Yellowstone Hiking Guide: Best Trails for Every Level

By Victoria Boissonade · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Yellowstone

Yellowstone is more than a roadside view of Old Faithful. The park has more than 900 miles of marked trails, from a few-hundred-foot geothermal boardwalk to multi-day alpine traverses. If you only do one hike on your first visit, make it Fairy Falls Trail. It combines an elevated view of Grand Prismatic Spring with a waterfall in an easy outing that takes less than three hours. Have a full day and solid hiking experience? Climb to the top of Mount Washburn for 360-degree views across the plateau. Traveling with kids? The Geyser Hill Loop around Old Faithful takes about an hour at an easy pace and follows a completely flat boardwalk.

This guide helps you choose. It is not meant to cover every trail.

How to Prepare for a Yellowstone Hike

Permits and Park Entry

Day hikes don't require any permit in Yellowstone. Your park entry fee is enough ($35 per vehicle, valid for 7 days, or a $70 annual pass). Backcountry camping requires a wilderness permit, issued at visitor centers.

Wildlife: Keep Your Distance

Yellowstone is home to abundant wildlife. The park enforces strict minimum distances: 25 yards from bison, elk, and other hoofed animals, and 100 yards from bears and wolves. Nearly every reported incident involves hikers who got too close. Carry bear spray and know how to use it. A bear bell attached to your pack lets wildlife know you're coming on wooded trails.

Geothermal Features: The Hidden Risk

Leaving marked boardwalks is prohibited and can be fatal. The ground around geothermal basins can collapse without warning, and hot-spring accidents have killed visitors in Yellowstone. Never leave children unattended near active areas.

Dogs

Dogs are not allowed on any trails in the park. They're permitted in parking lots and on roads, but must be leashed. Boarding facilities are available in West Yellowstone and Gardiner.

Water, Weather, and Basic Gear

The park's streams and lakes may contain Giardia, so never drink untreated water. Bring at least 2 liters per person for a half-day hike. Weather changes quickly. Afternoon thunderstorms can roll in even in July, and snow can fall in any month. Summer daytime temperatures sometimes climb above 70°F before dropping 18°F or more when a front moves through. Always pack a waterproof layer, and check the Yellowstone weather forecast before every outing.

The Best Hikes, Area by Area

Old Faithful and the Geyser Basins (Southwest)

This area has the park's most photographed geothermal features. The trails are short and well developed, making them ideal for a first day.

Fairy Falls drops 200 feet into a rocky amphitheater. The trail first follows a geothermal basin, then climbs briefly to an elevated viewpoint over Grand Prismatic Spring, whose turquoise water is ringed with orange. It's the only accessible day-hike overlook of the spring, and well worth the outing. Set out before 8 a.m. if you don't want to share the parking lot with half of West Yellowstone.

This is one of the few trails that puts you above Old Faithful instead of at its base. The climb takes about 20 minutes. At the top, you see the geyser in context, surrounded by the basin and forest. Add the Geyser Hill Loop (0.9 miles, flat) on the way back to see about a dozen active geysers.

A 85-foot waterfall in lodgepole pine forest, with far fewer visitors than Fairy Falls. The loop variation via Lava Creek Trail adds 1.2 miles and a few dozen more feet of elevation gain.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (Central)

The canyon is about 22 miles long and 1,000 to 1,500 feet deep. Its yellow and orange walls gave Wyoming its name.

The South Rim offers the classic views of Upper and Lower Falls. Artist Point, reached by a 0.6-mile walk from the parking area, provides a head-on view of Lower Falls, which drops 308 feet. Continue to Point Sublime if you want a 5-mile outing with hardly another person in sight.

It's short but strenuous. The trail drops down the canyon wall via 328 metal steps and steep paved sections. At the bottom, the close-up view of Lower Falls is dramatic. The climb back up works your knees and calves, so bring trekking poles if you have them.

The trail descends to the bottom of the canyon and the Yellowstone River, with active geothermal features below. This is a serious commitment. Allow a full day, carry plenty of water, and tell someone your plans before you leave.

Mammoth Hot Springs and the North of the Park

The northern area stays open year-round. It's cooler and less crowded than the geothermal areas to the south.

A low-key classic through conifer forests, meadows, and five beaver ponds. Elk and deer often appear in the morning. The trail starts behind the historic buildings of Fort Yellowstone. Few hikers know about it because most people stop at the travertine terraces just across the road.

