17 May 12 Easy Hikes in Yellowstone National Park [With Map]
Walking the boardwalks of Yellowstone National Park is great — there’s nothing else like it in the world! However, to really enjoy it, you should venture off the beaten path and hike some of the Park’s trails.
There are two types of hikers in Yellowstone National Park: those with several days to weeks and want to do an in depth exploration of the Park, and those who just have a day or two and need to sample the park’s high points.
If you’re visiting Yellowstone and want a hike that is less challenging or shorter — these hikes are for you! Most of these hikes are on the shorter side, but a few are longer. In addition, the hikes I’ve included are all relatively flat, lead somewhere pretty, and have easy to follow trails.
Here are my favorite 12 easy hikes in Yellowstone National Park.
Table of Contents
This post may contain affiliate links that may enable me to earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. Read my full disclosure policy.
Mystic Falls
Distance: 4 miles, loop
Time Needed: 2-3 hours
Best Time of Year: June – September
Trailhead: Biscuit Basin Trailhead
Check out this easy hike on All Trails.
Mystic Falls is an easy popular day hike in Yellowstone National Park and receives quite a bit of traffic. That comes with the benefit of the trail being well maintained and marked.
This hike gives incredible views of Biscuit Basin, the Old Faithful area, and Mystic Falls — a beautiful, cascading, 70-foot waterfall.
When you reach Mystic Falls, take time to relax and explore the area. There are several small hot springs along the river and near the Falls.
Pro Tip: When you get to the Mystic Falls Loop Junction, stay left. You’ll follow the Little Firehole River to the Falls. If you want to make this hike super easy, turn around at the Falls and head back the way you came. Otherwise, continue on to the overlook.
Oh, hey there!
I’m Sarah – a southern gal who found her way to the Las Vegas desert! Welcome to my travels with my husband, life with our two dogs, and all the things in between.
learn more >>
Let’s Be Friends
Follow Me On Instagram
Spent yesterday afternoon with @NevadaLtGov in Laughlin at the @laughlin_bullhead_airshow 🛩️ We saw amazing historic, military, and civilian aircraft and automobiles, but my highlight was meeting a true hero, a 101-year-old WW2 and Korean War veteran 🇺🇸 Forever grateful for his service and sacrifice.
---
#laughlinnv #getalittleoutthere #nevada #travelnevada #visitnevada #roadtripusa #heroesamongus #patriot #americanmade #americanhero
Visited @svshilohranch in Sandy Valley yesterday and left truly inspired by their dedication to supporting veterans and protecting Nevada`s wild mustangs. Incredible to see the positive impact they`re making! 🐎🇺🇸
---
#getalittleoutthere #travelnevada #sandyvalleynv #nevadawilderness #roadtripnevada #roadtripusa #wildmustang #nevadamustang #supportveterans
Drew and I ✅ off a big bucket list item! We hiked 85 miles to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. 🏔️ 🥾
We hiked around 6 hours each day walking mixed terrain of rocks, boulders, ice slopes, and glaciers. Our trek also included Chola Pass which, at around 18,000 feet, is no easy feat! 😛
We`re grateful to have had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the majesty of the Himalayas.
#EverestBaseCamp #CholaPass #himalayanadventure #everestbasecamptrek #trekkinglovers #nepaltravel #nepal🇳🇵
Tweet-hearts 💕🥰💕🥰
Got to pet a cockatoo named Woody, two ferrets, a dwarf hamster, a Guinea pig, and the cutest pup named Jasper at a pet adoption event!
Shelters across the country are busting at the seams with beautiful, loving animals ready for a forever home. If you`re looking for a pet, please check the local shelters to find your perfect new family member!
#adoptdontshop #petloversofinstagram #vegasdogmom #nevadavotersforanimals #igpetlovers #vegasdog #cockatoosofinstagram #cockatoolove #cockatoolover @nevada.spca @govegasdog @heavencanwaitlv @snvbeaglerescue
Get Notified of New Posts
Search By Category
If you find the travel guides & Itineraries helpful...
All content on YouFoundSarah.com is completely free! I hope that what I write helps you travel better. If it does, I’d love your support.
Where I've Been
Recent Posts
Readers' Favorite Posts
Fairy Falls (With Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook)
Distance: 5.4 miles
Time Needed: 2.5 – 3.5 hours
Best Time of Year: June through September
Trailhead: Fairy Falls Trailhead
Check out this easy hike on All Trails.
This is a fun and easy hike in Yellowstone National Park.
At almost 200 feet high, Fairy Falls is one of Yellowstone’s tallest waterfalls. But before you get there, you’ll see Yellowstone’s most colorful thermal feature — the Grand Prismatic Spring.
The hike to the Grand Prismatic Overlook is super popular. However, once you leave the overlook area and head towards Fairy Falls, you’ll leave the crowds behind.
Pro Tip: There’s a bridge below Fairy Falls and a short trail lets you get a closer look. From Fairy Falls, you can continue the hike to explore Spray and Imperial Geysers. This will add 1.2 miles to your hike.
