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Once upon a time we had a great list of short hikes. Let's recreate it...

Describe your favorite day hike.

Admin's Note: Please limit yourself to only one or two photos in your post so we can maintain this as an easy-to-read resource for everyone, including those with slower connections. More photos are encouraged, of course, in the Photo Forum!

~Katie

#1 Mount Washburn
Great for wildlife: bighorn sheep consistently seen near the summit (ewes, subadults and lambs), grouse, elk, deer, bison, fox, ground squirrel, marmot, pika, nutcracker and an occasional grizzly. Dan and Steve even spotted a wolf at the Chittenden lot once.



You have two choices. From the Dunraven lot, the hike is comprised mainly of switchbacks and is more heavily wooded until it gets closer to the top. This side also stays in the shade much longer into the day. The Chittenden Road side trail is a much gentler slope, with wide open views the entire way up. I've also found it to be more consistent for wildlife, so it's my preferred side.

From my experience, the hike is best done at sunrise in summer so you avoid the heat. It's about 3 miles each way, IIRC. You're rewarded with some great views at the summit and can rest inside the ranger outpost there (which offers nice protection from the powerful winds). It can be cold and windy, so be sure to bring a windbreaker or fleece, a warm hat and gloves. Also remember water and something to snack on. This hike does go between 8500-10,000+ feet, and some folks have problems with the elevation, but it's extremely rewarding, thanks to the animal sightings, great views and of course, the sense of accomplishment for reaching the top!

#2 Trout Lake
A favorite for one reason: otters! It's a very short (1/2-3/4 mile) hike, but extremely steep. Once you get to the lake, you can walk all the way around along the bank. Otters are usually seen between May and into the summer. Mid-May to mid-June is best, since that's when the trout are spawning in the lake. The otters often swim over to the small inlet where the fish congregate for an easy catch, and will pull a trout out on the felled log just off shore to snack on. It's a great show. If the otters aren't around, follow the inlet uphill as it becomes a stream and go up and over the hillside to check out neighboring Buck Lake. In the past, the otters sometimes moved between lakes, so you never know...

Also seen here are moose, bears, goldeneyes, avocets and even a fishing coyote.

#3 Sheepeater Cliff
Very short and very flat. Leaves from the Sheepeater lot and follows the Gardner River as it drops into a pretty little box canyon. You can clamber down into the canyon if you like. Good views of the columnar basalt formations along the way, and you'll probably see marmots and possibly pikas among the rocks.



#4 Yellowstone Picnic Area
A gradual climb uphill from the "Yellowstone" Picnic Area. This trail offers great views down into the Yellowstone River canyon (you can look down onto active osprey nests) and offers up potential encounters with the groups of bighorn sheep (one batch of males and a separate group of females and young in warmer months) that frequent the area. Marmots, black bears and red fox have also been spotted here. A logical way to do the hike is to go about two miles up to where the bluff overlooks a wider expanse of the canyon before you turn back. Or if you're up for a longer hike, you can keep going and eventually meet up with the Specimen Trail.

Max

btw- I've linked to this thread in the Resources Sticky at the top of Insider

Gotta second the Trout Lake day hike, especially, in late June when the bright red hybrid trout are running up the creek. To see hundreds of big bruisers splashing their tails is truly a sight to behold not to mention all the spectacular wildflowers that surround the hillsides.

If you're a wildflower enthusiast not to be missed is exploring the trails and footpaths around Slough Creek Campground. Of all the places in the Park to see wildflowers, Slough, has got to be the very best because of its diverse habitat. The campground sage meadow provides an abundance of different species of tall grass prairie wildflowers, a walk up the trail from Site 1, along the creek, will bring into view, plenty of sub-alpine forest and stream side wildflowers as well as some pretty hungry trout. Behind Site 25 at the lower end of the campground, you'll find orange and scarlet paintbrush, bluebells, white campion and Franklin Phacelia just to mention a few. Closer to the Creek, you could get lucky and find the elusive Monkey Flower. If you walk along the Lower Campground loop you'll find more stream side varieties including the Richardson's Geranium which is unique to Yellowstone. If you've never seen prairie smoke before, in late June and early July, look next to the middle vault when you make your pit stop. If you head up to the First Meadow from the trailhead, you'll encounter many varieties of alpine flower species due to the higher elevation and the fishing can be phenomenal if the water level isn't too high. Best part of hiking around Slough Creek is that you can bring your fly rod along on your wildflower walk and cast at will for any cutts cruising along the banks. Your walks can be short or long and you'll never be disappointed.

