Hikes in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park was the world’s first national park and remains one of the most amazing parks in America. With fascinating geothermal features like the Old Faithful Geyser, a Grand Canyon with thundering waterfalls, and the last great bison herd, Yellowstone is a true treasure.

Highlights of Yellowstone National Park

  • The tall, frequent eruptions of Yellowstone's most famous geyser have been dazzling visitors for over a century and are easy to witness today by hiking up to two miles.
  • This pair of short loops explores a stark basin with an impressive collection of hot springs and geysers like Ledge Geyser (shown).
  • This 1.25-mile hike follows a riverbank to an only-in-Yellowstone hot springs where a stream of water cooked by nearby hydrothermal features mixes with the river.
  • This 1.75-mile series of boardwalks explores an amazing collection of colorful hot springs terraces, including Palette Spring Springs (shown).
  • This easy 0.65-mile loop explores a lovely hydrothermal area on the shore of Yellowstone Lake.
  • This 2.8-mile hike reaches a rarely visited hydrothermal area that is boardwalk-free and fun to explore.
  • This 0.65-mile loop explores hydrothermal features in Upper Geyser Basin like Black Pearl Geyser, Sapphire Pool, and Black Opal Pool (shown).
  • This 0.8-mile walkway passes Excelsior Geyser and the largest hot springs in Yellowstone, Grand Prismatic Spring (shown).
  • This viewpoint on the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone delivers one of the most photographed views in the park, a memorable perspective of the 308-foot Lower Falls.
  • This 0.2 to 0.7-mile boardwalk visits a collection of sulfur-scented muddy springs atop a resurgent dome in the magma chamber of the Yellowstone Caldera.

Hiking Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is massive, covering nearly 3,500 square miles of beautiful forests, mountains, meadows, lakes, and streams. Allot plenty of driving time when crossing the park. There is also lots to see right from your car, like bison in Lamar Valley, and you can spend several days getting to know this special place.

Yellowstone has easy-to-access boardwalks in the notable geyser basins and viewpoints near interesting natural features. Numerous hiking trails visit more amazing places and can provide surprising solitude in a park that receives over three million visitors a year.

If you plan to camp in Yellowstone, make a reservation or snag a first-come first-serve site early in the day.

It is critical to exercise bear safety while visiting Yellowstone. Be bear aware while you hike. Make noise and carrying bear spray.

While the vast majority of Yellowstone National Park is in Wyoming, 1% of the park is in Idaho, and 3% of the park is in Montana. The north entrance near Gardiner, Montana is graced by the landmark Roosevelt Arch. Carved into the arch is the phrase, “For the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” In that spirit, start exploring!

Roosevelt Arch
Roosevelt Arch

Yellowstone National Park Hiking

This collection of trails in Yellowstone National Park lists hikes roughly from north to south. The table may also be sorted alphabetically or by distance to help you pick your next hike in Yellowstone. A search feature can be used to quickly isolate the hike you are looking for. Each trail links to its own report complete with photos, maps, directions, and all the other information needed to locate and enjoy these hikes. An interactive map below the table shows the location of each hike.

