Yellowstone National Park

Photos: Wildlife of America's National Parks

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Observation Point, 1.1 mi. This trail begins 3 mi. from the Old Faithful Visitor Center, traveling counter-clockwise along the boardwalk After crossing the Firehole River a spur trail leads up to Observation Point, .5 mi. away. Continuing on to the west, the trail leads 3 mi. to Solitary Geyser and then another 3 mi. back to the Upper Geyser Basin trail.

Divide Lookout , 3.4 mi. The trailhead is located approximately 6 7 mi. southeast of Old Faithful on the south side of the Grand Loop Road The trail crosses Spring Creek and climbs 735 ft through lodgepole pine and whitebark pine forest to the Continental Divide The 68 ft tower is no longer used and is closed to the public.

Spring Creek, 5.8 mi. This trail starts at the Divide Lookout trailhead. Approximately .3 mi. up the trail, the Spring Creek trail branches off to the right and continues 1 3 mi., to the picnic area. Continuing west from the picnic area, the trail travels along Spring Creek for 2.9 mi. then meets with the Lone Star Geyser trail. Turning right, the Lone Star trailhead is 1.6 mi. ahead. If you leave from the picnic area to the east the trail meets up with the Divide Lookout trail after 1.3 mi. The trails leaving from the picnic area do not have trail registers.

Mary Mountain The trailhead is approximately 10 mi. north of Old Faithful on the Grand Loop Road. The trail follows Nez Perce Creek through Lodgepole pine forest and meadows most of the way. Mary Lake is 11 mi. to the east of the trailhead. The trail continues eastward to the Hayden Valley meeting the Grand Loop Road in approximately 9 mi. There is NO OVERNIGHT CAMPING along this trail.

Mallard Lake, 6.8 mi. The trailhead is located between the Old Faithful Lodge cabins and the Firehole River. Take the first right turn as you come into the Lodge area and continue approximately 330 yards down the road to the trailhead. The trail crosses the Firehole River, passes Pipeline Hotsprings, and on through rolling hills of Lodgepole pine and open, rocky areas toward the lake. At 3.2 mi. the Mallard Creek trail joins this trail for the final .2 mi. to Mallard Lake.

Mallard Creek, 9.2 mi. The trailhead is approximately 3.5 mi. north of Old Faithful on the Grand Loop Road. This trail was designed as a winter ski trail, therefore, it follows hilly terrain to Mallard Lake.

Mystic Falls, 2.2 mi. The Mystic Falls trailhead is located in the Biscuit Basin area, 2 mi. north of Old Faithful. The trail begins at the west end of the basin boardwalk. Mystic Falls is a 70 ft. drop of the Little Firehole River as it comes off of the Madison Plateau into the Firehole River valley.

Summit Lake, 14.4 mi. This trail starts at the Mystic Falls trailhead. After branching south from the Mystic Falls trail it crosses the Little Firehole River then starts a long, steady climb along an intermittent stream through pine, spruce, and fir to the lake. This is a strenuous hike and one should allow plenty of time and also take along an adequate supply of water.

Lone Star Geyser, 4.8 mi. The trailhead is located 3 5 mi. southeast of Old Faithful on the Grand Loop Road just south of the Kepler Cascades pullout. This level trail follows an old service road along the Firehole River to the geyser. It is also used as a bike trail as far as Lone Star Geyser. The geyser erupts every three hours from its 12 ft cone with a 30 min. duration. Minor eruptions begin 1 hr. before the main eruption which can reach heights up to 45 ft. This is an easy and pleasant hike. The trail from Lone Star continues south up Grant's Pass, down to the junction with the Bechler River trail, and on to Shoshone Lake.

Sentinel Meadows , 3 mi. The trailhead is located on Fountain Flats Drive 1.3 mi. from the Grand Loop Road. The trail begins from a small parking area on the south side of the Firehole River bridge near Ojo Caliente Spring. Follow the footpath along the south side of the river to the trail register, then follow the trail to the meadows. There are several hot springs located in the meadows which have formed large geyserite mounds. Queens Laundry, a major hot spring, is located 1.9 mi. from the trailhead. A bath house was started at this site in 1881 but was never completed. The uncompleted bath house still remains.

A second trail starts 1 mi. south of the Firehole River bridge on Fountain Flats Drive. It crosses the meadows of Fairy Creek and continues on through Lodgepole pine until it emerges into Sentinal Meadows.

Fairy Falls, 3.2 mi. Fairy Falls may be reached by two routes. 1) Drive south on Fountain Flats Drive until you reach the barricade. Walk south along the road for approximately 1 mi. The trail then turns west (right) and continues 1.6 mi. to the falls. 2) The Steel Bridge trailhead is located 1 mi. south of Midway Geyser Basin and 6 mi. north of Old Faithful. Follow the road for approximately 1 mi. The trail then turns west (left) for 1.6 mi. through Lodgepole pine to the falls. Imperial Geyser is reached by traveling another .7 mi. past the falls.

Fairy Creek, 13.2 mi. This trailhead is located 1 mi. south of the Firehole River bridge on Fountain Flats Drive. At 2.7 mi. you will pass Imperial Geyser and continue on through Lodgepole pine until you reach Little Firehole Meadows. It is then approximately 5 mi. to Biscuit Basin.

Fern Cascades, 2.5 mi. Park near the Old Faithful Ranger Station and follow the fire road to the west until it meets the Grand Loop Road. From there, follow the orange trail markers through the government housing area and to the Fern Cascades trailhead. The cascades are .6 mi. up the trail. The Howard Eaton trail junction is 1.2 mi. beyond the cascades. From the Howard Eaton trailhead follow the road back to where you started.

Howard Eaton, 5.8 mi. This trailhead is located approximately .75 mi. south of the Old Faithful area on the Old Faithful-West Thumb road. The trail branches off to the left and leads up, over, and down a forested hill to Lone Star Geyser. You may also start the Fern Cascades loop trail from this trailhead by hiking up the hill to the right from the trail register.