Whether you want a leisurely walk along the boardwalk or seek an exhilarating hike where wildlife might appear, Yellowstone has trails for any person. It is one of the most incredible national parks in the United States so when you are thinking about what activities to do there, that can be a bit overwhelming.
Here is everything you need to know about hiking in Yellowstone so that no matter what, you will be able to experience the top trails and make it a great trip!
Essential Tips for Hiking Yellowstone: What to Know Before You Hit the Trails
Before diving into the best hikes Yellowstone has to offer, it’s helpful to go over a few practical points:
What to Pack for Hiking in Yellowstone
Be sure to pack everything from my Day Hike Essentials guide.
There is little to no cell service throughout most of the park so it’s also a good idea to bring your National Geographic Yellowstone trail map. So while not for every trail you will be walking, having a detailed hiking map is good to have on hand especially off the boardwalks and taking less cleared paths.
Ten Tips for Hiking in Yellowstone
- Wildlife: Remain 100 yards (91m) from bears and wolves, and 25 yards (23m) from all other wildlife.
- Yellowstone: Bear Safety—In addition to black bears, Yellowstone is grizzly bear territory. And, make sure that you have bear spray or a play it safe with something like this bear whistle.
- Remain on Boardwalks: Off-boardwalk areas are considered dangerous due to the presence of thin ground crust, boiling water and acidic pools. There have been some accidents when people got off the boardwalks.
- Sun Protection: There are little to no trees along the paths, pack a hat and water!
- When To Hike: The early mornings will be best to not only give you cooler temperature but a better chance at seeing wildlife during the heat of summer.
- 1-Lotsa Water: Ensure you pack more water than you could possibly consume.
- Nav: Take care of business without cell service. Carry a paper or downloaded map.
- Appropriate Footwear: Wear strong hiking boots or shoes for rough terrain, see my Guide to the Best Hiking Shoes if you need suggestions.
- Binoculars or Spotting Scope: Outside of the rare hiking trip, I always bring binos for wildlife viewing and distant landscapes—read my Guide to Finding the Best Binoculars for tips. If you want an even better look, I suggest investing in a spotting scope — the specifics are covered in my Guide to Spotting Scopes for Wildlife Viewing.
- Weather Alert: Yellowstone has unpredictable weather. Be sure to read my Best Time of Year to Visit Yellowstone guide before you go and check current conditions.
Guided Hikes in Yellowstone National Park
You have a few when it comes to hiking in Yellowstone. While traipsing the trails alone is a blast in itself, you can also book guided hikes with knowledgeable experts who will show you to the most photogenic spots and give your animal sighting odds a better kick up than they might be if going solo.
Lamar Valley
The Lamar River Trail is a 6-hour hike wilderness this way. Bryce provides various options hiking both a shorter or longer distance through this valley which is one of the best places in the park to see wildlife wandering around.
Yellowstone Grand Canyon
Starting and ending at Upper Falls, this 6-mile loop will take you roughly 6 hours. While on the trail, you will pass Ribbon Lake and Clear Lake as well as a lonely geyser basin and Wapiti Meadows for great landscape variety within Yellowstone.
Upper Geyser Basin
This 4 to 6-hour, six-mile loop from Biscuit Basin around and back again hits Old Faithful itself as well as Sapphire Pool along with some more obscure gems. The grand vista at Observation Point overlooks the entire basin.
Fairy Falls
During this tour you will relax wandering to the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook hiking through lodgepole pine forests on your way to Fairy Falls total time in nature approximately 4-6 hours.
Shoshone Lake
Private Guided Day Hike around Shoshone LakeExperience the serene beaches of our hidden treasure, 8 max This is a remote gem, set amidst idyllic meadows and forests that few visitors make the effort to reach (so it’s all the better if you come with your guide here).
21 Top Hikes in Yellowstone National Park
To help you make the most of your time, I’ve organized the Yellowstone trails into key categories.