To see the most vivid colors in the Grand Prismatic Spring you want the morning mist to have burned off. You’ll have the best pictures on a bright, sunny day in the afternoon when the sun is high in the sky.
Related Posts:
Artist's Paintpots
Distance: 1.2 miles, out and back
Time Needed: 1 hour
Best Time of Year: June through October
Trailhead: Artist Paintpots Trailhead
Check out this easy hike on All Trails.
Early explorers thought this area looked like an artist’s palette — thus the name!
This hike starts on the boardwalk but then transition to a wide, flat and easy hike — save for a little section at the end — Paintpot Hill — that you won’t want to miss.
Photographers will love it because of the colorful thermal features, hot pools, fumeroles, and steam vents. You’ll also find bubbling mudpots here which I always think look like they belong in some fancy spa.
Pro Tip: Here and in many other places in Yellowstone, you’ll see trees that have white trunks toward the roots (“bobbysock trees”). This is caused when trees soak up water containing a mineral called silica.
Lone Star Geyser
Distance: 4.6 miles, out and back
Time Needed: 2 – 3 hours
Best Time of Year: June through September
Trailhead: Lone Star Geyser Trailhead
Check out this easy hike on All Trails.
This easy trail leads to the Lone Star Geyser — named for its isolated location, not for the state of Texas.
The hike — which goes along the Upper Firehole River — is on a wide, paved path that is also available for bicyclists.
Lone Star Geyser erupts every 2-3 hours for about 10-15 minutes.
Pro Tip: Apps like GeyserTimes can help you plan your hike so you have the best chance of seeing geysers like Lone Star erupt. Listen for gurgling sounds coming from the geyser’s cone.
Want More?
Sign-up to receive notifications of new posts. You’ll get more travel inspiration, trip tips, and itineraries right in your inbox!
Uncle Tom's Trail
Distance: 1 mile
Time Needed: 1 – 1.5 hours
Best Time of Year: June through September
Trailhead: Uncle Tom’s Trail Parking Lot
This trail is closed at the moment for construction.
More StairMaster than hike, these 328 steps lead you to one of the most interesting viewpoints in all of Yellowstone National park — the base of the Lower Falls.
Although short, this trail can be difficult especially for those with weak or tricky knees — and people with heart or lung problems.
Lost Lake / Petrified Tree
Distance: 3.5 miles
Time Needed: 2.5 – 3.5 hours
Best Time of Year: June through September
Trailhead: Behind Roosevelt Lodge (Tower Junction)
Check out this easy hike on All Trails.
Lost Lake is a pretty — albeit small — pond lined with yellow pond lilies and framed by beautiful pine covered hills.
This is an excellent place to see wildflowers in Yellowstone. They are plentiful in the early summer. Lost Lake is also a great place to spot beaver, moose, and black bears.
Pro Tip: You can make this hike shorter (2 miles in total) by taking off the visit to the petrified tree. There is also a parking lot devoted to the petrified tree. If you want to see that and not Lost Lake, you can park there are go for a short, easy walk.
Sentinel & Imperial Meadows
Distance: 11 miles
Time Needed: 2 – 3 hours
Best Time of Year: June through September
Trailhead: Fountain Flats Drive / Freight Road Trailhead
Check out this easy hike in Yellowstone National Park on All Trails.
There’s a lot to love on this hike! And even though it’s longer than I’d typically recommend for an easy hike in Yellowstone National Park, its flatness makes it a really enjoyable hike.
You’ll want to start early because it is mostly out in an open meadow.
What I love about this particular hike is all the thermal features along the way (like the Ojo Caliente Spring right before you cross the Firehole River). You’ll also make a stop at Fairy Falls, one of Yellowstone’s tallest waterfalls.
Pro Tip: Many areas of this trail go very close to the thermal features, so be careful and watch where you step.
You could also choose to just do Sentinel Meadows which reduces your total hike to 2.8 miles. Start at the same trailhead, but turn around when you get the the junction with Imperial Meadows.
Elephant Back Mountain
Distance: 4 miles, loop
Time Needed: 1.5 – 2.5 hours
Best Time of Year: July through September
Trailhead: Elephant Back Mountain Trailhead
Check out this easy hike in Yellowstone National Park on All Trails.
If it’s sweeping views that you’re looking for, this easy hike in Yellowstone National Park is perfect for you!
The short hike leads you through old lava flows (look for shiny, black obsidian on your journey), dense forest, and finally — panoramic views of Yellowstone Lake. The mountain range you see off in the distance is the Absaroka Range. Off to the left, you get glimpses of the Yellowstone River (the longest free flowing river left in the 48 contiguous US states).
Pro Tip: You may still find snow at the top of Elephant Back Mountain in early Spring.
Your Day Hike Essentials
Riddle Lake
Distance: 4.7 miles, out and back
Time Needed: 2.5 – 3.5 hours
Best Time of Year: July 15 through September
Trailhead: Riddle Lake Trailhead
Check out this easy hike on All Trails.
