Trails of Yellowstone National Park
# Trails of Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park has over 1,100 miles (1,800 km) of blazed and mapped hiking trails, including some that have been in use for hundreds of years. Several of these trails were the sites of historical events. Yellowstone's trails are noted for various geysers, hot springs, and other geothermal features, and for viewing of bald eagles, ospreys, grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, coyotes, bighorn sheep, pronghorns, and free-ranging herds of bison and elk.

## Prehistoric times

In the Middle Prehistoric era, humans appear to have continued living in mountain areas through droughts severe enough for plains populations to disappear. Evidence suggests that the Yellowstone Plateau was occupied continuously, with seasonal movement among preferred places. Foragers wintered in protected valleys along the edges of the plateau, and summered in higher hunting grounds that might have extended fifty to a hundred miles away. Some of the seasonal routes developed into often-used trails. Artifacts from this era are found throughout the park, with large enough concentrations around Yellowstone Lake to suggest a substantial population.

## Early 1800s

### First white discoverer used Indian trail sections

John Colter (or Coulter), a former member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, spent the winter of 1806-1807 trapping along the middle Yellowstone River. With the information he learned there, he was hired by the Missouri Fur Trading Company to invite Indian tribes to the trading post the company built at the mouth of the Big Horn River in October 1807. In the winter of 1807-1808, soliciting trade with the Crow and other native tribes, Colter traveled alone on a 500 miles (800 km) route that included the Yellowstone Plateau, making him the first white man to see Yellowstone Lake and some of the area's unique features. Colter's route included Indian trails both inside and outside the current park, such as over Pryor Gap near Cody, Wyoming; around the west shore of Yellowstone Lake and down Yellowstone River to the crossing near Tower Fall (a geothermal area on the east bank is "Hot Spring Brimstone" on Clark's map); and continuing up Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek and Clarks Fork to return to the Pryor Gap trail.

### Bannock Trail

By 1840, bison (buffalo) had been hunted and trapped to extirpation west of the Continental Divide. The Shoshone and Bannock tribes had established a plains-style culture based on the buffalo on the Snake River plains, but the regional extirpation forced them to organize hunting migrations across the Yellowstone Plateau. These tribes established a route that became known as the Bannock Trail. The route began at Camas Meadows in Idaho, went over Targhee Pass, followed the Madison River basin, went over the Gallatin Mountains near Mount Holmes, down Indian Creek to the Gardner River, through Snow Pass to Mammoth Hot Springs, up Lava Creek, through the meadows of Blacktail Deer Creek, to the "Bannock Ford" crossing of the Yellowstone River near Tower Fall, up the Lamar Valley, and over the Absaroka Range into the Clarks Fork Valley. From there, Bannock and Shoshone (often with Flathead and Nez Perce) would choose between the Yellowstone Valley and the Wyoming Basin to hunt bison. For forty years ending in 1878 with the Bannock War, tribes used the Bannock Trail for access to drainages such as the Madison, Gallatin, Yellowstone, Stillwater, Clarks Fork, and Shoshone valleys, and through them to a more distant arc of buffalo ranges.

### Folsom party used Indian trails

The most organized of the numerous explorations into Yellowstone in the 1860s was the 1869 Cook–Folsom–Peterson Expedition. It was particularly well documented as having traveled on existing Indian trails. From the Bozeman Pass area, the three-man group rode on a former Indian trail up Meadow Creek from the Gallatin drainage to the Yellowstone drainage, and down Trail Creek (named for its old trail) to the Yellowstone Valley, as miners had done since 1864. They followed Indian trails up the Yellowstone River the rest of the way south to the mouth of the Gardner River, where the trail forked. The party used the fork over Blacktail Deer Creek Plateau to the head of Rescue Creek. Portions of their later travels used other trails long used by natives. An article by Charles W. Cook and David E. Folsom describing the expedition was published in a Chicago magazine in 1870, raising popular attention. David Folsom worked with Walter W. deLacy, another explorer of Yellowstone, to revise deLacy's 1865 map; the 1870 edition aided that year's Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition. They followed the same route into the area as far as Rescue Creek, then used the Bannock Trail eastward. Like the Folsom party, Washburn's group used other Indian trails around parts of Yellowstone Lake and elsewhere in the future Park.