Jump to:
- Best Hikes for Wildlife
- Best Canyon Hikes
- Best Waterfall Hikes
- Best Easy Hikes
- Best Moderate to Challenging Hikes
Best Yellowstone Hikes for Wildlife
Yellowstone is often referred to as “America’s Serengeti” because of its rich wildlife. Here are three fantastic day hikes where you’re likely to spot animals:
1. Lamar River Trail
Length: 4 miles, 7 miles, or 33 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailhead: Lamar River Trailhead (when driving east through Lamar Valley, skip the first trailhead, which is for livestock, and continue a bit further to the actual trailhead).
This trail is one of the hot spots for wildlife in Yellowstone. There are two recommended options, depending on how long of a hike you desire.
The trailhead starts with a little bridge across Soda Butte Creek providing good vantage points of the valley and mountains. In 1.3 miles you will come to the Specimen Ridge trail junction If you are doing a shorter hike, the Lamar River Route (4 miles round trip) will be to the right and on your left another route is more challenging but longer called Cache Creek TrailHead (7 mile rountrip).
The Lamar River Trail passes through bison-filled meadows. If you go on to Cache Creek it’s a bit more challenging because we have bison, bears and possibly wolves.
Insider Tips:
- Plan on arriving in the morning since this trail is not shaded and because it gets crowded, parking can be hard to find.
- Don’t forget the bug spray!
Highlights:
- One of Yellowstone’s Best Trails for Wildlife.
2. Beaver Ponds Trail
Length: 6-mile loop
Difficulty: Moderate, mainly due to the steep first half-mile. After that, it’s relatively easy.
Trailhead: There are two starting points—if you prefer to hike clockwise, begin at the trailhead near Hymen Terrace at the northern end of the Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs. The hike ends at the trailhead located behind some buildings near Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.
This is a trail that has similar wildlife to the previous one, but it’s much quieter and not so well known by people. Despite its name, you will share time with muskrats and various waterflow around the ponds as seeing beavers is not common.
Return along the path through a large meadow where elk love to congregate. In the sagebrush meadows and tree groves, you may also encounter black bear; grizzly bear; mule deer or pronghorn grazing in open areas, sometimes a moose.
Insider Tips:
- Because of the way AhKalum was designed, hiking it clockwise gets you through the steepest part early and makes for fewer obstacles on that first side out.
Highlights:
- Uninterrupted wildlife watching along any part of the track.
3. Mud Volcano
Length: 0.6-mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Mud Volcano parking lot
A lovely little boardwalk trail to see some of the thermal wonders that Yellowstone up close. This short hike runs past bubbling pots of glooping soup, spitting division-made vents and flowering muck springs making it a neat little point for anyone who loves the park’s superstar thermal features.
But when it comes to what makes this trail unique, the geothermal activity is only part of an answer; factored into that equation as well is a passion for top-notch bison-grazing areas. As the trail winds hillside, views of bison grazing in meadows or possibly by Sour Lake at the far end of this loop.
Insider Tips:
- Bison wanders the trail and you have better chances to see them if you arrive before noon.
Highlights:
- Wonders of Geothermal Formation
- Regular bison sightings
4. Yellowstone River Overlook
Length: 3.5 to 4 miles roundtrip (depending on where you turn back)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Trailhead: Yellowstone River Picnic Area
At one of the park’s lesser-known treasures, you’ll get a nice still at yet another view over the Narrows canyon and have almost guaranteed wildlife sightings.
The way is parallel to the canyon on its east edge, as it gets wider and a more narrow. A mile in, you should be able to smell the sulfur from Calcite Springs across the canyon.
The trail takes a left turn at mile 1.7 You can backtrack here, as the better views are behind you or continue for an additional 0.3 miles to a Specimen Ridge Trail junction.
Insider Tips:
- There is no shade on this trail so bring a sunhat and wear sunscreen.
- Parents should watch over children as there are sheer drop-offs and no railings.
Highlights:
- Beautiful scenery of the Narrows section
- Wildlife spotting opportunities galore!