The hike to this 274-acre lake is flat as a pancake and crosses the Continental Divide.
There are several river crossings — some with foot paths and some without — and the meadows can stay wet and marshy until August. Wear shoes that can handle the conditions like these boots from Salomon or these hiking shoes from La Sportiva.
This is a great area to spot wildlife like moose and elk — but keep your eye open for bear as well. This is a bear management area so the trail is closed until July 15. Consider carrying bear spray and make noise while you hike so you don’t sneak up on a bear on the path.
Pro Tip: Make sure to bring bug spray (or these convenient bug repellent towelettes) on this hike. The mosquitos can get pretty aggravating as you near the lake.
Upper Geyser Basin
Distance: 5 miles, loop — or less depending on interest
Time Needed: 2 – 3 hours
Best Time of Year: April through October
Trailhead: Old Faithful Visitor’s Center
Check out this easy hike on All Trails.
This is the quintessential hike to take in Yellowstone!
You definitely won’t have it to yourself — especially in the busy summer months — and it’s mostly on boardwalk or paved paths.
Suffice to say, this isn’t a hike for fitness or to make a PR. You should take your time here because it’s one of the most fascinating areas in the world.
The world’s largest concentration of geysers is found in this one area — including Old Faithful. In fact, there are 1,392 documented thermal features in just this one area.
Head up to Geyser Hill were you’ll find some of my favorite thermal features: Beehive and Lion Geyser as well as Blue Star and Ear Spring — both beautiful, boiling hot, clear blue springs!
If you have time, try to see Grand Geyser. At shoots 150-200 feet in the air when it erupts — which makes it the tallest predictable geyser in the world!
Pro Tip: Stop into the Old Faithful Visitor’s Center to check the estimated eruption times for the geysers included in this area. You’ll also find really helpful and interesting information about this area’s history and geology.
Tower Falls
Distance: 4 miles, out and back
Time Needed: Less than an hour
Best Time of Year: July through September
Trailhead: Park at the Tower Fall Store to access the trailhead
Check out this easy hike on All Trails.
This is probably the most accessible waterfall in Yellowstone.
The viewpoint is roughly 100 yards from parking area (located between Tower-Roosevelt Junction and Canyon Village) and the whole hike is paved.
The view of the falls can get slightly obstructed by trees, but I highly recommend stopping here to stretch your legs — and get an amazing view.
Bunsen Peak
Distance: 4 miles, out and back
Time Needed: 2.5 – 3.5 hours
Best Time of Year: July through September
Trailhead: Bunsen Peak Trailhead
Check out this hike on All Trails.
If hiking a mountain is something you want to accomplish in Yellowstone, Bunsen Peak should be on your list. It’s probably one of the least strenuous “peak” hikes in Yellowstone.
But it’s definitely not “easy.” You’ll climb 1,300 feet in 2 miles — but the switchbacks really go a long way in helping that feel so overwhelming.
Your hard work is rewarded at the top with views of Mammoth Terrace, Electric Peak (10,992 feet), Mount Holmes (10,336 feet), and the Absaroka mountain range. On clear days, you can even see the Tetons — over 60 miles away.
Pro Tip: Get your hike started early in the morning because the exposure can make the heat really tough.
Hiking poles will come in really handy on this hike — and take some of the weight off your knees! I love these budget-friendly hiking poles by Cascade.
You can also make this a longer hike by adding in Osprey Falls to make the hike a 10-mile loop.
Interesting Factoid: Bunsen Peak is named after German physicist Robert Wilhelm Bunsen — the inventor of the Bunsen burner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yellowstone National Park encompasses more than 2.2 million acres — and more than 900 miles of hiking trails. You can find just about any hike you’re looking for in Yellowstone — hikes that go to off-the-beaten-path thermal features, waterfalls, deep colorful canyons, and more.
Short answer. Yes. It’s better safe than sorry. Especially in this circumstance. If you’re out hiking — even if it’s just a mile — it is essential to carry bear spray for your safety. You can find it everywhere inside and outside the park. Your best prices on bear spray will be in larger towns like Bozeman or Idaho Falls.
You need three to four days to see Yellowstone Park (really even more!). But, if you are short on time, you can see Yellowstone’s highlights in just one or two days.
Shoulder months (April – May and September – October) are the best times to visit Yellowstone National Park. Visiting during these months will provide you with milder weather and fewer crowds.
There are two close airports to Yellowstone National Park: Idaho Falls, ID and Bozeman, MT. The Idaho Falls Airport is 141 miles to Yellowstone National Park. Its low cost carrier is Allegiant. Bozeman is 90 miles to Yellowstone National Park. Its low cost carriers are Southwest, JetBlue, Frontier, and Allegiant.
I believe that the best entrance to Yellowstone National Park is the West Entrance in West Yellowstone, Montana. Read about the best restaurants in West Yellowstone.
Southwest Airlines conveniently flies into Bozeman, Montana which is just 90 miles from Yellowstone National Park.
Love this? Save it for Later!
No Comments