## First years as a national park

Yellowstone's first superintendent, Nathaniel P. Langford, served without salary from 1872 to 1877. He also worked without funds, and entered the park only twice in his five years of service. Under Langford, no trails were developed, and existing trails were maintained only by their users and guides.

## Trail development by P.W. Norris

Yellowstone's second superintendent, Philetus W. Norris, served from 1877 to 1882. His administration, unlike Langford's, had a budget for roadbuilding and trailbuilding. In his five years, the park trail system was increased from 108 miles (174 km) to 204 miles (328 km), many miles of existing trails were improved into roads, and wooden signboards were added at many trail intersections and natural features.

Superintendent Norris added the trail (later a road) east through Lamar Valley and out the park's northeast corner, in 1878. He discovered, explored, and cleared a trail over the Washburn Range through Rowland Pass, in 1878.

## Current trail system

Many trails in Yellowstone traverse Bear Management Areas and are seasonally closed or restricted to reduce human contact with bears.

### Interpretive and attraction related trails

These trails are primarily associated with park attractions, especially geothermal features, and are sometimes out and back day hikes, and in many cases are improved boardwalks and supported with interpretive signs and exhibits.

| Trail Name | Description | Trail Head(s) | Length (OW-One Way, RT-Round Trip) |
| - | - | - | - |
| Norris Geyser Basin Area ||||
| Artist Paint Pots | Interpretive trail that explores the Artist Paint Pots near Gibbon Meadows in the Norris Geyser Basin | 3.9 miles (6.3 km) south of Norris Junction 44°41′37″N 110°44′45″W﻿ / ﻿44.69361°N 110.74583°W﻿ / 44.69361; -110.74583﻿ (Artist Paint Pots trailhead) | 1.2 miles (1.9 km) |
| Cygnet Lakes Trail | Relatively flat out and back trail to marshy lakes popular with wildlife observers. | 6.6 miles (10.6 km) east of Norris Junction 44°42′21″N 110°34′21″W﻿ / ﻿44.70583°N 110.57250°W﻿ / 44.70583; -110.57250﻿ (Cygnet Lakes trailhead) | 8 miles (13 km) |
| Monument Geyser Basin | A moderately difficult out and back trail to the seldom visited Monument Geyser Basin | 4.6 miles (7.4 km) south of Norris Junction 44°41′1″N 110°44′40″W﻿ / ﻿44.68361°N 110.74444°W﻿ / 44.68361; -110.74444﻿ (Monument Geyser Basin trailhead) | 3 miles (4.8 km) |
| Mammoth Hot Springs Area ||||
| Boiling River Trail | Trail to hot springs on the edge of the Gardner River used as a swimming area. | North Entrance-Mammoth Road 44°59′32″N 110°41′31″W﻿ / ﻿44.99222°N 110.69194°W﻿ / 44.99222; -110.69194﻿ (Boiling River Trailhead) | 1 mile (1.6 km) |
