Trail leads to great Yellowstone Lake vista

View from atop Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail.
Photo courtesy of Allan Harris/Flickr.

Day hikers can enjoy a beautiful vista of Yellowstone Lake and the mountain range beyond via the Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail.

The 1.8-miles round-trip lollipop trail at Yellowstone National Park is fairly level though the loop consists of a moderately strenuous 400-foot elevation gain to the overlook.

More than a mile above sea level, the trail is accessible only from about May until October.

To reach the trail from Grand Loop Road, at the U.S. Hwys. 89/191 and U.S. Hwy. 20 intersection, head north on Hwy. 20, taking the first right into the West Thumb parking lot.

The path begins at a trailhead marker on the West Thumb Geyser Basin parking area’s southeast corner. Head southwest onto the trail, which is fairly wide for the first quarter mile.

This section of the trail crosses a burned woodlands, though new growth forest is taking root there. Between small groves of spruce and pine forest is a mountain meadow that boasts beautiful wildflowers from spring through summer. Among them are purple harebells and yellow Rocky Mountain helianthella. Sometimes, you’ll be able to spot elk or hear their bugling in this area.

After crossing the South Entrance Road (Hwys. 89/191) and about 0.3 miles from the trailhead, the trail’s loop begins. Go left/southwest onto it and begin your steady climb up.

A few minor hot pools and vents can be found as you near the summit. For your safety, stay on the designated trail to avoid burns from the hydrothermal features.

The overlook sits atop a treeless hill. Because of the trail’s direction, you’ll first see the Red Mountains to the southeast, but the real treat is to the east – Yellowstone Lake and the majestic Absaroka Mountains beyond.

The national park's largest lake, Yellowstone Lake covers 136 square miles with 110 miles of shoreline. It's deep, too, averaging 139 feet. The lake sits atop the caldera formed when a magma chamber beneath the region collapsed about 640,000 years ago.

Often snow-capped, the Absaroka Mountains rising over the lake is a sub-range of the Rocky Mountains. The range stretches about 150 miles into Montana, and are 75 miles at their widest, sitting on the park’s eastern boundary. An incredible 47 peaks in the range top 12,000 feet in elevation.

To the northeast in front of Yellowstone Lake is the West Thumb Geyser Basin hydrothermal area. You’ll notice steam billowing and even hear some gurgling from it. The West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail, which can be picked up from the parking lot, rambles through the hydrothermal area, allowing you to get up close to them.

The loop is about 1.1 miles long. From the overlook, head downhill back to the stem trail. Once there, go left/southeast onto it and retrace your steps back to the parking lot.

Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.

11 Great Day Hikes in Wyoming

Old Faithful geyser, Yellowstone National Park

Observation Point Trail
Yellowstone National Park
No one who visits Yellowstone can really say they’ve been to the national park unless they’ve seen Old Faithful. The world’s most famous geyser that is virtually synonymous with the words “national park” erupts every 90 minutes or so, with water spewing more than 110 feet high. Most people see the geyser from the Old Faithful Boardwalk, so it’s a crowded path. Instead, watch it from the Observation Point Trail.

Mammoth Hot Springs boardwalks
Yellowstone National Park
Day hikers can walk through one of the world’s largest collection of travertine terraces on the Mammoth Hot Springs boardwalks at Yellowstone National Park. A series of connected trails cut through the heart of the sprawling hot springs. A 0.8-mile loop allows you to see most of the major features.

Best day hikes for kids in Yellowstone
No trip to one of the nation’s iconic national parks would be complete with a day hike. There are several trails at Yellowstone National Park that are perfect for families.

Jenny Lake Trail
Grand Teton National Park
Day hikers can walk along a tranquil blue lake with some of the most impressive mountain views in the United States as a backdrop on the Jenny Lake Trail in Grand Teton National Park. The 6.5-mile trail wraps around the world-famous lake at the base of the snow-capped Teton Mountain Range in northwest Wyoming.

Best trails to see Grand Teton's wonders
Among the best ways to see Grand Teton National Park’s highlights is via a day hike. Just three short trails will allow you to see each of the park’s highlights – mountain views, wildlife, alpine lakes and historical homesteads.

Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks series.

Incredible view of falls awaits at Artist Point

View from Artist Point. Courtesy of
My camera and me / Wikipedia Commons.