Here are a few of my favorite hikes - I tried to pick a few in various
areas of Yellowstone! Enjoy and don't forget the emergency fold up
raincoats found at most dollar stores!

1) Cascade Lake (Canyon Junction)
We always see something interesting on this hike... moose,
deer, bison, elk, an osprey pulling a fish from the Lake and so
on. We usually begin this trail from the Norris-Canyon road
because there is usually less people than the approach from
North of Canyon Junction.

2) Observation Point (Old Faithful)
We take this usually on the first day we get to Yellowstone.
We don't start the trail from the bridge over the Firehole
rather we park in the Lower Hamilton/Yellowstone Park
General Store (think Knotty porch) parking lot and head
toward Geyser Hill taking the trail toward Solitary Geyser!
Then it's up to the top for the commanding view of the
Upper Geyser Basin! One has to imagine what it would
have been like to stand there years ago and see the wonder
of the area for the first time before development and
building! It's an amazing view! A lot of the little critters are
with you for the hike - yellow bellied marmots and other forest
friends. There is sometimes a bit of bear activity in the early
spring.

3) White Creek (Great Fountain Parking Lot)
A nice hike to one of Yellowstone's most studied springs!
A meadow full of wildflowers... Billion dollar thermal features!
DNA - Life at High Temperatures info
http://bioinfo.bact.wisc.edu/themicrobialworld/LAHT/b27
Octopus Spring and beyond
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/EPO/y ... index.html

4) Storm Point (Lake area)
Bison, an occasional bear, and the point has colony of Yellow bellied
marmots. Be on Bird Watch!

5) Beaver Pond Trails (Mammoth Area)
A nice hike in the Mammoth area to see wildlife. Watch for elk,
deer, pronghorn, bears, wolves, moose and the occasional beaver.
Meadows, forest, and grasslands. Note the Aspen!

6) Ribbon Lake Trail (Grand Canyon of Y area)
A nice stroll and a great chance to see wildlife. Easy to add on
a longer hike or another hike in this area.

7) Fountain Flats Road/Sentinel Meadows
At the end of Fountain Flats Road - park and soon the Fountain Flats
Road crosses the Firehole River via a steel bridge built right next to a
pretty hot spring (Ojo Caliente). This can be really wet and marshy
in the spring - have another hike in mind if you get here and it's too
swampy! Thermal features, bison, elk, deer, birds of prey near the
Firehole and the occasional bear.

8) Trout Lake - (Pebble Creek area- Lamar) see Max's details as mine
would be the same. Note the Douglas Fir and Lodgepole Pines.
History note - this was once used as a Fish Hatchery.

9) Lost Lake / Petrified Tree Trail (From Petrified Tree or Roosevelt)
Lost Creek Falls, ferns, Lost Lake, and the petrified tree... and plenty
of wildlife. Over the years, I've seen grizzly bears, black bears, moose,
elk, deer, beaver and the usual forest critters.

extra mention- Yellowstone Picnic Area - saw wolves on it once,
black bears, grizzly bears and so on!

BOOKS
I totally suggest using a Waterfall Book and a wildflower book
every once in a while to see something you've not seen on previous
visits!

WATERFALL book - I like the book The Guide to Yellowstone
Waterfalls and Their Discovery by by Paul Rubinstein, Lee H. Whittlesey,
and Mike Stevens. It could keep you busy for decades unless you live
in Yellowstone!

WILDFLOWER book, Wildflowers of Yellowstone and Grand Teton
By Richard J. Shaw.

HIKING BOOK - Yellowstone Trails: A Hiking Guide - Spiral bound
By Mark and Joy Marschall.

Have fun hiking!

~ Vicky

Another great hike is the DeLacy Creek trail, from the Old Faithful-West Thumb road, down to Shoshone Lake. I did the hike with a ranger last September and it was a morning I shall never forget. The peace and tranquility around the lake was truly wonderful. This can ba a good hike for seeing wildlife and there was plenty of evidence of recent grizzly activity, but we didn't see anything.

I also enjoyed Trout Lake, but the atmosphere was spoilt by a group of rather rowdy anglers.

A hike that I want to do is the Hellroaring Creek Trail and I shall be in the park next from 6th to 17th September, staying in Gardiner. If anyone would care to join me, please let me know as my wife is not a keen hiker and I'd rather not hike alone. The ranger I met last year said this was one of her favourites.