| Beaver Ponds Trail | Gentle loop trail through meadows and beaver ponds on Clematis Creek | Mammoth Hot Springs near Liberty Cap 44°58′30″N 110°42′33″W﻿ / ﻿44.97500°N 110.70917°W﻿ / 44.97500; -110.70917﻿ (Beaver Ponds Trailhead) | 5.1 miles (8.2 km) |
| Wraith Falls | Short hike to a 100 feet (30 m) cascade on Lupine Creek | Wraith Falls trailhead: 44°56′30″N 110°37′32″W﻿ / ﻿44.94167°N 110.62556°W﻿ / 44.94167; -110.62556﻿ (Wraith Falls trailhead) | 1 mile (1.6 km) |
| Madison River Area ||||
| Harlequin Lake | Trail to shallow lake just north of the West Entrance Rd near Madison Junction. Popular with birdwatchers. | 1.7 miles west of Madison Junction 44°38′24″N 110°52′59″W﻿ / ﻿44.64000°N 110.88306°W﻿ / 44.64000; -110.88306﻿ (Harlequin Lake trailhead) | 1 mile (1.6 km) |
| Purple Mountain Trail | Steep trail to the top of Purple Mountain el. 8,433 feet (2,570 m) with good views of the lower Gibbon River meadows. | .25 miles (0.40 km) nouth of Madison Junction 44°38′47″N 110°51′17″W﻿ / ﻿44.64639°N 110.85472°W﻿ / 44.64639; -110.85472﻿ (Purple Mountain trailhead) | 6 miles (9.7 km) |
| Lower and Midway Geyser Basin ||||
| Fountain Paint Pots Trail | An easy loop trail through the Fountain Paint Pots area at the southern end of the Lower Geyser Basin near Midway. | 44°32′57″N 110°48′22″W﻿ / ﻿44.54917°N 110.80611°W﻿ / 44.54917; -110.80611﻿ (Fountain Paint Pots trailhead) | .5 miles (0.80 km) |
| Fountain Flats Freight Road | An old gravel road between Fountain Flats and Midway Geyser Basin closed in the 1970s. It is currently used as a bike path that gives access to several backcountry trailheads, Goose Lake and the Firehole River. | Northern trailhead: 44°34′1″N 110°50′6″W﻿ / ﻿44.56694°N 110.83500°W﻿ / 44.56694; -110.83500﻿ (Fountain Flats Freight Road-Northern Trailhead) Southern trailhead: 44°30′56″N 110°49′57″W﻿ / ﻿44.51556°N 110.83250°W﻿ / 44.51556; -110.83250﻿ (Fountain Flats Freight Road-Southern Trailhead) | 4.6 miles (7.4 km) |
| Upper Geyser Basin-Old Faithful Area ||||
| Upper Geyser Basin Trail | The Upper Geyser Basin trail is a series of long walkways that traverse the basin's thermal features between Old Faithful and Biscuit Basin. There are multiple loops and routes thru the basin using these trails. | Old Faithful trailhead:44°27′35″N 110°49′56″W﻿ / ﻿44.45972°N 110.83222°W﻿ / 44.45972; -110.83222﻿ (Old Faithful trailhead) Biscuit Basin trailhead: 44°29′3″N 110°51′4″W﻿ / ﻿44.48417°N 110.85111°W﻿ / 44.48417; -110.85111﻿ (Biscuit Basin trailhead) | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to 5 miles (8.0 km) |
| Biscuit Basin Trail | | | |
| Black Sand Basin Trail | | | |
| Lone Star Geyser Basin Trail | | Trailhead is 2.5 miles south of Old Faithful on Grand Loop Road 44°26′42″N 110°48′16″W﻿ / ﻿44.44500°N 110.80444°W﻿ / 44.44500; -110.80444﻿ (Lonestar Geyser Basin Trailhead) | 2.7 miles (4.3 km) OW |