Topo map, Artist Point Trail.

Paved trail runs mere 0.2 miles
at Yellowstone National Park

Day hikers can explore one of Yellowstone National Park’s most photographed features on the Artist Point Trail.

The 0.2-mile round trip trail located on the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, offers a fantastic view of Lower Yellowstone River Falls. A family portrait on the point with the falls in the background is in the photo album of just about every Yellowstone visitor.

To reach the trailhead, from Canyon Junction – where Norris Canyon and Grand Loop roads intersect – head south for 2.2 miles. Turn left/east onto South Rim Drive. The parking area for the Artist Point Trailhead is in 1.6 miles. From the lot’s northeast corner, take the trail toward the canyon.

A paved path through pines, the walkway leads to a promontory on the canyon’s south wall at about 7600 feet elevation. At the point are two levels: the lower level offers a view of the waterfalls; the upper level delivers an incredible panorama of the North Rim’s bleached cliff wall between Inspiration and Grand View points.

The lower level is what most people come to see – an excellent view of the canyon's 308-foot Lower Falls, nearly twice as high as Niagara Falls. At its peak, about 63,500 gallons of water rush over Lower Falls every second. The falls is about a mile away; beyond it and out of view is 109-foot Upper Falls, where the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone begins.

A rapids-strewn Yellowstone River, about 700 feet below, cuts through the canyon, a deep V-shape of orange, beige and pink rhyolite. The 20-mile canyon formed when the river washed away the softer rock between the harder, volcanic rhyolite.

Artist Point often is mistaken as the spot where Thomas Moran painted his famous panorama of the canyon and falls in 1872. Thanks to a photographer’s error, an 1890 guidebook and postcards from that time period claimed it was, and the misprint continues to linger. The painting actually was done on the North Rim at a location listed on official park maps as Lookout Point.

The upper level is reached by a staircase. The North Rim is about 1000 feet away. Bring binoculars, as you may see bald eagles, ospreys and ravens riding the thermals here; all three birds nest on the canyon wall.

Your hike need not stop at the vista. You can continue walking east on the South Rim Trail along the canyon's sheer cliffs to Point Sublime (2.6 miles round trip) or can go west from the parking lot toward the waterfalls on the Uncle Tom's Trail (about 3.5-miles round trip).

Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.

Artist Paint Pot Trail heads past mudpots

Mudpot along Artist Paint Pot Trail. Photo courtesy of Yellowstone NPS.

Topo map, Artists Paint Pot Trail

Yellowstone route heads through burned forest

A trail that looks like its out of an alien world – beginning in burned out trees then winding through a thermal area boasting multicolored hot springs, a geysers and bubbling mudpots – awaits on the Artist Paint Pot Trail in Yellowstone National Park.

The 1-mile round trip sits in the popular Gibbon Geyser Basin. To reach the trailhead, from Norris Junction, Wyo., take the Grand Loop Road (U.S. Hwy 89) about 4.5 miles south. An access road on the highway’s east side leads to a parking lot. The trail starts on the lot’s southeast corner.

The first portion of the trail is a stem across Gibbons Meadows amid remains of the 1988 forest fire, the largest in Yellowstone’s recorded history. The trunks of burned out lodgepole pines remain, but the understory is green with shrubs and young trees.

On the loop
A few geothermal features can be seen through the burned out trees. The up-close highlights of the trail, though, begins with the loop.

On the loop, multicolored mud pots, colored mostly pink, orange, rust, beige and slate, are abundant. They bubble and gurgle and even spit up mud. Here’s what they sound like.

Mudpots form when highly acidic hot water shooting up through cracks in the ground dissolve the rock into clay. Microorganisms that prefer these extreme environments also contribute to the rock’s the dissolution.

The thickness of the mudpots changes through the year. When thickest – usually in late summer – mud can fly up to 15 feet in the air and mud cones will form.

Paintpot Hill
On the southernmost part of the loop, the trail climbs about 80 feet up the side of Paintpot Hill to give great views of the geothermal features below. There are mudpots on the hillside, too, and a few spur trails via boardwalks head into them.

Paintpot Hill makes for a fantastic backdrop to the trail. Its summit sits at 8045 feet, a good 600 feet above the geothermal features.

When the loop reaches the stem trail, retrace your steps to the parking lot.