5. Brink of Lower Falls
Length: 0.8 miles roundtrip
Difficulty: Strenuous due to steep elevation changes
Trailhead: Brink of the Lower Falls parking area
An asphalt trail winds down through the trees in switchbacks from the parking lot, providing a few spots for overlooks as you descend. At the end of this trail, you reach a viewing platform directly at the brim of Lower Yellowstone Falls where it drops into its own canyon below.
Although the hike back up the steep switchbacks is a strenuous one, it makes for rewarding work.
Insider Tips:
- There are limited spots at the top so try to start your hike before 10 AM because parking is no joke.
Highlights:
- Arguably the best hike in all of Yellowstone because it takes you above and to look down on Lower Falls.
6. Red Rock Point
Length: 0.7 miles out-and-back
Difficulty: Strenuous, with a steep descent of about 500 feet in a short distance
Trailhead: Lookout Point
This is one of the shorter and quite steep hikes in Yellowstone to a great viewpoint for Lower Yellowstone Falls. Short and steep, the dropoff is incredible; whisking you quickly down from the north rim to a view of massive waterfalls.
From Lookout Point, go right. The trail path, a combination of paved parts and wooden steps takes hikers down to one area where they see the red rock that gives this place its name. It is hard because of the monster climb on your way back so come up slowly.
Insider Tips:
Lookout Point: This parking lot is tiny. To which I say, if you expect to hike later – then why not just park at Brink of Lower Falls parking lot and take the 15-minute walk from there to avoid having to find another spot?
Highlights:
- Up-close views of Lower Yellowstone Falls.
Top Waterfall Hikes in Yellowstone
While the previous two canyon hikes showcased the impressive Lower Yellowstone Falls, there are many other waterfalls throughout the park that are equally worth visiting.
7. Fairy Falls
Length: 5 miles round trip
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Fairy Falls Trailhead
Yellowstone tours limited at best for revealing a secret waterfall, but also other great park ATI offering captivating views. The first part of the trail leads to Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook (more on that below).
After you have appreciated the magnificent view, proceed downhill to return back to main trail. Half a mile beyond that you will find the Fairy Falls sign. Way through a valley lined with the lodgepole pine till you spotted an eye-soothing waterfall, which was your destination. Fairy Falls Not as large or popular as Yellowstone’s other falls, Want to enjoy a peaceful picnic lunch in this pretty spot.
Insider Tips:
- It offers a stunning and remote backcountry wilderness experience that is open to the public from late May through early November, conditions pending of course.
- RV, Bus and trailer parking is not available at the lot.
Highlights:
- Beautiful waterfall
- A view of Grand Prismatic Spring
8. Gibbon Falls
Length: 0.5 miles round trip
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Gibbon Falls Trailhead/Parking Lot
Gibbon Falls is not the most impressive of waterfalls in Yellowstone, but it is one of the easiest to get to. You are only 75 feet from the parking lot to see this lush forested area of an hourglass kind cascade waterfall. The Path also runs another 525 feet to a higher overlook, with the entire outing up and down between its high spot at (3/10ths of one mile as well) being spilt into two total round trip halves. On the way you will find few view points which provides differences angle of the falls.
Insider Tips:
- It is much more convenient to visit when you are already headed in the eastbound lanes which means not having to make a left turn across traffic into the parking area.
Highlights:
- Various Views of the Waterfall.
9. Tower Fall
Length: 100 yards
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Tower Fall parking lot
With a 132 foot drop, Tower Fall is quite the spectacle for how little effort it takes to walk out (100 yards from parking area). Its size and accessibility combine to make this is one of the must do trails in Yellowstone, even though it really isn’t much of a trail.
Insider Tips:
- Watch for birds of prey like hawks, falcons and ospreys in flight throughout the area.
Highlights:
- Towering waterfall views.
Top Easy Hikes in Yellowstone National Park
Many of Yellowstone’s best day hikes are accessible to most visitors with a reasonable level of fitness. While several of these trails are located around the geyser basins, others branch off onto more traditional paths.
10. Biscuit Basin
Length: 0.6 miles loop
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Biscuit Basin Trailhead/Parking Lot
For a easy one loop hike, this short trail to walk around the geyser basin provides some of Yellowstone’s most accessible hiking. Named after the biscuit-shaped formations in this part of yellowstone, but with sapphire pool. Because it is impossible to forget the trigger blue water of that pool. You will also see some of the geysers as well as Black Opal Pool, which is picturesque.
