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Top Ten Hikes for Families |
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By Bryan Oettel, GORP Managing Editor |
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A view of the Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone |
South Rim Trail
Grand Canyon, 2-1/2 miles one way
Evidenced by the huge number of people milling about in the Artists Point and Uncle Tom's parking areas, most people see the dramatic Grand Canyon Upper and Lower Falls from their car. They get out, take a glimpse and then race off to another site. But oh, what they are missing. The south rim trail is paved so it's an easy hike for young and old; the sights, however, make this 2-mile trail a must. The Grand Canyon in Arizona gets all of the attention but this one holds many visual treats of its own. Add on Uncle Tom's Trail, which takes you 500 feet down into the canyon for a close-up experience of the thundering Lower Falls.
 GORP Trail Finder: South Rim Trail
Elephant Back Loop Trail
Yellowstone Lake area, 4 miles round-trip
Although this trail climbs 800 vertical feet, the panoramic view from the overlook is reward enough to take this wonderful day hike. Starting approximately one mile south of Fishing Bridge Junction the well-maintained trail takes you up through a lodgepole pine forest where deer and moose are frequently seen. About halfway up the hill, the trail comes to a fork; although the path on the right is a bit longer, both are fairly easy climbs—you can take one going up, and the other coming down for some variation. Scanning to the east and south from the overlook, you can take in views of Yellowstone Lake and its islands, the Absaroka Range, and Pelican Valley. Make sure you bring a camera.
GORP Trail Finder: Elephant Back Loop Lost Lake Trail
Tower area, 4 miles
This is a nice, short hike to a waterfall, a small lake, a petrified tree, and great views of the Beartooth-Absaroka Range. Starting behind the Roosevelt Lodge follow the trail up the wooded hillside to a junction; by turning left and going approximately a half-mile you'll come to Lost Creek Falls. From here you can retrace your steps and continue on for a little over a mile through an open meadow to the lovely, little Lost Lake. From the lake, the trail winds along the hillside until descending to the Petrified Tree Parking Area. Here, as the name suggests, you'll find a petrified tree protected by an iron fence. To get back to Roosevelt Lodge, take the trail at the northeast end of the lot and follow it as it climbs to an open hilltop for views until descending to the Tower Ranger Station. The lodge is a quarter-mile from the lodge.
GORP Trail Finder: Lost Lake 
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