Notes: In the past, the area was called the Devil’s Paint Pots, and some guides and maps still refer to it as such. Always stay on the trail, as the geothermal features can burn skin.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Hike through massive hot springs formation

Travertine terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs.

Boardwalk trail
heads through
travertine terraces
at Yellowstone

Day hikers can walk through one of the world’s largest collection of travertine terraces on the Mammoth Hot Springs boardwalks at Yellowstone National Park.

A series of connected trails cut through the heart of the sprawling hot springs. A 0.8-mile loop allows you to see most of the major features. The best time to visit is late spring through early autumn; the road leading to the hot springs generally is closed December through April.

To reach the site, from the U.S. Hwys. 191/89 intersection near West Yellowstone, take the Grand Loop Road/U.S. Hwy. 89 east and north about 30 miles toward the Montana border. A couple of parking areas can be found off the highway's left/west side with walking paths leading from them into the hot springs area; among the best lots is the one immediately north of the road that turns off the highway to the horse corral.

The trail leaves from the lot's northwest corner. Where the asphalt path gives way to boardwalk, goes left/south. The boardwalk enters a massive stretch of white terrain that is noticeable from an airplane flying over. Fifty hot springs can be found in this area of the park.

The boardwalk passes the Jupiter Terrace with the Main Terrace south and west of it. These hot pools cascading over travertine terraces are a spectacular sight of steaming rocks and skeletal trees. The pools’ temperatures here can reach up to 163 degrees F.

Minerva Terrace
Next, the boardwalk passes a junction heading right/north; continue straight. The oft-photographed Minerva Terrace sits on the trail’s north side.

The terraces exists because a partially molten magma chamber sits far beneath the surface. As rain and snowmelt seeps into the ground, rock warmed by the magma in turn heats the water, which then shoots back upward through fissures.

As the water rises and meets carbon dioxide gas, it forms a weak acid that dissolves limestone buried underground. Upon reaching the surface, the carbon dioxide escapes into the air and leaves behind the calcium carbonate – aka as travertine – that forms the white terraces. More than two tons of calcium carbonate flow daily to the surface at Yellowstone.

At the second junction, take the boardwalk right/north. The Cleopatra Terrace is to the right/west. This part of the boardwalk loops around the Minerva Terrace.

Colorful terraces
As reaching the topic of the loop, pass the junction heading left/north. The scenic Palette Spring will then appear on the left/north side of the walkway.

Some of the terraces are colored orange, brown, red and even green. This is because of the algae – known as thermophiles – that lives in the warm pools on the surface.

At the next junction, take the stem trail going right; this leads you into the heart of the Minerva Terrace. After taking in the sites, head back to the junction and go straight/southeast.

From there, ignore the other trail junctions as this boardwalk heads back to the asphalt path that leads to your parking lot.

Learn about other great national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.

Day trail passes prismatic spring, geysers, waterfall in Yellowstone National Park

Grand Prismatic Spring with Excelsior Geyser Crater beyond it.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Topo map for Fairy Falls Trail.

Hot spring largest
in United States,
No. 3 in world

The multi-colored Grand Prismatic Spring, an array of geysers, and a 197-foot waterfall await day hikers on Yellowstone National Park’s Fairy Falls Trail.

Combined with the Fountain Flat Drive, the trail runs 5.2-miles. If going to see Old Faithful, this is a perfect nearby trail to hike the same day.

To reach the trail’s start, from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, take U.S. Hwy. 191 north into the park to the Grand Loop Road. Park at the trailhead for Fountain Flat Drive on the highway’s northwest side.

From the lot, head northwest on the wide and gravel-surfaced Fountain Flat Drive. Older maps may refer to this route as “National Park Avenue.” The trail starts amid a number of small geysers. Till Geyser is across the road to the southeast while River, Catfish and Flood geysers are to the northeast.

The trail crosses the Firehole River on an old steel trestle bridge and heads into the Midway Geyser Basin. A ridge runs on the trail’s west side with a peak soaring to 7622 feet.

Grand Prismatic Spring
The hillsides to the east will look a bit bare thanks to the 1988 forest fires. For hikers, one benefit of the fire was that prior to that time, no vista really was available of the prismatic spring unless you were in a helicopter.

