23 Best Hikes in Yellowstone National Park

Ah, Yellowstone…at over 2.2 million acres spanning three whole states, America’s first national park is so full of activities to do that will take you days to see it all! But one of the best things about Yellowstone is nature viewing and what better way to do that than hiking! Yep, Yellowstone’s got trails galore, for every skill level.

Here are some of Shaka Guide’s favorite hikes at Yellowstone National Park. We’ve broken it down into park sections so that wherever you go, you’ll have some great options to see this stunning park in all its natural glory!

North
North East
West
South
East

Pro tip! You’ll find all of these hikes on our Yellowstsone National Park Tour.

NORTH

Gardinier, MT and Mammoth Hot Springs Area

Easy Hike

Mammoth Hot Springs Trails (30-90 minutes)

Technically, the Mammoth Hot Springs Trails are more of viewing areas, but they still count. Come take a stroll on the boardwalk-like walkways that wind through the Mammoth Hot Springs. There are some stairs and inclines along these paths, but in general, they’re easy enough for all skill levels.

Moderate Hike

Beaver Ponds Trail (2-5 hours)

This 6-mile, loop trail has a slight elevation gain of 350 feet, and it’s a pleasant but rocky trail through the countryside. It’s an excellent place for bird watching and wildlife viewing. Be prepared, though; the bugs can be bad in the summertime.

Challenging Hike

Bunsen Peak Trail (2-3 hours)

Image by Rachel Ennis

Technically, Bunsen Peak Trail falls into the “moderately challenging” route, but we’re listing this one under “challenging” because of the steady but steep incline at the end of this 5-mile out-and-back trail. Your payoff is a spectacular panoramic view of the Yellowstone River valley and beyond!

NORTHEAST

Tower Fall, Lamar Valley, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Easy Hike

Trout Lake (30 minutes to 1 hour)

If you’re looking for a hike but are short on time, the 1.2-mile Trout Lake Loop fits the bill nicely. The first few minutes is slightly uphill, but the rest of the hike is an even walk around the beautiful Trout Lake with a mountain backdrop. This is an excellent place to take a picnic lunch–just remember your bear safety tips!

Moderate Hikes

Brink of the Lower Falls (2-4 hours)

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For a short hike–it’s only 0.4 miles–this trail is considered moderately challenging because of its series of steep switchbacks. But the Lower Falls are waiting for you when you get there! Come listen to the roar of the falls and the song of the Yellowstone River.

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Dunraven Pass to Mt. Washburn (up to 6 hours)

There are a few routes when hiking to Mt. Washburn, but Dunraven Pass is unique. At the end of this 4.5-mile out-and-back trail, you’ll find one of the only Fire Towers still in operation. You’ll also have spectacular views and a high probability of seeing big-horned sheep.

Chittenden Road to Mt. Washburn (3-5 hours)

Here’s another way to get to Mt. Washburn’s summit! This 5.8-mile out-and-back trail is a steady incline to the top of Mt. Washburn. A majority of the trail is loose gravel, so you may want to bring hiking poles. If it’s a clear day, you may even be able to see all the way to the Teton mountain range!

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Challenging Hikes

Specimen Ridge Petrified Forest Trail (2-4 hours)

It’s important to note that the Specimen Ridge Petrified Forest trail isn’t the same thing as the longer Specimen Ridge Trail. This one is only 3.8 miles out-and-back, but with strenuous climbing throughout, it’s considered very challenging. They call this trail “a trip back in time” because of its abundance of petrified wood—some of it even dates back millions of years!

Specimen Ridge Trail (up to 8 hours)

Point to point, the Specimen Ridge Trail is a whopping 17.7 miles through the backcountry. This one isn’t very well marked and can be hard to follow at points, and the trail climbs steadily to about 3500 feet, but it’ll take you through miles of open meadows with beautiful wildflowers early in the summer.

WEST

Madison, Grand Prismatic Spring, Old Faithful Area

Easy Hikes

Grand Prismatic Spring (30 minutes)

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Just like the Mammoth Hot Springs Trail in the North, the Grand Prismatic Spring Trail is more of a boardwalk-style stroll than a hike. Still, the path winds through the stunning Grand Prismatic Spring pools and is definitely worth a look!

Harlequin Lake Trail (30 minutes)

This sweet, simple 1-mile round-trip hike is more of a stroll through wildflower meadows with lots of wildlife. It ends at the edge of Harlequin Lake—a small body of water reflecting the mountains and scattered with lily pads.

Moderate Hikes

Mystic Falls Trail (2-3 hours)

At 1.4 miles point-to-point (2.8 miles round trip) this is a shorter hike than most of the moderate hikes around Yellowstone. This one leaves the comfort of the Biscuit Basin walkway and winds through the forest. After a series of steep switchbacks, you’ll come to the brink of the beautiful Mystic Falls! Be careful; this one gets slippery the closer you get to the falls.

