The best Yellowstone hiking trails are Fairy Falls and Grand Prismatic Overlook, Uncle Tom’s and the Grand Canyon rim trails, Mount Washburn, and the Lamar Valley routes. Fairy Falls leads to the best view over the Grand Prismatic Spring. Mount Washburn climbs to a fire lookout with huge views. The canyon trails follow the park’s dramatic yellow gorge. Yellowstone has over 900 miles of trails across Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, but most visitors never leave the boardwalks, so the trails are quieter than the crowds suggest. This is prime grizzly and bison country, so wildlife safety is essential.
Yellowstone is really two parks: the crowded geyser boardwalks and the empty backcountry. A short hike gets you from one to the other.
Quick Trail Comparison
| Trail | Distance | Difficulty | Best for |
| Grand Prismatic Overlook | About 1.6 miles | Easy | The best view of the famous spring |
| Fairy Falls | About 5 miles | Easy to moderate | Waterfall plus the overlook |
| Mount Washburn | About 6.2 miles | Moderate to strenuous | Fire lookout, huge views |
| Uncle Tom’s / South Rim | About 2 miles | Moderate | Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone |
| North Rim Trail | About 3 miles | Easy to moderate | Waterfall viewpoints |
| Mystic Falls | About 3.5 miles | Easy to moderate | Waterfall near Old Faithful |
| Storm Point | About 2.3 miles | Easy | Lakeshore, wildlife |
| Trout Lake | About 1.2 miles | Easy | Quiet lake in Lamar Valley |
| Bunsen Peak | About 4.6 miles | Moderate | Summit views near Mammoth |
| Fountain Paint Pot | About 0.5 miles | Easy | Boardwalk geyser loop |
| Sepulcher Mountain | About 11 miles | Strenuous | Big backcountry day |
| Avalanche Peak | About 4 miles | Strenuous | Steep summit, alpine views |
The Highlights
Grand Prismatic Overlook and Fairy Falls
The Grand Prismatic Spring is the huge rainbow-colored hot spring you have seen in photos. From the boardwalk you cannot see the colors well. From the overlook, reached by a short trail off the Fairy Falls path, you get the famous aerial-style view.
Continue on to Fairy Falls for a 200-foot waterfall. The combined hike is about 5 miles and mostly flat.
Mount Washburn
One of the best summit hikes in the park. About 6.2 miles round trip to a fire lookout at nearly 10,000 feet, with views across much of Yellowstone.
Bighorn sheep are often seen near the top. Bring layers, as the summit is cold and windy even in summer.
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Not that Grand Canyon. Yellowstone has its own, a dramatic yellow-walled gorge with big waterfalls. The South Rim and North Rim trails follow the edge to a series of viewpoints, including the powerful Lower Falls.
Shorter and easier than the summit hikes, and unmissable.
Lamar Valley
The best wildlife area in the park, often called America’s Serengeti. Trails like Trout Lake and the valley routes offer a good chance of seeing bison, and sometimes wolves and bears at a distance.
Bring binoculars. This is for watching wildlife, from a safe distance.
Wildlife Safety: The Real Rules
Yellowstone hiking trails are home to grizzlies, black bears, bison, wolves, and elk. Wildlife causes more injuries here than terrain.
- Carry bear spray and keep it accessible. Know how to use it.
- Stay 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yards from bison, elk, and everything else. These are the park’s required distances.
- Bison injure more people than bears in Yellowstone, usually because visitors get too close for photos. They are fast and unpredictable. Give them room.
- Make noise on the trail and hike in groups.
- Never feed or approach any animal.
These distances are rules, not suggestions, and rangers enforce them.
The Thermal Danger
Yellowstone sits on a supervolcano, and the ground near thermal features can be thin and deadly.
- Stay on boardwalks and marked trails near geysers and hot springs.
- The ground can be a thin crust over boiling water. People have died stepping off trail.
- Never touch thermal water. It can be near boiling.
This sounds dramatic. It is also literally true and worth taking seriously.
When to Hike in Yellowstone
| Season | Conditions |
| Late May to June | Trails opening, snow at elevation, waterfalls high, fewer crowds |
| July to August | Peak season. All trails open, warm, very crowded on boardwalks |
| September | Best. Cooler, thinner crowds, active wildlife, elk rut |
| October to April | Snow, most roads and trails closed, limited winter access |
September is the best hiking month. The summer crowds thin, temperatures are comfortable, wildlife is active during the elk rut, and the light is beautiful. Higher trails may see early snow.
What to Bring
- Bear spray. Essential in Yellowstone.
- Layers. Elevation means cold mornings and windy summits even in summer.
- Binoculars for wildlife watching from a safe distance.
- Rain protection, since afternoon storms are common.
- Plenty of water and a way to filter more on longer hikes.
FAQ
What is the best hike in Yellowstone? Mount Washburn is the best summit hike, with panoramic views from a fire lookout. The Fairy Falls trail to the Grand Prismatic Overlook is the best easy hike, giving you the famous view of the rainbow spring. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone rim trails are also unmissable.
When is the best time to hike in Yellowstone? Late May through September. Most trails are snow-free by July. September is often the best month, with thinner crowds, cool weather, and active wildlife during the elk rut, though higher trails can get early snow.
Do I need bear spray in Yellowstone? Yes, bear spray is strongly recommended for hiking in Yellowstone, which has both grizzly and black bears. Keep it accessible, know how to use it, make noise on the trail, and maintain the required distance from all wildlife.
How far do I have to stay from animals in Yellowstone? The park requires staying at least 100 yards from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards from bison, elk, and all other wildlife. Bison actually injure more visitors than bears, usually because people approach too closely, so give them plenty of space.
Is it safe to hike near the geysers? Only on the boardwalks and marked trails. The ground near thermal features can be a thin crust over boiling water, and people have died stepping off trail. Never leave the boardwalk and never touch thermal water.
Your Next Step
Do one short hike off the boardwalks on your first day. The Fairy Falls trail to the Grand Prismatic Overlook is perfect, and it shows you how quickly Yellowstone hiking trails crowds disappear once you step onto a trail.
Buy bear spray before you arrive, learn the wildlife distances, and aim for September if you can. That gives you open trails, active wildlife, and a park that is far calmer than it is in July.