Best trails in Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is America's first national park. Its vast landscape spans three states: Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. The park is home to various wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Yellowstone is most famous for its collection of hot springs and the world's most extraordinary geysers -- most notably, Old Faithful.
Top trails
Visitor info
Entry for one driver and one passenger for seven consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase.
Non-commercial group (e.g. church groups, scouts) traveling in a vehicle with a capacity of 16 or more people. Cost is per person. Unlimited entry for one vehicle and all passengers for seven consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase.
Entry for visitors on foot, bicycle, ski, etc., when 16 years of age or older.
Unlimited entry for one vehicle and all passengers for seven consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase. Vehicles must be private, non-commercial, and with a seating capacity of 15 or less.
Entry for one driver and one passenger for seven consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase.
Provides unlimited entry for one year (valid through the month of purchase) to the pass holder and passengers in the same vehicle, or pass holder and up to three persons where per person fees are charged. Purchase at any entrance station.
Join millions of people who enjoy our National Parks with the "America the Beautiful" National Park & Federal Recreational Lands Pass, otherwise known as the Interagency Annual Pass. The pass is valid for a year's worth of visits from the month of purchase at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country.
No entrance pass required on these days:
Monday, January 20 — Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Saturday, April 19 — First day of National Park Week
Thursday, June 19 — Juneteenth National Independence Day
Monday, August 4 — Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
Saturday, September 27 — National Public Lands Day
Tuesday, November 11 — Veterans Day
The Interagency Access Pass is accepted here.
The Canyon Village, Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs (Albright), Grant, West Thumb, and West Yellowstone Visitor Centers and the park's medical clinics are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms and drinking fountains. The Fishing Bridge, Norris, and Madison Visitor Centers are partially accessible, and visitors may require assistance. Orientation films include closed captioning at Canyon, Old Faithful, and Grant Visitor Centers, and the Albright Visitor Center has open captioning.
Loaner wheelchairs are available at Old Faithful, Canyon, Mammoth (Albright), Grant, Fishing Bridge, and Norris Visitor Centers, as well as at all medical clinics and lodges. A beach wheelchair is available at the Fishing Bridge Visitor Center for use at Yellowstone Lake.
Assistive listening devices are available at Canyon and Old Faithful Visitor Centers. Induction loop technology is available at the Albright Visitor Center. Audio descriptions, tactile exhibits, Braille, and large print materials are available.
ASL interpreters are available for ranger-led programs. Please call 307-344-2386 at least 3 weeks in advance to make a reservation for interpretation services.
Additional information about accessibility at Yellowstone National Park can be found on their website: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.
The Canyon Village, Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs (Albright), Grant, West Thumb, and West Yellowstone Visitor Centers and the park's medical clinics are all accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms and drinking fountains. The Fishing Bridge, Norris, and Madison Visitor Centers are partially accessible, and visitors may require assistance. Orientation films include closed captioning at Canyon, Old Faithful, and Grant Visitor Centers, and the Albright Visitor Center has open captioning.
All lodges have wheelchair accessible rooms and facilities.
The Bay Bridge, Gibbon Falls, Madison, Tuff Cliff, Sode Butte Creek, and Warm Creek Picnic Areas are wheelchair accessible, with packed, level paths and surfaces and accessible restrooms or vault toilets. The East Lot and Whiskey Flat are wheelchair accessible, with packed, level paths and surfaces. Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located in every major area except for West Thumb. There are wheelchair accessible vault toilets inside the East and South entrances and before the West entrance gate on the right.
There is a wheelchair accessible fishing site on the Madison River. Wheelchair accessible boating facilities are available at Bridge Bay Marina and Grant Village.
All campgrounds have at least one wheelchair accessible camping site. 2 backcountry campgrounds are wheelchair accessible.
Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.
Guides
Trail reviews for Yellowstone National Park
We loved this trail…it is a pretty steady climb up so make sure to bring water and you are in decent shape. It is moderate so most should be able to make it. Loved looking at the springs and such that are unique to Yellowstone.
There were about 20 pronghorn antelope in a herd that were easy to see without bothering them as we hiked past. Also, on the way back we walked, unavoidably, near a herd of over 50 bison male, female, and calves. Also, there are great views of the Yellowstone River.
This is a nice loop, with access beginning right at the parking lot. The trail involves a slight ascent and then loops around Trout Lake, which is fed by a small river and then outlets into the Yellowstone River. I had my dog with me, so he was OK to sit in the car for 30 minutes and I was able to get a quick hike in without worrying about him. Parking is limited, and there were no markers on the roadside, the only sign designating it as the Trout Lake trailhead was 20 feet into the trail. Somehow I found it though, glad I did. I'd rate it moderate (but just barely) due to the slight ascent to begin the hike, easy otherwise.
One of my favorite trails at Yellowstone with all the steam!
This may be the best hike to take in Yellowstone for views of the whole park. Spectacular.
Very wide gravel/dirt trail. Great views all along the way. Only saw marmot, birds and a ground squirrel. The museum and lookout was interesting at the top. Only manned fire tower in Yellowstone.
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Frequently asked questions
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Are there any trails with scenic mountain peak views in Yellowstone National Park?
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Points of interest
- Lower Yellowstone Falls
- Morning Glory Pool
- Dragon's Mouth Spring
- Emerald Spring
- Abyss Pool
- Mount Washburn
- Mystic Falls
- Avalanche Peak
- Lone Star Geyser
- Emerald Pool
- Upper Yellowstone Falls
- Moose Falls
- Artist Point
- Shoshone Lake
- Ojo Caliente Spring
- Yellowstone Lake
- Solitary Geyser
- Chinese Spring
- Terraced Falls
- Brink of the Upper Falls