It's good to be back on-line again!!

Steve.

These have already been mentioned but we love them.

Storm Point- This one is great with kids my 5 year old and 3 year old have both done it several times. We always see wildlife and you cant beat the view of the lake.

Yellowstone Picnic area- Great views of the canyon and some close up action with birds of prey. We have seen black bears and big horn sheep. Just watch out for ticks.

Glad to get this thread back, but what about adding some pictures as in the original thread? It's nice
to get some visuals too...(just a thought)
Thanks for all your input!

Fawn Pass. Nothing Special about the first 3Mi. but have seen and run into Grizz everytime that myself or group have taken it.Thats early May Mid Sept. werewolf

Fairy Falls/ Imperial Geyser.
This trail is in a BMA, so it's not open until Memorial Day weekend.
There is a trail through Fountain Flats, but we took the trail head just south of Midway at the steel bridge.
Flat as a pancake the entire way, the trail starts out on an old freight road and goes behind Grand Prismatic spring. There's a hill to climb for views of Grand Prismatic. You've probably seen many photos of GP taken from this hill.
After a mile, the trail turns west, off of the freight road and through new growth lodgepole pines. Make some noise along this section. Poor visiblity; great place for a surprise encounter of the bruin kind.
It's about 2 miles total to Fairy Falls. The falls drop about 200 feet into a pool at the base.
Another 1/2 mile past Fairy Falls is Imperial Geyser. The runoff channels for this thermal area are some of the prettiest in the park. Well worth the addition 1/2 mile hike.

werewolf wrote:Fawn Pass. Nothing Special about the first 3Mi. but have seen and run into Grizz everytime that myself or group have taken it.Thats early May Mid Sept. werewolf

Not familiar with this one, may I have some more detail? My topos show a fawn pass about 10mi southwest of mammoth as the crow flys. Is this the hike? Do you just walk straight out of mammoth? 20mi round trip seems a bit rangey for a day hike, is fawn pass the actual destination or just the name of the trail?

Thanks!

Cliff wrote:

Glad to get this thread back, but what about adding some pictures as in the original thread? It's nice
to get some visuals too...(

Be careful what you ask for !

I'd have to agree on Mt Washburn being my favorite, though I like the hike through the forest best, with views across Hayden Valley all the way to Lake Yellowstone and beyond. Here's the view from the top looking back at the trail from the Dunraven side, if you can see all the way over to the right you can make out some of the trail up:




I really enjoyed the hike to Storm point, very level, about 2.5 miles round trip first through open area to the lake and on the way back through the woods. H
We didn't see any critters when we did the Yellowstone picnic area but the views are really neat. Short uphill then very flat easy hike. Some views:



Fairy Falls is a favorite of mine- very flat, easy, maybe 5.5 miles if you go all the way to Imperial geyser (a must) and don't miss bushwacking up the hill for the wonderful views of Grand Prismatic! Here's Imperial Geyser:



At Mammoth there is a very short (0.5 mile) trail the the Narrow Gauge terraces. These are my favorite terraces and you'll have them to yourself. Continue up a short ways and you'll be at the upper terrace loop so can come back down through the terraces to make a loop hike. Glen Creek trail is also in that area, easy rolling hills, over Snow Pass then can make a loop through the Hoodoos or head north and end up at Mammoth.
Slough Creek is a beautiful hike, moderate uphill at first but levels out nicely-]

I found Petrified Tree to be a very tough hike, only 3 miles to the trees and back (a little longer if you go to the views to Mt Washburn), but very steep! But the views up there just incredible, definitely worth it!:



Mystic Falls is an easy 2 miles out and back or about three miles if you do the switchbacks to the top of the falls then on to the overlook:


My other recommendations would be out to Point Sublime- What a View! To make it a loop go out to Ribbon Lake, to the top of Silver Cord Cascade then past Clear Lake to the Upper Falls overlook to the South Rim trail. I'm afraid I'm getting too long so I won't post pictures. Don't just stop at the pull outs for the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, a walk along one of the Rim trails will make your day and if you are up to it down Uncle Tom's trail. Sorry so long, I just love them all.

Cheryl

I failed to mention Pelican valley. We have hiked it 3 different times and have seen different animals everytime.. we have never seen a bear though. We did the hike to Turbid lake once. The trail is tough to follow the last mile or so through the forest but you feel like you are the only humans out there... It was a bit creepy but a great experience.