Fairy Falls Trail (3-5 hours)

Fairy Falls is one of the can’t-miss spots at Yellowstone National Park. But to get there, you’ll follow a 4.1-mile out-and-back trail through a thick forest of lodgepole pine trees. This trail is pretty flat, but it’s narrow. Also, be on the lookout for bicyclists; they enjoy this trail, too!

Challenging Hikes

Electric Peak Trail (9-10 hours/multiple days)

At 10,969 feet above sea level, you’d think that Electric Peak is the highest point in Yellowstone National Park. Right? Wrong; it’s the 8th highest point! Nonetheless, getting to the summit of Electric Peak is no easy feat. For experienced hikers, this 19-mile out-and-back trail is a challenging 9-hour trek through the backcountry. For novice hikers, this could be a multi-day trip. Luckily, there are two campsites along the route! Just make sure to pick up a backcountry camping permit before you head out.

SOUTH

Rockefeller Parkway, West Thumb, Grant Village, Shoshone Lake Areas

Easy Hikes

Lone Star Geyser Basin Trail (1-2 hours)

Image from Flickr by Yellowstone National Park

Technically the 5-mile (2.5 miles out, 2.5 miles back) Lone Star Geyser Basin is closer to West Yellowstone, but since it’s south of Old Faithful, we’re counting it here. The Lone Star Geyser Basin sits at the end of a pretty even, flat trail along the Firehole River. In fact, this trail was used as an actual road for cars until 1971!

Riddle Lake Trail (2-4 hours)

This is a 5-mile round-trip hike that begins on the western side of the Continental Divide, where water flows to the Pacific Ocean, and then crosses to the Eastern half of the Continental Divide, where the water ends up in the Atlantic Ocean. You won’t notice that, though. You will be enchanted by the lodgepole pine forest, brightly colored wildflower meadows, and the crystal waters of Riddle Lake.

Moderate Hikes

Lewis River Channel Trail(5-8 hours)

At 6.4 miles point-to-point, this one is a long trail—but it’s well worth it. Along this trail, you get three bodies of water—Lewis Lake, Lewis River Channel, and Shoshone Lake— for the price of one! You’ll also wind through forested areas and see the aftermath of the 1988 fires that burned in this area, too.

Dogshead Trail (2-4 hours)

The Dogshead Trail runs almost parallel to the Lewis River Channel, and many people who hike the Lewis River Channel Trail enjoy using the Dogshead to return to the highway.

Challenging Hike

DeLacy Creek Trail (3-5 hours)

From the trailhead to trail end, the DeLacy Creek Trail is an 8.8-mile moderately challenging hike through the vast backcountry of Yellowstone. What makes this trail moderately challenging is the series of up-and-down hills a few miles in—they can be tricky when you’ve grown accustomed to the leisurely stroll at the beginning. DeLacy Creek Trail is the quickest and arguably most scenic route to Shoshone Lake!

EAST

Yellowstone Lake, Fishing Bridge Area

Easy Hike

Storm Point Trail (1-2 miles)

This loop trail is only 2.4 miles round trip, and it’s a great, family-friendly trail full of wildflowers and wildlife viewing. This flat trail leads to Indian Pond, which was formed over 3,000 years ago by a hydrothermal explosion!

Moderate Hike

Natural Bridge Trail (1-2 Hours)

Take a hike to the 51-foot natural rhyolite rock formation known as the Natural Bridge! The trail itself is pretty easy–about 2.2 miles round-trip, and most of it is flat and even. What makes this hike slightly more than easy is the water–the rocks can be slippery when passing near Bridge Creek below.

Challenging Hikes

Elephant Back Mountain Trail (2-3 hours)

Image by Rachel Ennis

Are you ready to climb 800 feet in only 1 ½ miles? The Elephant Back Mountain Trail starts out with that challenge, but eventually this 3.8-mile loop trail levels off a bit. You’ll ascend through the forest to the summit of Elephant Back Peak, where you’ll be treated to gorgeous, sweeping views of the Absaroka Mountains, Yellowstone Lake, and beyond!

Avalanche Peak Trail (3-4 hours)

If you love climbing mountains, this is one is for you! The Avalanche Peak Trail starts with a 2.1-mile steep ascent up the side of Avalanche Peak. You’ll climb over 2,000 feet through rough, mountain terrain in that time! Your payoff for that hard work? The best view at Yellowstone. From the top, you’ll see most of the southeast corner of Yellowstone National Park, and you’ll get the full picture of just how vast it is.

No matter which hikes you choose, be sure to remember to hike safely! Stay hydrated, wear proper footwear, hike in groups, and be aware of your surroundings. And don’t forget the seven principles of the National Park Service’s Leave No Trace initiative:

plan ahead
keep to durable surfaces
dispose of waste properly
leave what you find
minimize campfire impacts
respect wildlife
and be considerate of other visitors

We can work together to keep National Parks like Yellowstone clean and pristine for generations to come!

Best Hikes in Yellowstone National Park Map

We hope that we’ve given you all the information you need to make the most of your day. Your vacation is extremely important to us so if you have any questions feel free to reach out at aloha@shakaguide.com.