Insider Tips:
- If you have trouble finding a parking spot, get out at Upper Geyser Basin and walk over here from there or start your hike in the opposite direction.
Highlights:
- Sapphire Pool in its vibrant hues.
11. Black Sand Basin
Length: 0.5 miles out and back
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Black Sand Basin parking lot
One of the park’s easier jaunts is this tranquil walk on a boardwalk through a small geyser basin in Yellowstone. The basin, named from the less-widely visited Black Sand Pool across the highway.
You will encounter a fork on the boardwalk shortly after you have begun walking. Just to the left you can see Emerald Pool, a pool similar in coloring to upper Geyser Basin’s famous Morning Glory Pool with its dark green center and golden outer band.
Requested deviation again (follow option 3 ideally) So back-track your steps to the fork in the road and instead head right aways at said fork until you reach Rainbow Pool followed by Sunset Lake if it is a hot day! Near Rainbow Pool are the remnants of Handkerchief Pool, a bit of an oddity where people threw in their handkerchiefs to have them sucked down and cleaned before spitting back out. Over time this practice is what destroyed the pool, and as of today can barely be seen at all.
Insider Tips:
- Black Sand Pool which has become blue and no longer a geyser you would like to see then doing this as an extension of your walk from the Upper Geyser Basin trail.
Highlights:
- Vivid colors of Emerald Pool.
12. Midway Geyser Basin
Length: 0.8 miles loop
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Midway Geyser Basin parking lot
Yellowstone’s Midway Geyser Basin is a can’t-miss stop in the park, as it features Grand Prismatic Spring (the largest hot spring in North America and third-largest on Earth).
Circumnavigating Grand Prismatic Spring, the boardwalk crosses Firehole River in these. In the meantime, be sure to gaze into Excelsior Geyser’s colossal crater along with other factors of interest like Turquoise Pool and Opal Pool.
Insider Tips:
- It is a small trailhead with very limited parking; you are highly encouraged to carpool and get there early. Or, if it has filled as well, oversized pullouts can still be found along the Grand Loop Road that are suitable for parking.
Highlights:
- The amazing colors and depth of Grand Prismatic Spring.
13. Fountain Paint Pot
Length: 0.5 miles loop
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Fountain Paint Pot Trailhead
This is a great way to get acquainted with the geothermal features of Yellowstone, as you can see 3 (Hot Springs, Fumaroles and Geysers) out of the four that exist within these grounds along all sorts of boardwalks making viewing easy for most.
There will likely be some geothermal activity in the area as Clepsydra Geyser is a frequent eruption of visiting. As the name implies, it ends at boiling rolling mudpots.
The Lower Geyser Basin is the largest geothermal basin in Yellowstone National Park, at about 18 square miles and this path weaves its way through it.
Insider Tips:
- The cutest little climb between Silex Spring and Fountain Paint Pot, with a few steps near Twig Geyser.
Highlights:
- Mudpots at Fountain Paint Pot
- Frequent geyser activity
14. Pelican Creek Nature Trail
Length: 0.6 miles loop
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: A pullout on the south side of the highway just before the west end of Pelican Creek Bridge, 1 mile east of Fishing Bridge Visitor Center
Located near Yellowstone Lake, this easy out and back trail starts by meandering through the trees and then breaks open at the shore for scenic views of water. The path then traverses the lakeshore before looping back through woodland on its return. You will go through a wet meadow, which is where many bison and bears lay.
The trail is quick, but offers plenty of beautiful views above the lake and a fair share wildlife traffic especially bears breaking into the forest for a snack.
Insider Tips:
- Grizzly bears are frequently seen in the spring and early summer, so bear spray is heavily encouraged.
Highlights:
- View of Yellowstone Lake
- High chance of viewing wildlife and birds.