| Mystic Falls Trail | Parallels the Little Firehole River to the base of the falls through burned over lodgepole pine and rocky talus. | Trailhead departs west side of Biscuit Basin loop. 44°29′8″N 110°51′31″W﻿ / ﻿44.48556°N 110.85861°W﻿ / 44.48556; -110.85861﻿ (Mystic Falls trailhead) | 1.2 miles (1.9 km) to base of falls. Connects with Biscuit Basin overlook trail, loop is ~2.4 miles (3.9 km) RT |
| Canyon Area ||||
| Uncle Tom's Trail | A steep 500 feet (150 m) descent into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone from the south rim near the Lower Yellowstone Fall. | Just east of the Lower Falls south rim parking area 44°42′59″N 110°29′37″W﻿ / ﻿44.71639°N 110.49361°W﻿ / 44.71639; -110.49361﻿ (Uncle Tom's Trail) | 1 mile (1.6 km) |
| West Thumb Geyser Basin ||||
| West Thumb Trail | An oval loop trail with an inner path that surrounds the major West Thumb geothermal features at the edge of Yellowstone Lake | Just east of West Thumb junction: 44°24′58″N 110°34′22″W﻿ / ﻿44.41611°N 110.57278°W﻿ / 44.41611; -110.57278﻿ (West Thumb trailhead) | .5 miles (0.80 km) |
| Hayden Valley ||||
| Mud Volcano Trail | A loop trail that passes Mud Geyser, Black Dragon's Caldron, Grizzly Fumarole, Mud Volcano and other geothermal features. | 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Fishing Bridge 44°37′27″N 110°25′59″W﻿ / ﻿44.62417°N 110.43306°W﻿ / 44.62417; -110.43306﻿ (Mud Volcano trailhead) | .66 miles (1.06 km) |
| Lamar Valley ||||
| Trout Lake | Steep trail through fir forest to small alpine lake popular with anglers. | 17 miles (27 km) east of Tower Junction: 44°53′56″N 110°7′22″W﻿ / ﻿44.89889°N 110.12278°W﻿ / 44.89889; -110.12278﻿ (Trout Lake trailhead) | .9 miles (1.4 km) |
| Yellowstone Lake Area ||||
| Pelican Creek Nature Trail | | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Fishing Bridge:44°33′36″N 110°21′38″W﻿ / ﻿44.56000°N 110.36056°W﻿ / 44.56000; -110.36056﻿ (Pelican Creek Nature Trail) | .5 miles (0.80 km) |
| Tower-Roosevelt Area ||||
| Lost Lake Trail | Easy loop trail to fishless Lost Lake | Behind Roosevelt Lodge:44°54′44″N 110°25′2″W﻿ / ﻿44.91222°N 110.41722°W﻿ / 44.91222; -110.41722﻿ (Lost Lake trailhead) | 4 miles (6.4 km) |
| Tower Fall Trail | Easy walk to platform to view 132 feet (40 m) Tower Fall | 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south of Tower Junction: 44°53′31″N 110°23′12″W﻿ / ﻿44.89194°N 110.38667°W﻿ / 44.89194; -110.38667﻿ (Tower Fall Trail) | 1 mile (1.6 km) |
| Yellowstone River Picnic Area Trail | Easy trail along the north rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone between Tower Fall and the Tower Junction bridge across the Yellowstone River. Connects with the Specimen Ridge trail. | 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Tower Junction on Northeast entrance road. 44°55′0″N 110°24′1″W﻿ / ﻿44.91667°N 110.40028°W﻿ / 44.91667; -110.40028﻿ (Yellowstone River Picnic Area trail) | 1.2 miles (1.9 km) |