As rounding the mountain’s northeast side, just 0.6 miles from the trailhead, is the Grand Prismatic Spring. The beautiful and oft-photographed wonder boasts multicolored rings of algae. As the water temperature changes, so does the kind of thermophile living in it, resulting in a rainbow of colors. The water’s average temperature is 160 degrees F.

About 370 feet in diameter, Grand Prismatic is the largest hot spring in the United States and the third largest in the world. It reaches a depth of 121 feet.

Be sure to bring polarized sunglasses. By wearing them, you can see the spring’s rainbow colors reflected in the steam rising off the water.

A 400-foot stretch of the trail known as “Picture Hill” provides a grand vista of the spring. The smaller Excelsior Geyser Crater sits beyond the geological wonder.

Walk to waterfalls
If geysers and a prismatic spring weren’t enough, there’s also a waterfall. To see it, continue walking; just northwest of the prismatic spring, at a mile from the trailhead, the Fountain Flat Drive junctions with the Fairy Falls Trail. Go left/west onto the Fairy Falls Trail.

Fairly flat, it cuts through lodgepole pines as hugging a mountainside. To the north is the Fairy Meadows. Twin Buttes, their summits bare, rises to over 7600 feet in the northwest.

A wooden bridge crosses a small creek flowing out of an unnamed lake in the mountain to the south. The mountain tops out at 7542 feet.

Upon reaching the spur for the OD1 campsite, you’ve come 1.7 miles from the trailhead.

Fairy Falls
From there, the trail gently rolls over the base of the ridgeline through quaking aspen and wildflowers. Pause and listen for sound waves from the upcoming waterfalls reverberating off the cliffside. The waterfalls sits on the other side of the next peak ahead.

At about 2.6 miles from trailhead, you’ll arrive at Fairy Falls. Fairy Creek tumbles nearly 20 stories over a steep cliff, making Fairy Falls the tallest frontcountry waterfall in the Greater Yellowstone region.

The waterfalls’ base supports a variety of vegetation. If looking for a place to picnic, the rocks downstream from the falls where raspberry bushes grow make a perfect spot.

The falls also marks a good spot to turn back. Alternately, if you do have a little extra energy to burn, you can continue on to see Imperial and Spray geysers, the former of which is the closer at 0.7 miles (one-way) ahead.

Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.

Hiking trail runs across America’s Serengeti

Among the best spots to see bison is Yellowstone's Lamar Valley.

Topo map for Lamar Valley Trail.

Bison, elk, other
wildlife make
their homes near
Lamar Valley Trail 

Day hikers can explore the “Serengeti of North America” on the Lamar Valley Trail at Yellowstone National Park.

Like the mountain-ringed African plain, Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley serves as home to the classic megafauna that define North America. Bison, elk, grizzlies, black bears, wolves, coyotes, eagles, osprey and more all can be found there.

The entire Lamar Valley Trail runs up to 5.3 miles one-way, but you only need to walk a segment of it, running about 3.8-miles round trip, to the Lamar River. Dawn and dusk are the best times to see active animals.

Creek crossing
To reach the trailhead, from the Lamar Ranger Station/Northeast Entrance Road off of U.S. Hwy. 212 near the Wyoming/Montana border, head east about four miles to the Lamar River Valley Trailhead. Another trailhead exists only 2.8 miles from the ranger station, but this generally is used for horse riders and requires fording a creek.

From the trailhead parking lot, head east. A wooden footbridge crosses Soda Butte Creek. The trail then veers south along Lamar Valley's eastern edge at Mount Norris' base.

Though flat, the trail as passing through sagebrush and bunchgrasses also is fully exposed, so be sure to don a sunhat and sunscreen. Be careful to not turn off onto game trails, which crisscross the valley floor.

Once the horse trail joins the hiking trail from the northwest, the thin path climbs a steep bench. From there, you should be able to spot any grazing or hunting wildlife, so be sure to carry binoculars.

Bison and elk
Bison and elk usually can be seen in the valley’s southern end during the day, as they move in and out of the forest's protective cover.

Bison spend all year in Lamar Valley. Males can weigh up to 2000 pounds, the size of a small car. Females weigh up to half that amount at best. Though large, bison are agile and can run up to 30 miles per hour. They typically mate in late July through August; new calves usually can be spotted in late April or May. Around 5000 bison call Yellowstone home.

