head back toward Fishing Bridge, then drive a little farther east to park at the Indian Pond Trailhead for the Storm Point Trail. It’s an easy, 2.3-mile loop through forest and meadows to a spectacular rocky peninsula jutting into the lake.

While there aren’t picnic tables, the rocks along the southern edge of the shoreline will make do.

Holmes Point

Amenities: None

Yellowstone Lake's Holmes Point has limited parking.

If you continue east, past the Storm Point trailhead, you’ll go past a section of breaker wall. Shortly after it ends, there’s a blister of parking blister on the lakeside of the road with enough space for 2-3 cars.

This is Holmes Point, and it’s a great place for a scenic picnic with stunning views of the lake. There are downed trees and rocks that might serve as a primitive picnic table but be prepared to bring a blanket to lay down regardless.   

Steamboat Point Picnic Grounds

Amenities: Vault toilets

Yellowstone's Steamboat Point is a great place for a scenic picnic.

Just a little further southeast from Holmes Point, you’ll find the Steamboat Point picnic grounds with enough parking for 5+ cars. There aren’t any picnic tables, but there is one big rock that will make do. It’s a nice scenic view, and there’s a little trail to let your kids wander along the shoreline.

NOTE: If the picnic grounds is crowded, Steamboat Point is a couple hundred yards ahead. It’s also good for a picnic, but there aren’t any bathroom facilities.

Sedge Bay

Amenities: Vault Toilets

Yellowstone Lake's Sedge Bay offers a secluded beach feel for a picnic and a stroll.

If you want a little bit of a hands-on experience with Yellowstone Lake to go with your picnic, Sege Bay is a great stop. You pull off the road to what looks at first to be a beach. There’s beachside parking and vault toilets. There aren’t any picnic tables, but it's still a great spot to eat a sandwich on the hood of your car and take in the view.

Afternoon: Thermal Wonders and Lakeside Strolls

The West Thumb area and Grant Village are nice places to explore with the family. There are plenty of amenities nearby, and the Grant Village General Store can help you restock the cooler.

West Thumb Geyser Basin

This is one of Yellowstone’s most underrated thermal areas, just a 30-minute drive south of Fishing Bridge along the Grand Loop Road. it features vibrant hot springs, fumaroles, and geysers right on the lake’s edge. The lakeside boardwalks are relatively accessible for strollers

Yellowstone's Grant Village General Store has tons of cooler supplies and souvenirs.

or people with limited mobility. You could easily spend an hour just strolling along.

Grant Village

Grant Village is a peaceful and scenic area located on the southwestern shore of Yellowstone Lake.  Start with a visit to the Grant Visitor Center, where you can learn about the 1988 Yellowstone wildfires and get up-to-date information on ranger programs, wildlife sightings, and trail conditions.

Grant Village also features a marina with boat rentals and a launch ramp, making it a convenient place for fishing or exploring Yellowstone Lake by canoe or kayak.

Picnic areas throughout the village offer quiet spots for lunch with views of the lake, and the Grant Village Amphitheater often hosts evening ranger talks — a relaxing way to end the day and learn about the park’s wildlife, geology, or history.

Depending on how late it is in the day, Grant Village is a great place for supper. Dining options include the Grant Village Lake House Restaurant, which offers lake views and a casual dining experience after a day of adventure.

Best Sunset Viewing Around Yellowstone Lake

Any of the picnic spots on the west side of Yellowstone Lake will make for some easy sunset pictures. Especially if the winds are calm and you’re lucky enough to get the lake to lay flat. If you’re a little more adventurous and you’re willing to risk a half-hour drive back to Fishing Bridge in the dark, there is another great option.

Yellowstone Lake Butte Sunset Tips

Yellowstone Lake Butte is a perfect overlook for enjoying sunset

Depending on traffic, you can get to the overlook in 12 to 15 minutes. This is a less touristy part of the park, so you don’t have to worry about getting caught out too late after dark. You probably won’t be the only people on the Yellowstone Lake Butte at sunset, but there’s a big parking lot, and the vault toilets get less traffic than other parts of the park.

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