Teresa Lake
High-alpine glacial lake with pristine water and surrounding granite peaks. One of two lakes on the Alpine Lakes Loop trail with interpretive signage on cirque formation.
Natural Attraction
Crystal-clear alpine waters fill a glacier-carved cirque basin ringed by granite peaks. The bowl-shaped depression itself is the story—Pleistocene glaciers excavated this basin through grinding abrasion and rock plucking, leaving behind a geometrically perfect alpine lake. Interpretive signs at the site explain glacial formation mechanics and the ongoing geological legacy of ice-age sculpting. One of two significant lakes along the Alpine Lakes Loop trail, Teresa Lake represents a textbook cirque lake in the park's high country.
What you will experience
- Attraction Type
- Glacial Lake
- Geological Formation Type
- Cirque
Location
Sources
- National Park Service
- YourNPGuide Editorial
Editorial review: YourNPGuide Editorial Team. Information is compiled from official sources, verified traveler reviews, and editorial research; no firsthand visit is implied unless explicitly documented. Learn how YourNPGuide works.
Last updated July 2026. Report an issue.