Elk are comparatively smaller – males weigh about 700 pounds while females are about 500 pounds – but the bulls’ antlers make them stand out on the horizon. They mate in September and October; newborns can be seen in May to late June. During summer, between 10,000–20,000 elk, separating in six or seven herds, make Yellowstone their home.

Coyotes also can be seen wandering about, looking for a meal. Bald eagles and osprey grace the skies as well. Grizzlies reside in the woods, but they and the area’s other big two predators – black bears and wolf packs – prefer to remain under cover than be seen.

Lamar River
Atop the bench, the trail junctions with the route heading for Upper Lamar to the east; continue left/southwest. In the distance you’ll notice a grove of cottonwoods; that is your destination.

The cottonwoods offer picnic shelters. On the other side of the picnic area is the Lamar River, which cuts down the valley’s center.

This marks a good spot to turn back. Crossing the Lamar River is dangerous and should only be attempted in late summer or autumn by those with fording experience.

If you do ford the river, the trail continues into the range beyond, roughly paralleling an unnamed creek. The trail is one way to reach Amethyst Mountain, the highest peak on the valley's southwest horizon at 9,614 feet.

Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.

Trail offers unique view of Old Faithful

Old Faithful geyser erupts once every 65 to 90 minutes.

Topo map for Observation Point Trail.

Iconic site
at Yellowstone
visible from
hilltop vista

No one who visits Yellowstone can really say they’ve been to the national park unless they’ve seen Old Faithful.

The world’s most famous geyser that is virtually synonymous with the words “national park” erupts every 90 minutes or so, with water spewing more than 110 feet high. Most people see the geyser from the Old Faithful Boardwalk, so it’s a crowded path.

Instead, watch it from the Observation Point Trail. There are some steep spots, but crowds are smaller, and you’ll see it from a unique vantage point. The hike park.

To reach the trailhead, from the intersection of U.S. Hwys. 89/191 and U.S. Hwy. 20, on the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake, head west on Grand Land Road. Exit onto Old Faithful Road, park at any of the lots, and head over to the visitor center. After taking in the displays and an education film about the geyser, as well as checking the eruption prediction schedule, pick up the trail heading north from the center toward Old Faithful.

Upper Geyser Basin
Once on the plastic-lumber boardwalk closest to the geyser, go right/east. This takes you around one side of Old Faithful.

Geysers occur when groundwater reaches rocks warmed by magma far below the top soil. The heated water than makes its way back to the surface through porous and fractured rock until shooting out of the ground. Old Faithful’s eruption can soar up to 185 feet and can last for anywhere from 90 seconds to 5 minute. The water is almost boiling at 199 degrees F.

Old Faithful is hardly anything but its namesake when observed from the long vantage of time. Historically, times between eruptions have varied from 45 to 120 minutes; currently, it runs between 65 to 95 minutes. And though the most famous of the park’s geyser, it is hardly the largest one. That honor goes to Steamboat Geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin.

Once on the east side of the boardwalk and past the Old Faithful Lodge (0.2 miles from the visitor center), turn onto the trail heading north and toward Firehole River. A wooden footbridge crosses the river that runs smack through the middle of the world’s most active geyser basin.

Though only two miles square, the Upper Geyser Basin contains nearly a quarter of all active geysers in the world. The other major geysers here include Castle, Daisy, Grand and Riverside. Among the most active in the basin is Solitary Geyser, a former hot spring that shoots 15 feet into the air every 4-8 minutes.

Observation Point
At the first trail junction following the footbridge, go right/east onto Observation Point Trail. The path switchbacks up a hill overlooking the geyser basin and loops at its top.

The point offers an impressive panorama of the Upper Geyser Basin. You'll see multiple geysers and other geothermal features nestled between evergreens.

Look to the southwest across the river for the crowd gathered in a circle and wait for Old Faithful to present its show. After the geyser erupts, retrace your steps to the parking lot.

Observation Point Trail is usually open only May through October, as snow at the high elevations closes the path.

Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.

Video of Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces

Day hikers can see the surface effects of a growing supervolcano on the Mammoth Hot Springs boardwalks at Yellowstone National Park.