Trail
Description
Distance
Location
Pebble Creek100Pebble Creek
This 12-mile long trail travels down a beautiful backcountry meadow between Montana and Wyoming, bringing through hikers to a second trailhead (shorter out and back hikes are also possible without a car shuttle).
5 - 12 miles
+950 feet
-1375 feet
45.005477,
-110.03437
Boiling River120Boiling River
This out and back hike follows a riverbank to an only-in-Yellowstone hot springs where a stream of water cooked by nearby hydrothermal features mixes with the river.
1.25 miles
50 feet
44.9923,
-110.69121
Mammoth Hot Springs130Mammoth Hot Springs
This series of boardwalks explores a park highlight, a collection of colorful hot springs terraces.
1.75 miles
300 feet
44.968472,
-110.707605
Wraith Falls140Wraith Falls
This short easy hike crosses a meadow to a viewpoint of a ghostly 100-foot cascade.
0.8 miles
100 feet
44.942445,
-110.6236
Calcite Springs Overlook150Calcite Springs Overlook
This short loop overlooks a dramatic section of the Yellowstone River lined by bleached cliffs and steam venting hydrothermal springs.
0.25 miles
25 feet
44.901788,
-110.393053
Tower Fall160Tower Fall
This out and back hike starts with a direct view of a 132-foot waterfall. Unfortunately, the final leg of the trail to the base of Tower Fall is closed due to damage from rock and mud slides.
1 miles
225 feet
44.891908,
-110.38711
Porcelain Basin of Norris Geyser Basin170Porcelain Basin of Norris Geyser Basin
This pair of loops explores a stark basin with an impressive collection of hot springs and geysers like Ledge Geyser.
0.5 - 1.1 miles
100 feet
44.726133,
-110.7020
Back Basin of Norris Geyser Basin170Back Basin of Norris Geyser Basin
This loop passes Steamboat Spring, the world's largest geyser, and several other hydrothermal features.
1 - 1.75 miles
100 feet
44.726133,
-110.7020
North Rim Trail200North Rim Trail on the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
This trail follows the north wall of the canyon past several exceptional views between Inspiration Point and the Brink of the Upper Falls.
3.3 - 7.6 miles
250 feet
44.72504,
-110.46988
Inspiration Point210Inspiration Point on the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
This jutting point is one of the premier vistas along the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, reachable at the bottom of a flight of stairs from a parking area at the east end of North Rim Trail.
0.10 miles
50 feet
44.72504,
-110.46988
Lookout Point220Lookout Point on the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
This short spur off North Rim Trail (which you can also drive right up to) achieves an impressive view of Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.
0.15 miles
25 feet
44.72152,
-110.48788
Artist Point230Artist Point on the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
This viewpoint delivers one of the most photographed views in Yellowstone, a memorable perspective of the 308-foot Lower Falls.
0.2 miles
50 feet
44.720183,
-110.479766
Yellowstone Point Sublime240Point Sublime on the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
This hike explores the south rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, passing Artist Point toward more excellent views.
3 miles
250 feet
44.720183,
-110.479766
Yellowstone Uncle Toms Trail250Uncle Tom's Trail on the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
This hike descends a steel staircase clinging to the south wall of the canyon to a viewing platform with spectacular views of Lower Falls.
0.7 miles
500 feet
44.71522,
-110.4962
Upper Falls Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River260Brink of the Upper Falls on the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
This short trail extending from North Rim Trail reaches a daunting overlook atop the 109-foot waterfall at the start of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.
0.25 miles
75 feet
44.71457,
-110.5007
Yellowstone Artists Paintpots300Artists' Paintpots
This hike circles a hillside hydrothermal area, passing bursting mudpots, bubbling hot springs, and mesmerizing milky blue pools.
1.1 miles
125 feet
44.696237,
-110.741095
Yellowstone Monument Geyser Basin310Monument Geyser Basin
This out and back hike reaches a rarely visited hydrothermal area that is boardwalk-free and fun to explore.
2.8 miles
700 feet
44.683667,
-110.74452
Yellowstone Mud Volcano Area320Mud Volcano Area
This boardwalk visits a collection of sulfur-scented muddy springs atop a resurgent dome in the magma chamber of the Yellowstone Caldera.
0.2 - 0.85 miles
25 - 100 feet
44.6249,
-110.4336
Yellowstone Fountain Paint Pot340Fountain Paint Pot
This easy loop in Lower Geyser Basin passes geysers, hot springs, mudpots, and fumaroles - all of the hydrothermal features found in Yellowstone.
0.5 miles
50 feet
44.548546,
-110.807223
Yellowstone Midway Geyser Basin350Midway Geyser Basin
This walkway passes Excelsior Geyser and Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot springs in Yellowstone.
0.8 miles
75 feet
44.528424,
-110.836253
Yellowstone Biscuit Basin360Biscuit Basin
This loop explores hydrothermal features in Upper Geyser Basin like Black Opal Pool, Sapphire Pool, and Black Pearl Geyser.
0.65 miles
50 feet
44.48505,
-110.85255
Yellowstone Old Faithful Geyser400Old Faithful Geyser
The tall, frequent eruptions of Yellowstone's most famous geyser have been dazzling visitors for over a century and are easy to witness today.
0 - 2 miles
0 - 250 feet
44.46041,
-110.828213
Yellowstone West Thumb Geyser Basin500West Thumb Geyser Basin
This easy loop explores a hydrothermal area on the shore of Yellowstone Lake.
0.65 miles
25 feet
44.415605,
-110.57362
Yellowstone Riddle Lake600Riddle Lake
This level out and back hike crosses the Continental Divide to a backcountry lake with a small beach.
5 miles
100 feet
44.358408,
-110.582163
View Wyoming trails and campground in a larger map
Or explore hikes around Yellowstone National Park on the Hike Finder Map
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Uncle Tom's Trail Lower Falls Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park
If Uncle Tom's Trail can be called a trail, then you can just as easily say you are going for a hike any time you take the stairs instead of the elevator. This Yellowstone National Park trail consists of over 300 steel steps built down the south wall of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River next to the park's most impressive waterfall. The up-close views of Lower Falls are electrifying... Read more.
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Tagged with · Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone · National Parks · Stairs · Waterfalls
Distance: 0.7 miles · Elevation change: 500 feet
By: Published: Last updated: January 24, 2018
Point Sublime Trail South Rim Hike Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park
The people in charge of naming landmarks at Yellowstone National Park didn't hold back when they assigned the name Point Sublime to a viewpoint on the south rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. The trail to Point Sublime offers views that can't be seen from a car, exploring the picturesque canyon wall beyond Artist Point. It is 3 miles round trip to Point Sublime with a gradual... Read more.
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Tagged with · Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone · National Parks
Distance: 3 miles · Elevation change: 250 feet
By: Published: Last updated: April 23, 2017
North Rim Trail Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park
No trip to Yellowstone National Park is complete without a visit to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, a deep chasm with two fetching waterfalls. You can get numerous memorable views of the canyon by hiking along North Rim Trail, which stretches 3.8 miles over a paved and unpaved path crossing the northwest wall of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River (with just 250 feet of... Read more.
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Tagged with · Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone · National Parks · Waterfalls
Distance: 7.6 miles · Elevation change: 250 feet
By: Published: Last updated: January 9, 2018
Artist Point viewpoint Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park
Artist Point is one of the marquee overlooks on the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, with an exceptional perspective of canyon's most famous feature, the 308-foot Lower Falls. The viewpoint juts out from the south wall of the canyon and is just a short 0.1-mile walk from South Rim Drive. Beyond the paved trail, you can continue hiking along the south rim of the canyon to places like... Read more.
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Tagged with · Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone · National Parks · Waterfalls
Distance: 0.2 miles · Elevation change: 50 feet
By: Published: Last updated: January 8, 2019
Brink of the Upper Falls Trail Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River begins at Upper Falls, cutting a 20-mile long, 1,000-foot deep gash across Yellowstone National Park. Walk right up to the edge of the dramatic tumbler on Brink of the Upper Falls Trail and stare down the thundering 109-foot waterfall. You can visit the Brink of the Upper Falls as a spur off North Rim Trail or as a short standalone hike from a... Read more.
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Tagged with · Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone · National Parks · Waterfalls
Distance: 0.4 miles · Elevation change: 75 feet
By: Published: Last updated: April 23, 2017