### Backcountry trails

These trails traverse the Yellowstone backcountry and many have backcountry campsites along their route.

| Trail Name | Description | Trail Head(s) | Length (OW-One Way, RT-Round Trip) |
| - | - | - | - |
| Northwest Quadrant ||||
| Bighorn Pass Trail | | | |
| Blacktail Deer Creek Trail | Steep trail down to the Black Canyon of Yellowstone River | | |
| Crevice Creek Trail | | | 1.7 miles (2.7 km) |
| Fan Creek Trail | | | 5 miles (8.0 km) to 11 miles (18 km) |
| Fawn Pass Trail | | | 20.8 miles (33.5 km) |
| Gneiss Creek Trail | | | 8.6 miles (13.8 km) |
| Grebe Lake Trail | Easy level trail through lodgepole pine forests to Grebe Lake, popular with anglers for its Arctic grayling | Approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Canyon on the Canyon-Norris road. 44°43′2″N 110°32′58″W﻿ / ﻿44.71722°N 110.54944°W﻿ / 44.71722; -110.54944﻿ (Grebe Lake trailhead) | 6.6 miles (10.6 km) RT |
| Grizzly Lake Trail | | | |
| Ice Lake Trail | | | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) |
| Lava Creek Trail | | Western trailhead: 44°58′24″N 110°40′59″W﻿ / ﻿44.97333°N 110.68306°W﻿ / 44.97333; -110.68306﻿ (Lava Creek Trail-West Trailhead) Eastern trailhead: 44°56′33″N 110°37′59″W﻿ / ﻿44.94250°N 110.63306°W﻿ / 44.94250; -110.63306﻿ (Lava Creek Trail-East trailhead) | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) |
| Mount Holmes Trail | | | |
| Rescue Creek Trail | Bounded on the north by the Yellowstone River and the south by Mount Everts | Northern trailhead: 45°1′3″N 110°41′37″W﻿ / ﻿45.01750°N 110.69361°W﻿ / 45.01750; -110.69361﻿ (Rescue Creek Trail-North Trailhead) Southern trailhead: 44°57′19″N 110°35′38″W﻿ / ﻿44.95528°N 110.59389°W﻿ / 44.95528; -110.59389﻿ (Rescue Creek Trail-South trailhead) | 8.1 miles (13.0 km) |
| Solfatara Creek Trail | | | 6.3 miles (10.1 km) |
| Sportsman Lake Trail | | | 23.2 miles (37.3 km) |
| Trilobite Lake Trail | | | |
| Wolf Lake Trail | | | 4.7 miles (7.6 km) |
| Yellowstone River Trail-Black Canyon | Trail parallels the North shore of the Yellowstone River from Gardiner to Tower Junction in the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone. | Western trailhead Gardiner, MT: 45°1′55″N 110°42′6″W﻿ / ﻿45.03194°N 110.70167°W﻿ / 45.03194; -110.70167﻿ (Yellowstone River Trail-Western trailhead) Eastern trailhead (Tower Junction): 44°54′57″N 110°24′56″W﻿ / ﻿44.91583°N 110.41556°W﻿ / 44.91583; -110.41556﻿ (Yellowstone River Trail-Eastern trailhead) | 18.5 miles (29.8 km) |
| Northeast Quadrant ||||
| Buffalo Fork Trail | | | |
| Cache Creek Trail | | | 5.6 miles (9.0 km) |
| Coyote Creek Trail | | | 8.7 miles (14.0 km) |
| Hellroaring Creek Trail | | | 4 miles (6.4 km) |
| Pebble Creek Trail | | | 12 miles (19 km) |
| Slough Creek Trail | | | 22 miles (35 km) |
| Specimen Ridge Trail | | | 18.8 miles (30.3 km) |
| Yellowstone River Picnic Trail | Trail parallels the north rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone which has views of the river and canyon. Intersects with the Specimen Ridge trail at 1.9 miles (3.1 km). | Trailhead 1.8 miles (2.9 km) east of Tower-Roosevelt on Northeast Entrance road. 44°55′0″N 110°24′1″W﻿ / ﻿44.91667°N 110.40028°W﻿ / 44.91667; -110.40028﻿ (Yellowstone River Picnic Area) | 3.8 miles (6.1 km) RT |
| Southwest Quadrant ||||
| Delacy Creek Trail | An easy, well marked trail that follows the course of DeLacy Creek to the north shore of Shoshone Lake. | .9 miles (1.4 km) east of Craig Pass on the Grand Loop Road 44°26′49″N 110°42′8″W﻿ / ﻿44.44694°N 110.70222°W﻿ / 44.44694; -110.70222﻿ (DeLacey Creek trailhead) | 5.8 miles (9.3 km) RT |