The boardwalks weave through and around the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces – hot pools cascading over travertine terraces are a spectacular sight in the park’s northern section. The disconnected boardwalks, accessible from Grand Loop Road, offer nearly 4 miles of otherwordly hiking:

The terraces would not exist if not for a vast chamber of molten rock, as known as magma, that sits several miles beneath the surface. With enough magma to fill the Grand Canyon 11 times over, even at that distance the chamber warms Yellowstone’s groundwater.

The heated water rises, working its way through fissures to about 50 hot springs at Mammoth. As doing so, it comes into contact with calcium carbonate, forming a weak acid that dissolves the limestone surface.

The result is a series of colorful, ever-changing terraces and pools of steaming hot water, in which temperatures can reach up to 163 degrees F.

Also see:
• Best trails for seeing Yellowstone’s natural wonders

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Video of bugling bull elk at Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park often is called the “Serengeti of North America.”

The park’s Lamar Valley contains the greatest collection of large animals in North America: bison and elk herds, grizzlies in the woods, wolf packs, black bears, and osprey and bald eagles in the skies. A great trail to see elk and other wildlife in Lamar Valley is the the 5.3-mile Lamar Valley Trail.

The trailhead is east of Lamar Ranger Station. Dawn and dusk mark the best times to see active animals.

Here’s a video of a bull elk bugling loudly at Yellowstone:

For other top sites and trails at the park, see this article.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Video of Yellowstone bison in mock fight

Among Yellowstone National Park’s many iconic sights is its wildlife.

The park marks a rare preserve where animals that once flourished across the North American landscape still remain. Among the most popular spots to see wildlife in the park is Lamar Valley. Known as the “Serengeti of North America,” the valley contains the greatest collection of large animals in North America: bison and elk herds, grizzlies in the woods, wolf packs, black bears, and osprey and bald eagles in the skies.

Here’s a brief video showing two of Yellowstone’s male bison engaged in mock fighting:

A great trail to see bison and other wildlife in Lamar Valley is the the 5.3-mile Lamar Valley Trail. The trailhead is east of Lamar Ranger Station. Dawn and dusk are the best times to see active animals.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Video of Yellowstone National Park’s Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces

Among Yellowstone National Park’s many iconic sights is the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces.

These hot pools cascading over travertine terraces are a spectacular sight in the park’s northern section. The pools’ temperatures can reach up to 163 degrees F, so don’t place your hand in the waters.

Here’s a brief video showing Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces:

A great trail to see the terraces from is the disconnected Mammoth Hot Springs boardwalks. Accessible from Grand Loop Road, the boardwalks weave through and around the springs for nearly 4 miles of hiking.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Video of Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Among Wyoming’s many iconic sights is Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

The Yellowstone River carved out this fantastic canyon below the 308-foot high Lower Falls in Yellowstone National Park. The canyon is 24 miles long, up to 1,200 ft deep, and 0.75 miles at its widest.

Here’s a brief time lapse video showing sunset at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone:

A great trail to see Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is the 3.8-mile North Rim Trail. It runs along the canyon’s northwest wall. Parts of the trail is paved, and there’s only 250 feet of elevation change.

Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.

Vid of Yellowstone Grand Prismatic Springs

Among Yellowstone National Park’s many iconic sights is Grand Prismatic Springs.

The beautiful and oft-photographed hot spring boasts multicolored rings of algae. As the water temperature changes, so does the kind of thermophile living in it, resulting in a rainbow of colors.

Here’s a brief video of steam roiling off the prismatic springs:

A great trail to see Grand Prismatic Springs from is the Fairy Falls Trail. Running 2.5-miles, the trail leaves from Grand Loop Road north of Old Faithful and passes the springs on its way to a 197-foot waterfall.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Video of Old Faithful from boardwalk trail

Yellowstone National Park’s most famous geyser - Old Faithful - erupts every 90 minutes or so, with water spewing more than 100 feet high for anywhere from 1.5 to 5 minutes. Most people see the geyser from the Old Faithful Boardwalk, so it’s a crowded path. 

Instead, watch it from the Observation Point Trail. There are some steep spots, but crowds are smaller, and you’ll see it from a unique vantage point. 

Here's a vintage video of Old Faithful as seen from the Old Faithful Boardwalk, taken during the 1950s:

Here's an article about other great sights and the best day hiking trails to see them at Yellowstone National Park.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Best hikes for seeing Yellowstone's wonders

The Fairy Falls Trail passes the Grand Prismatic Spring
in Yellowstone National Park.

