Mammoth Hot Springs Area

Forces of the Northern Range Self-Guiding Trail-- This flat, undemanding stroll along a boardwalk presents an excellent opportunity to learn about the effects of fire on the environment. Signposts encourage kids to get down and dirty to examine the indications of the forest's rejuvenation.

3/4 mile round-trip. Easy. Access: Trail head is on Tower Rd., about 6 miles east of Mammoth Hot Springs.

Beaver Ponds Loop Trail -- Start at Clematis Gulch and make your way to a series of beaver ponds. Your best chance of seeing the big-tailed beasts is early morning or late afternoon, and you might spot a moose, pronghorn, or elk on the way. There are some good views, including Mount Everts.

5 miles round-trip. Easy. Access: Trail head is located at Mammoth Hot Springs Terrace.

Bunsen Peak Trail-- This trail takes you up 1,300 feet in 2 miles to the 8,564-foot summit. Make the hike early, and you can watch the morning sun strike Electric Peak; then leave your thoughts in a rusted lockbox packed with the notes of thousands of past hikers. You can take an alternate route back down to the Osprey Falls Trail .

4 1/4 miles round-trip. Moderate. Access: Trail head across the road from the Glen Creek Trailhead, 5 miles south of Mammoth on Mammoth-Norris Rd.

Lower Terrace Interpretive Trail -- This interpretive trail is one of the best ways to see Mammoth Hot Springs. The boardwalk begins at 6,280 feet and climbs another 300 feet along marginally steep grades through a bare, rocky, thermal region to a flat alpine area and observation deck at the top; it's not a difficult climb in exchange for some splendid views. A park guide says the 1 1/2-mile round-trip walk to the Upper Terrace and back takes 2 hours, but it can be done in less.

1 1/2 miles round-trip. Easy. Access: Trail head is south of the village on the road to Norris.

Osprey Falls Trail-- The first 3 1/4 miles of this hike lead along an old, bike-friendly roadbed at the base of Bunsen Peak. From the Osprey Falls Trail turnoff, it's another 1 1/2 miles through a series of steep switchbacks in Sheepeater Canyon to a secluded waterfall on the Gardner River.

9 1/4 miles round-trip. Moderate. Access: Trail head is at Bunsen Peak Trailhead, 5 miles south of Mammoth Hot Spring on Mammoth-Norris Rd.

Sepulcher Mountain Trail -- The Glen Creek Trailhead presents hikers with several alternative paths through the Sepulcher Mountain area. During the early summer, this plateau is a beautiful, wide-open area that follows the base of Terrace Mountain. With huge expanses of sagebrush and pines interspersed with the brilliant yellows and blues of wildflowers, this is an excellent place to escape the crowds. You will also get a feel for the real park in this wilderness area without making much of a physical commitment. Because the trail is in the Gallatin Bear Management Area, you'll want to make noise or tie a bell to a shoe while hiking here.

Three miles from the trail head, you'll arrive at a fork in the trail. Now you have to make a choice: Continue another 2 miles up the steeper option to the mountain's summit, continue on to the east on the Terrace Mountain loop of the Snow Pass Trail, or retrace your steps to the trail head. If you're continuing, I recommend the former. It's a moderate hike that climbs 2,300 feet as the trail winds through a diverse selection of wildlife and scenery.

6-12 miles round-trip. Easy to moderate. Access: Glen Creek Trailhead, 5 miles south of Mammoth on Mammoth-Norris Rd.

Trout Lake Trail -- A short, somewhat steep hike through spruce and fir, this trail's destination is the small Trout Lake, which is encircled by a footpath. The lake, nestled between dramatic cliffs and Druid and Baronette peaks, is a favorite fishing hole and one of the best places in the park to witness the fascinating cutthroat spawn. Because of the density of the fish, the lake once served as a major source of food for Cooke City and continues to attract otters, beavers, and bears.

1 1/4 miles round-trip. Easy. Access: 10 miles west of the northeast entrance, at the trail head 1 mile west of Pebble Creek campground.