A true alpine hike that climbs above Mammoth and opens up views of the Gardiner Valley and the Absaroka Range. It's for experienced hikers who are comfortable with elevation gain and properly equipped. Start at dawn.

Mount Washburn (North-Central)

Mount Washburn rises to 10,243 feet. On a clear day, the view takes in much of the Yellowstone plateau, the Tetons to the south, and the Absaroka Range to the east.

The trail climbs steadily on a ranger road without any technical sections. At the summit, a historic fire lookout has fixed binoculars and a shelter. Bighorn sheep are regularly spotted on the upper slopes. Winds can be strong even on a sunny day, so a windbreaker is essential. This is our recommendation for any moderately fit hiker who wants Yellowstone's signature panorama.

Yellowstone Lake and the East Side

Yellowstone Lake stretches across more than 7,700 feet of elevation and covers 132 square miles. The surrounding trails see fewer visitors and feel more remote.

One of the park's most strenuous climbs, it ends on a panoramic ridge at 9,849 feet. The view takes in the lake and the Absaroka Range. The trail becomes unmarked near the top, so route-finding skills help. Snow is possible into July. Check conditions before setting out.

Easy and Family-Friendly Hikes

Yellowstone offers several options for young children and visitors with limited mobility.

• Geyser Hill Loop (0.9 miles, flat, boardwalk; starts at Old Faithful Visitor Center): about a dozen active geysers around Old Faithful, with most of the route accessible to strollers.
• Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook (about 1.9 miles round-trip from the dedicated parking area on Grand Loop Road): a short climb up a grassy slope to an aerial view of the multicolored spring. It may be the park's most-shared photo.
• Mammoth Hot Springs terraces (0.6 to 1.9 miles, depending on the route, boardwalk, minimal elevation gain): the travertine terraces change from one season to the next. Some sections are stroller accessible.
• Lamar Valley: less a trail than a series of roadside stops with short marked walks. It's the best area in the park for seeing wolves, bison, and bears without much physical exertion.

The Yellowstone family guide covers age-appropriate activities in detail.

Challenging Hikes and Big Views

For hikers looking for serious elevation gain and wide-open views:

• Mount Washburn: the park's best effort-to-view ratio.
• Avalanche Peak: for those who want real mountain terrain and don't mind losing the trail markers.
• Seven Mile Hole: a descent to the bottom of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the river.
• Sepulcher Mountain: the North Country's big alpine loop.

One useful detail: Yellowstone sits at an average elevation of 7,900 feet. If you're coming from low country or the coast, allow a day to acclimate before tackling trails with major elevation gain.

Trailhead Access and Parking

You can reach every trailhead by car via the park's internal roads. For parking logistics and timing advice during peak season, see the getting around Yellowstone guide.

A few things to know:

• Old Faithful: the large central parking lot is often full by 10 a.m. in July and August. Biscuit Basin parking, 1.9 miles north, is a less crowded alternative for reaching Mystic Falls.
• Canyon Village: South Rim and North Rim parking areas are separate, with clear signs from Canyon Junction.
• Dunraven Pass: a small lot with about 15 spaces that fills quickly. The alternative access from Chittenden Road, another Mount Washburn trailhead, usually has more room, but adds 1.2 miles round-trip.
• Fairy Falls: dedicated parking on Grand Loop Road south of Midway Geyser Basin. Coordinates are available in the official NPS app.

For the park's five entrances and access details by area, see the Yellowstone entrances and roads guide and the park overview.

When to Hike in Yellowstone

The main season runs from mid-June to mid-September. Trails are mostly clear, all trailheads are accessible, and visitor centers are open. July and August bring most of the visitors.

September is our favorite time. Crowds thin out, fall colors begin in the meadows, and elk enter the rut. Wildlife viewing is often better than in the height of summer.

Before June, snow can block high-elevation passes and trailheads, especially Dunraven Pass and the route to Avalanche Peak. Check opening and closing alerts on the NPS website before making plans.

For monthly climate data and road opening dates, the Yellowstone month-by-month calendar has the full overview.

Which Hike Is Right for You?

To build your trip around these outings, our 3-, 5-, or 7-day Yellowstone itineraries give you a ready-made structure.

Frequently Asked Questions