| Divide Trail | Steep out and back trail from the Craig Pass area to Divide Mountain el. 8,725 feet (2,659 m) (site of a former fire lookout tower) for great views of the Shoshone Lake basin. | 6.8 miles (10.9 km) east of Old Faithful: 44°26′5″N 110°44′5″W﻿ / ﻿44.43472°N 110.73472°W﻿ / 44.43472; -110.73472﻿ (Divide Mountain trailhead) | 5 miles (8.0 km) |
| Dogshead Trail | | | 4.6 miles (7.4 km) |
| Fairy Creek Trail | | | |
| Lewis Channel Trail | | | 6.2 miles (10.0 km) |
| Mary Mountain Trail | Wildlife rich trail that traverses Mary Mountain el. 8,573 feet (2,613 m) between Alum Creek in the Hayden Valley and Nez Perce Creek on the Firehole River. | Nez Perce Creek trailhead: 44°34′11″N 110°48′58″W﻿ / ﻿44.56972°N 110.81611°W﻿ / 44.56972; -110.81611﻿ (Mary Mountain trail-Nez Perce trailhead) Alum Creek trailhead: 44°40′59″N 110°29′37″W﻿ / ﻿44.68306°N 110.49361°W﻿ / 44.68306; -110.49361﻿ (Mary Mountain trail-Alum Creek trailhead) | 20 miles (32 km) |
| Mallard Creek Trail | An alternate route to Mallard Lake. A popular winter cross-country skiing trail. | 4.8 miles (7.7 km) north of Old Faithful: 44°30′24″N 110°50′0″W﻿ / ﻿44.50667°N 110.83333°W﻿ / 44.50667; -110.83333﻿ (Mallard Lake trailhead) | 4.2 miles (6.8 km) |
| Mallard Lake Trail | A moderate hike to Mallard Lake from the Old Faithful area. A popular winter cross-country skiing trail. | Old Faithful trailhead: 44°27′29″N 110°47′22″W﻿ / ﻿44.45806°N 110.78944°W﻿ / 44.45806; -110.78944﻿ (Mallard Lake trailhead) | 3.1 miles (5.0 km) |
| Shoshone Lake Trail | A long, backcountry trail to the southwest shore of Shoshone Lake and the Shoshone Geyser Basin. | Lewis Falls trailhead: 44°19′30″N 110°44′57″W﻿ / ﻿44.32500°N 110.74917°W﻿ / 44.32500; -110.74917﻿ (Shoshone Lake trail-Lewis Falls trailhead) Old Faithful trailhead: 44°23′53″N 110°49′40″W﻿ / ﻿44.39806°N 110.82778°W﻿ / 44.39806; -110.82778﻿ (Shoshone Lake trail-Old Faithful trailhead) | 16.9 miles (27.2 km) |
| Summit Lake Trail | A difficult backcountry trail from Biscuit Basin to the western border of the park. The trail makes up a significant portion of the Continental Divide Trail contained in the park. | Biscuit Basin trailhead:44°29′3″N 110°51′4″W﻿ / ﻿44.48417°N 110.85111°W﻿ / 44.48417; -110.85111﻿ (Biscuit Basin trailhead) Western trailhead: 44°24′28″N 111°5′50″W﻿ / ﻿44.40778°N 111.09722°W﻿ / 44.40778; -111.09722﻿ (Summit Lake Trail-Western trailhead) | 15.9 miles (25.6 km) |
| Southeast Quadrant ||||
| Heart Lake Trail | A moderate hike through meadows and forests to Heart Lake and the Heart Lake Geyser Basin. Popular with anglers for Yellowstone cutthroat trout and lake trout. Connects with the Mount Sheridan Trail at the lake. | Northern trailhead is opposite Lewis Lake on the southern entrance road. 44°19′0″N 110°35′57″W﻿ / ﻿44.31667°N 110.59917°W﻿ / 44.31667; -110.59917﻿ (Heart Lake trailhead north) Southern trailhead spurs off the South Boundary Trail near Snake Hot Springs 44°10′9″N 110°34′27″W﻿ / ﻿44.16917°N 110.57417°W﻿ / 44.16917; -110.57417﻿ (Heart Lake trailhead south) | 7.5 miles (12.1 km) OW (from Lewis Lake) |
| Mount Sheridan Trail | Steep trail to the summit of Mount Sheridan overlooking Heart Lake. | Northwest shoreline of Heart Lake 44°16′45″N 110°30′11″W﻿ / ﻿44.27917°N 110.50306°W﻿ / 44.27917; -110.50306﻿ (Mount Sheridan trailhead) | 6.6 miles (10.6 km) RT (from Heart Lake) |