Try these 5 routes for geysers, wildlife, waterfalls

Among the best ways to see Yellowstone National Park’s major sights is via a day hike. Just five short trails will allow you to see each of the park’s highlights – geysers, hot springs, wildlife, waterfalls and canyons.

Old Faithful
Yellowstone’s most famous geyser erupts every 90 minutes or so, with water spewing more than 100 feet high for anywhere from 1.5 to 5 minutes. Most people see the geyser from the Old Faithful Boardwalk, so it’s a crowded path. Instead, watch it from the Observation Point Trail. There are some steep spots, but crowds are smaller, and you’ll see it from a unique vantage point.

Lamar Valley
Known as the “Serengeti of North America,” the valley contains the greatest collection of large animals in North America: bison and elk herds, grizzlies in the woods, wolf packs, black bears, and osprey and bald eagles in the skies. For the most intimate experience, hike a segment of the 5.3-mile Lamar Valley Trail (trailhead is east of Lamar Ranger Station). Dawn and dusk are the best times to see active animals.

Grand Prismatic Spring
The beautiful and oft-photographed hot spring boasts multicolored rings of algae. As the water temperature changes, so does the kind of thermophile living in it, resulting in a rainbow of colors. The prismatic spring is best seen from the 2.5-mile Fairy Falls Trail, which heads to a 197-foot waterfall and leaves from Grand Loop Road north of Old Faithful.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
The Yellowstone River carved out this fantastic canyon below the 308-foot high Lower Falls. The 3.8-mile North Rim Trail runs along the canyon’s northwest wall. Parts of the trail are paved and there’s only 250 feet of elevation change.

Bechler Basin waterfalls
Located in the park’s southwest corner, the basin boasts dozens of waterfalls. From the Bachler Ranger Station, try the 3-mile round trip Cave Falls Trail, which follows the Falls River to Bechler Falls. The hike is best done in August and September when the mosquito population is the lowest, as the bogs are drier.

Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces
These hot pools cascading over travertine terraces are a spectacular sight in the park’s northern section. The disconnected Mammoth Hot Springs boardwalks, accessible from Grand Loop Road, weaves through and around the springs for nearly 4 miles of hiking. The pools’ temperatures here can reach up to 163 degrees F.

Learn about other great national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.

Hike circles glacial lake to 180-foot waterfall

Topo map of Jenny Lake Trail.

Crossing Jenny Lake at Grand Teton National Park.
Photo courtesy Grand Teton NPS.

Moose ponds, boat ride
across lake await hikers

UPDATE: As of July 10, 2018, the National Park Service has closed the Hidden Falls portion of this hike due to a fissure that formed there. Read more.

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Day hikers can walk along a tranquil blue lake with some of the most impressive mountain views in the United States as a backdrop on the Jenny Lake Trail in Grand Teton National Park.

The 6.5-mile trail wraps around the world-famous lake at the base of the snow-capped Teton Mountain Range in northwest Wyoming. Just a few miles south of Yellowstone National Park, no visit to the latter would not be complete without also stopping at Grand Teton.

Because of the high elevation, July and August mark the best time to hike the trail. Jenny Lake can be frozen in May, and snow can fall in June. Be forewarned: Because of this small visiting window, the trail will be busy in summer. To avoid the crowds, hike it early or late in the day.

The trail can be reached from Yellowstone by taking U.S. Hwys. 26/89/191 south. Turn onto Teton Park Road then onto South Jenny Lake Junction. Park at the Jenny Lake Visitor Center with the trail leaving from it.

Though an easy, well-maintained trail, it is long, especially for young children. You can cut the trail into a reasonable segment by walking half way around Jenny Lake and surprising the kids with a boat ride back across. That route – described here – is about 3.5 miles long.

Ice Age holdover
If you’re staying a while at the park, before heading out be sure to stop at the visitor center and pick up your kids copies of The Grand Adventure activity guide. By completing the guidebook and also attending a ranger-led program, your children can earn a Junior Ranger patch or badge, a cool souvenir. Each activity book is a mere dollar.

From the visitor center, head roughly southwest toward the lake. Beyond the lake is the Teton Range, with Teewinot Mountain at 12,325 feet the closest high point, with the Teton triplets beyond it to the southwest. Grand Teton is to the right of Middle Teton, with South Teton to the left.

