Just a few hundred yards off the road, things get a lot less crowded, and you'll have the views and the wildlife (almost) to yourself. The hikes described have an easy rating, but you'll find more challenging options later in the book.
- The Mount Washburn Trail: Starting at Dunraven Pass, south of Tower Junction, this walk to the fire lookout atop Mount Washburn offers unsurpassed views of both parks plus the opportunity to see mountain wildlife such as bighorn sheep.
- The Lonestar Geyser Trail: This gentle, 5-mile hike along the Firehole River presents several places to stop and take in the scenery, fish, and -- at the endpoint -- view this active, medium-size geyser of its name. It is also one of a few bicycle-friendly trails in Yellowstone, and, in the winter, this is a popular cross-country skiing trail.
The Best Backcountry Trails
- The Thorofare Trail: This hike will take you deeper into road-free wilderness than you can get anywhere else in the Lower 48 states. You'll spend a few nights on the trail, climbing up to the park's southern border and beyond to the Yellowstone River's headwaters, a high valley bursting with wildlife. Early in the summer, if the snow has melted, the cutthroat spawning run attracts grizzlies and fishers. It's not for the faint of heart.
