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.

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!

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
100	Pebble 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
120	Boiling 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
130	Mammoth 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
140	Wraith 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
150	Calcite 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
160	Tower 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
170	Porcelain 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
170	Back 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
200	North 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
210	Inspiration 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
220	Lookout 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
230	Artist 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
240	Point 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
250	Uncle 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
260	Brink 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
300	Artists' 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
310	Monument 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
320	Mud 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
340	Fountain 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
350	Midway 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
360	Biscuit 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
400	Old 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
500	West 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
600	Riddle 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