15. Natural Bridge Trail
Length: 2.5 miles out-and-back
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Bridge Bay Marina
The Natural Bridge Trail is one of the easy day hikes in Yellowstone, and it leads to a 51-foot arch that looks almost exactly like a bridge.
The path runs through the forest before transitioning to a fire trail that leads directly to, you guessed it, THE NATURAL BRIDGE. An interpretive display at the base provides more information. There is a short but steep switchback to climb the bridge and walk nearer this feature, even though crossing over it.
Once over the bridge, follow a creek section to more cliff then return to road.
Insider Tips:
- Spring and summer, since bears tend to go on a bit of feeding frenzy up until early summer from spawning trout in Bridge Creek. Spring visitors or early summer campers should be in touch with the Fishing Bridge Visitor Center about trail conditions conducted by rangers.
Highlights:
- Beautiful natural architecture of the park.
16. Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook
Length: 1.2 miles out-and-back
Difficulty: Easy (with a bit of an uphill climb near the end)
Trailhead: Fairy Falls Trailhead
At 250 X 380 feet, Grand Prismatic Spring is the park’s largest and most colorful hot spring. While you can see it up close from the Midway Geyser Basin boardwalk, the best way to view its spectacular colors are this overlook viewpoint making this another of top hikes in Yellowstone.
The trail is wide with gentle elevation and easy footing. And then turn left (signed) and climb the hill 0.2 miles A viewing platform at the top will give you best view of Grand Prismatic Spring. While there seem to be some visitors too, most have the decency and take turns in taking photos.
You can either go back or take the trail that continues to Fairy Falls.
Insider Tips:
- In the morning it can be a little misty at times in the spring making afternoon time suitable for visit when all has settle down.
Highlights:
- Grand Prismatic Spring Flatlay.
17. Mammoth Hot Springs Lower Terraces
Length: 1.75 miles
Difficulty: Easy to moderate, with a few stairs and about 300 feet of elevation gain
Trailhead: Lower Terraces parking area near Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel
One of the most unique hikes in Yellowstone is this trail situated on and within some of the travertine formations at Mammoth Hot Springs. They have various boardwalks connected throughout the trail.
Liberty Cap, a 40-foot travertine cone looms at the northern end next to the hotel Frommures kept building.
From here a brief 400-foot out-and-back trail ends at Palette Spring, replete with little pools and water-trickle.
The Cerro Gordo Road turns into a one-lane forest road just past Minerva Terrace as you head south, loop trail that circles the terrace… and then it plunges deep into another geography of fire-effected wilderness. I actually think last time I was here Elk Lake burned down too! There are yellow and orange rock formations scattered abut this path in the forest with Cleopatra Terrace resting just off it. On the south end of the loop, Mound Terrace offers more vivid hues.
There is an uphill grind to New Blue Spring and the Overlook, which has a panoramic view. Upon Grassy Spring it meanders – after finally reaching Canary Spring, its orange and white terraces cover globs of boiling water resting amongst silver towers veiling skeletal trees in the slow grasp of this spring.
Insider Tips:
- While most people will start the trail through the lower terraces, from the Upper Terraces parking lot you can also easily reach parts of upper terraces.
Highlights:
- Liberty Cap
- Mound Terrace
- Canary Spring
18. Upper Geyser Basin
Length: 3 miles (basic loop) / 4.5 miles (with Observation Point) / 5 miles (to Biscuit Basin) / 6.5 miles (with Observation Point and Biscuit Basin)
Difficulty: Easy for the basic loop, moderate if you extend to Biscuit Basin due to distance
Trailhead: Old Faithful area
This is another of the most popular hikes in Yellowstone and for good reason. The trail begins at Old Faithful and continues past Castle, Daisy and Grand Geysers. And the colors of all those pools, with Morning Glory Pool near one end its green and gold accents being particularly arresting.
If you fancy an extra challenge, make the minor diversion onto Observation Point for a high up look at Old Faithful without queues. And if you still have energy in your camera and phone, go a mile-plus up the road to Biscuit Basin with no need to find parking there.
Insider Tips:
- To see less and return more quickly, take the wide, flat service road.
