Five Epic Hikes in Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks offer the ultimate in natural and geothermal wonders, and the vast mountain ranges and steaming geyser basins make for thrilling hikes around every corner. But with more than 28,000 square miles (including all of the surrounding protected lands), how do you decide which hikes to embark on?
The new edition of Top Trails: Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks takes the guesswork out of where to log your miles. Authors Andrew Nystrom and Bradley Mayhew know the parks like the back of their hands and have hiked almost every trail inside the park boundaries. They valiantly tackled the near-impossible task of selecting 46 of the parks’ can’t-miss trails.
From that list, we’re highlighting five of the most epic hikes within the parks.
Osprey Falls
Length: 10.0 or 10.2 miles, 5–7 hours
Vertical Feet: ±850
Difficulty: – 5
Trail Type: Out-and-back or Loop
This hike on an old service road ends with a steep out-and-back drop to the secluded base of a scenic falls at the head of an impressive canyon. The route can be extended to a slightly longer and more strenuous loop by combining it with the Bunsen Peak Trail to see both sides of Bunsen Peak.
Old Bunsen Peak Road is open for travel whenever the park is open to visitors. The hiking and biking season runs roughly May–October. On hot days and for spotting wildlife, it’s best to hike in the early morning or late afternoon.
Do not let the posted signs warning about treacherous conditions on the Osprey Falls Trail scare you. Yes, the steep trail’s tread is in poorer condition than most of the superbly maintained trails in the park, but with a reasonable dose of caution it is safely manageable under normal circumstances.
Fossil Forest
Length: 3.0 miles, 2–3 hours
Vertical Feet: ±1,350
Difficulty: 4
Trail Type: Out-and-back
This short but steep and challenging ascent is the most direct of several unmarked routes that end up at Yellowstone’s most fascinating and significant petrified forest, located high up a ridge, with amazing, endless views.
The steep beeline up the hillside will really get your calves and heart pumping. When tired, stop and smell the blossoms: The meadows here are usually bursting with wildflowers by July. Watch closely as you climb, and you may begin to notice small fossilized shards. Fall colors peak here around the end of September, a bit later than elsewhere in the park. Behind you, views of the Northern Range are unsurpassed.
If you have a reserve of energy, the brisk 400-foot climb up to the top of Specimen Ridge is highly recommended. You’ll be rewarded by a scenic picnic spot with breathtaking views southwest across the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone to Mount Washburn (the lookout tower is barely visible). From the summit it’s about one hour back to the trailhead.
Avalanche Peak
Length: 4 miles, 3–4 hours
Vertical Feet: ±2,100
Difficulty: 4
Trail Type: Out-and-back
This quick but steep and relentless ascent skips the switchbacks. The solitude and some of Yellowstone’s best panoramic views are worth every ounce of exertion. The lightly traveled route traverses whitebark pine forest, old avalanche slides, and scree slopes adjacent to the North Absaroka Wilderness.
A bit more than halfway up the mountain, the trail flattens out as it emerges from the forest at the base of a huge, amphitheater-like bowl where you get your first glimpse of Avalanche Peak. Take a break and savor the views back south and west over the Teton Wilderness and Yellowstone Lake before the final blustery ascent.
From the peak, take in views of the Teton Range, Mount Washburn, and Mount Sheridan to the south and the vast, roadless North Absaroka Wilderness in the Shoshone National Forest directly to the east.
Dunanda Falls and Silver Scarf Falls
Length: 16.4 miles, 8–10 hours
Vertical Feet: ±400
Difficulty: 5
Trail Type: Out-and-back
Highlights include lush riparian zones; vast, wildlife-rich meadows; sublime hot pots; invigorating stream crossings; and mesmerizing waterfalls. Because there are several good campsites en route, the trip is easily extended into a moderate overnighter.
As you approach the southern edge of the flat expanse of Bechler Meadows, you’ll have to wade through the stagnant, murky Bartlett Slough. Early in the season it can be difficult to see the solid bottom, but by August it is usually a shallow crossing and, if you’re lucky, may be bridged by logs. On the upside, there are good views of the Tetons in the background, and the surrounding territory is prime moose stomping grounds.
After exploring off-trail around the brink of the falls, it’s a simple matter of relaxing in one of the popular riverside hot pots, formed where hot springs mix with cool river water. It’s a delicious sensation to feel the cold spray of the waterfalls on your face as the rest of you soaks in bathtub-temperature waters.
Leigh, Bearpaw, and Trapper Lakes in Grand Teton National Park
Length: 2.2 miles to Leigh Lake, 8.4 miles to Trapper Lake; 2–3 hours
Vertical Feet: Negligible
Difficulty: 2.5
Trail Type: Out-and-back
The easy outing to Leigh Lake is a favorite of families and those looking for a stress-free overnight option. The lake is big enough and just far enough away from the road to feel like it’s in the backcountry, but it’s close enough to attract parents with small children. It’s also a favorite summer swimming hole and popular horseback-riding destination.
Starting after 1.1 miles, you’ll pass a series of wonderful, white-sand swimming beaches, where the views of Mount Moran reflected in the lake are fitting for the cover of a box of chocolates.
Beyond the head of the lake, past a burn area and opposite a turnoff for the Leigh Lake Patrol Cabin, the trail forks to the right for tree-lined and marshy Bearpaw Lake.
If you like what you see, click on the sidebar on the right and sign up for the Wilderness Press newsletter!