Gotta second the Storm Point hike as my favorite day hike, though the Mt. Washburn hike is great as well.

Mary Mountain. End to end. Best day hike in the park IMO.

Just Gerald wrote:Mary Mountain. End to end. Best day hike in the park IMO.

I was waiting for you to post some some hike that NO ONE BUT YOU and other super hikers would consider a "day hike."


~Katie

Do you car shuttle to do Mary Mountain all the way through?- I guess you could always hope to "hitch a ride" back to your starting point but that always makes me nervous.

preferwilderness wrote:Do you car shuttle to do Mary Mountain all the way through?- I guess you could always hope to "hitch a ride" back to your starting point but that always makes me nervous.

The first few years I did hitch, but now it's just easier to shuttle with a partner. I no longer hike it alone and at least two others come with me at all times now. Makes the day by faster when you're with friends.

Kevbar wrote:I failed to mention Pelican valley. We have hiked it 3 different times and have seen different animals everytime.. we have never seen a bear though. We did the hike to Turbid lake once. The trail is tough to follow the last mile or so through the forest but you feel like you are the only humans out there... It was a bit creepy but a great experience.

Pelican Valley is also my favorite. Love how the valley is wide open. Lots of interesting stuff to find along the creek (foot prints, bones, etc) and the wildlife is great. Saw a grizzly, two coyotes, many harriers hunting the marsh, and two distinct bison herds during my mid-day hike in August. The people on the trail after me saw a Great Gray in the woods at the beginning of the hike.

I'll second Steve's fav - Fairy Falls was nice even in the fall (I'm sure it is much better in spring) and Imperial Geyser was fantastic. We ran into a lone huge bison on the trail between the falls and the geyser...had to make a small detour. He had his tail up at both of us but we muttered nice things and kept a movin.

Surprised no one has mentioned Lone Star Geyser yet...ok, not a real tough trek but an easy trail to push ole Grandma in a wheelchair to see nature and a geyser off the beaten path! The first time there I recorded the times for what I thought was a "major". Found a nice tree off to the side and proceeded to have lunch with family. About 45 minutes later the real "major" eruption started - I had to go back and correct the book!! I'm still sorta mad at the kids who drove their car down there.

The short hike down to the base of Tower Falls is nice but they've had it barricaded for some time now - wish that would get fixed.

I'm looking to do more hiking this year and thereafter...any clubs or groups to look into? High Country Hikers in Cody seems to be disbanded as I can't find any news on them of late. Anyone on the East side of the Park like me that hikes regularly? Is this off-topic? Is so, I'll start a new thread.

Guys and Gals,
I just wanted to say "thank you" for this topic thread and all the great opinions and insight.

For 1st timers like my Wife and I this thread is invaluable! While we are not extreme hikers, due to age and physical abilities, but we both love the outdoors.

For critter watchers, it's great fun to hike the Howard Eaton Trail from Wapiti Trailhead to Fishing Bridge looking at the overlooks from the other side. Last year I did Bunsen-Osprey and Sepulchre for the first time, great stuff when there is still lots of snow in the interior. Matzoon, we should do Avalanche Peak this year? We still need to meet at Fishing Cone some day!

Roadie wrote:Matzoon, we should do Avalanche Peak this year? We still need to meet at Fishing Cone some day!

Avalanche Peak is on my list for middle to late summer...after getting in better shape and to escape the heat! Have you hiked it yet? My new boots are broken in, just need to start off with a few shorter hikes and work up from there. I can imagine the higher risk of running into a Spring storm hiking it early anyway.

I'll be at FC the first day the road from Bridge Bay to West Thumb is open (2nd weekend in May if I recall). I'm usually there every 3-5 days until it submerges in June. Any other time I'll be grizzly chasing from Fishing Bridge east while the snowline keeps them at the lower elevations.

Sounds like a plan on both counts!!

Good suggestions, all. I was asked this question half a dozen times earlier this week when I was taking a group of newbies through the Park, and it is hard for me to name any one hike that is my clear favorite. If I am in a thermal mood, certain ones are my favorites ... and if I am in a scenic view mood ... or a wildlife mood ... or ...

Has anyone ever done the Chain of Lakes hike from Canyon to Norris?

Seven Mile Hole can only be discribed as AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME! We started early / ate and rested at the river .......hike with gorgeous views and awesome wonders!