- Upon arrival, visit the Old Faithful Visitor Center for information regarding expected eruption of geysers (Old Faithful and other area geysers including Castle, Grand, Daisy & Riverside.)
Highlights:
- Old Faithful
- Multiple erupting geysers
- Morning Glory Pool
19. Back Basin: Norris Geyser Basin
Length: 1.75 miles loop
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Trailhead: Norris Geyser Basin Museum
Comprising two sections — Porcelain Basin and Back Basin, Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest as well oldest to most active geothermal area in Yellowstone. Out of the top hikes in Yellowstone, this path through Back Basin gets you to Steamboat Geyser (300 feet tall), which is at least as impressive if not more so than Old Faithful and has an equally thrilling routine. Full eruptions are scarcely heard, but you can see it sputtering or steaming.
The loop also features the colorful Emerald Spring, a huge acid-water geyser sink called Echinus Geyser and Green Dragon Spring where occasional steam reveals churning green boiling water beneath.
Insider Tips:
- You can do a 1 mile loop for quicker hike, but miss out on much of the geothermal features.
Highlights:
- Steamboat Geyser
- Emerald Spring
20. Porcelain Basin: Norris Geyser Basin
Length: 0.8 miles figure-8 loop
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Trailhead: Norris Geyser Basin Museum
Named for the milky, opalescent appearance of some sveral pools unique to this part of the park Porcelain Basin is a hike that teems with geothermal wonders. The trail is a figure 8 loop that takes visitors around some of the many thermal features in this part of Yellowstone.
Stay to the right, pass Crackling Lake (an emerald-green boiling pool), and then Pinwheel Geyser and milky-blue Sunday Geyser. From here the trail travels to Ledge Geyser, and finally ends at Porcelain Basin Overlook where interpretive displays help you take in a sweeping view of the basin.
The second half of the loop takes you to Congress Pool (with a brief side visit), and Porcelain Springs Overlook, where distant views eastward across the basin reveal far-reaching vistas of humps in Yellowstone’s burned-over volcanic landscape now turning from gray-to-black amidst emergent new green vegetation. From there the boardwalk descends down into Porcelain Basin, wandering past Hurricane Vent before rejoining with the first loop near Sunday Geyser.
Insider Tips:
- Use care when parking in the Norris Geyser Basin lot between 11 am and 1 pm as it fills up about that time.
Highlights:
- Crackling Lake
- Porcelain Basin und Springs Overlook
21. Mount Washburn
Length: 6.2 miles round trip (or 5 miles)
Difficulty: Strenuous, with a 1,400-foot elevation gain
Trailhead: Dunraven Pass Trailhead or Chittenden Road parking area
Mount Washburn one of the most popular hikes in Yellowstone — and great for panoramic mountain views. Climbing to a summit elevation of 10,243′, the trail offers unobstructed views for twenty- and even fifty miles on clear days.
There is the mountaing more traveled by. The Chittenden Road trail is wider and shorter (5 miles round trip) but open to bikes and service vehicles. The second is from Dunraven Pass on a paved, hiker-only trail that most visitors can enjoy without any issues.
In July and August, wildflowers coat the hillsides along this loop hike; keep an eye out for a herd of bighorn sheep roaming from watering hole to shady spot. The other half of the trek is on switchbacks as you climb to the top.
The summit provides panoramic views, one of the park’s three fire towers and interpretive displays that explain nearby features.
Insider Tips:
- Alternative- Chittenden Road in case the Dunraven Pass parking area is full.
Highlights:
- Seasonal wildflowers
- Bighorn sheep
- Yellowstone Panorama from the Summit
Travel Insurance for Your Yellowstone Trip
Travel insurance is one thing that should go up at the top of your shopping list if you have plans to visit Yellowstone. It will typically cover any last minute problems that arise, such as your trip being cancelled; or if anything is stolen/damaged while journerying to and on the continent; medical help for injuries picked up while hiking, even emergency evacuations.
Travelex is a solid choice and includes good coverage for these situations. So why not compare different insurance plans or get a quote now so that you are well protective.
I hope you have an amazing time exploring Yellowstone!