When the trail splits, continue heading southwest by crossing Cottonwood Creek and passing the east shore boat dock. This route heads around the lake’s southern side.

Jenny Lake is fairly young, forming about 12,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age when glaciers pushed rock debris into the canyon beneath the mountain range. These debris created a natural dam that now holds the lake. A subalpine lake, it reaches an astonishing 423 feet in depth.

About a mile through the conifer wilderness, watch for the small “Moose Ponds” sign. The largest member of the deer family in North America, moose like to hang out in the wetlands area to the trail’s south and west. When the trail reaches a ridge line, look in that direction, and you’ll likely spot one or two.

Black bears also are common in the park. While they almost certainly will leave you alone, always remain wary of them – and definitely do not leave food in your vehicle.

Spectacular Hidden Falls
Curving around the lake’s southern shore, the trail gains in elevation. In about 1.4 miles from the trailhead, on the shore opposite of the visitor center, is the junction for the Cascade Canyon Trail.

The waterfall boasts a 180-foot drop as Cascade Creek flows out of the Tetons into Jenny Lake. If Hidden Falls were located on the other side of the continental divide, it would be the fourth highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains.

Return back along the Cascade Canyon Trail to the trail junction and continue left/north on the Jenny Lake Trail. In short order, the trail crosses Cascade Creek.

Less than a 1000 feet from the creek is the west shore boat dock. You’ll need to pay for a boat ticket; they leave about every 15-20 minutes throughout the day. As crossing the lake, enjoy the reflection of Teewinot Mountain upon the crystal blue waters.

The boat arrives at the east shore dock. From there, retrace the Jenny Lake Trail back to the visitor center.

Learn about other great national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.

Photos, maps of Yellowstone National Park’s Mammoth Hot Springs boardwalk trails

Day hikers can walk through one of the world’s most fantastic collection of travertine terraces on the Mammoth Hot Springs boardwalks at Yellowstone National Park.

To reach the site, from the U.S. Hwys. 191/89 intersection near West Yellowstone, take the Grand Loop Road/U.S. Hwy. 89 east and north about 30 miles toward the Montana border. A couple of parking areas can be found off the highway's left/west side with walking paths leading from them into the hot springs area.

Sunrise over the hot springs (photo courtesy of Yellowstone NPS); a series of connected trails cut through the heart of the geological feature:

Overview map of Mammoth Hot Springs with key geological features (illustration courtesy of Wikipedia):

Among the best lots the park is the one immediately north of the road that turns off the highway to the horse corral. A 0.8-mile hike (outlined in yellow) then can be followed through the hot springs:

The white terraces are created by dissolved limestone that crystalizes as the hot spring brings it to the surface:

Sunlight low on the horizon casts a warm glow across the terraces:

Some of the terraces can grow quite tall. They are several thousand years in the making:

Steam from the hot springs roils off the terraces:

Looks like a scene out of winter, but this photo was taken in summer:

Brown algae that thrives in hot environments grows on some of the terraces; other algae colors found at the hot springs are red, orange and green:

Learn about other great national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.

Best day hikes for kids in Yellowstone NP

No trip to one of the nation’s iconic national parks would be complete with a day hike. There are several trails that are perfect for families:
g Artist Paint Pot Trail – The 1-mile round trip is like a trip across an alien world, beginning in burned lodgepole pine until reaching a thermal area boasting multicolored hot springs, a number of small geysers and two bubbling mudpots.
g Lone Star Geyser Trail – Older children will enjoy this 5-mile round trip to the backcountry geyser that erupts 45-feet high about every three hours. The show lasts about a half-hour is much less crowded that Old Faithful.
g Mystic Falls Trail – A 70-foot waterfall cascading over a boulder-filled canyon await on this 3-mile-loop that begins in pine forest. Part of the trailheads through a recovering area burned in the 1988 forest fires.
g Porcelain Basin Trail – Milky-colored mineral deposits cover much of this hot spring that boasts sulfur pots and small geysers. The trail to this rapidly evolving area is an easy half-mile walk.
g Slough Creek Trail – Though the first portion of the 2-mile trail can be strenuous, the rewards are great in the wildlife spotted which typically include moose. The Lamar Valley on the road to the trailhead is the best spot in the park to see bison.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.