Best Hikes in Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks

By Becky Lomax, author of Moon Best of Yellowstone & Grand Teton

Whether you’re in the mood for an languid stroll through a gorgeous rugged landscape, or you’re looking for a strenuous hike that will have you breathless and sweating as you earn some of the best views on the planet, expert author Becky Lomax has you covered.

Bunsen Peak

Where: North Yellowstone
Difficulty: Strenuous

A climb of 4.2 mi (6.8 km) round-trip leads to a summit with 360-degree views and mountains in every direction.

Observation Point

Where: Old Faithful and the Geyser Basins
Difficulty: Moderate

Climb up a couple of switchbacks to a point where you can peer down on Old Faithful Geyser. Crowds below look tiny, and the viewpoint gives a different angle on the erupting geyser. Descend via a different route to complete the 2.1-mi (3.4-km) round-trip loop.

Fairy Falls & Grand Prismatic Overlook

Where: Old Faithful and the Geyser Basins
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Image of geyser basin from overlook — © Yggdrasill33 | Dreamstime.com

If you only do one hike in Yellowstone, this is the one to do. Traipse 6.8 mi (11.1 km) round-trip through a young lodgepole forest to reach the gossamer Fairy Falls. From a narrow slot, the falls plunge into a deep pool. In winter, the falls are draped with icicles. En route, add on a side loop to an overlook of radiant Grand Prismatic Spring.

Mount Washburn

Where: Canyon and Lake Country
Difficulty: Strenuous

A 6.4-mi (10.3-km) round-trip climb leads to the 10,243-ft (3,122-m) summit of Mount Washburn for 360-degree panoramic views. It’s a grunt, but the lookout provides huge rewards.

Moon Best of Yellowstone & Grand Teton

by Becky Lomax

by Moon Travel Guides

Whether you're stopping for a day hike or spending a long weekend under the stars, escape to the great outdoors with Moon Best of Yellowstone & Grand Teton. Inside you'll find:

Easy itineraries for one to three days in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, from an afternoon sighting of Old Faithful, to a hike to Inspiration Point, to a weekend exploring both parks with mix-and-match itineraries
The top hikes in Yellowstone and Grand Teton: Whether you're looking to stretch your legs for a couple hours or challenge yourself to an epic trek, you'll find trailheads, detailed trail descriptions, individual maps, mileage, and elevation gains
Can't-miss experiences: Make it the perfect getaway with the best lakes, views, picnic spots, and more. Hike through alpine forests to rushing waterfalls and panoramic lakeside views, or catch a glimpse of wild bison, elk, wolves, or bears. Bask in the colorful radiance of Grand Prismatic Spring or stroll the boardwalks along Mammoth Hot Springs
Stunning full-color photos and detailed maps throughout, plus a full-color foldout map
Essential planning tips: Find out when to go, where to stay, and what to pack, plus up-to-date information on entrance fees, reservations, and safety advice
Know-how from outdoors expert and former park guide Becky Lomax

Make the most of your adventure with Moon Best of Yellowstone & Grand Teton.

Planning a longer trip? Pick up Moon Yellowstone & Grand Teton. Visiting more of North America's incredible national parks? Try Moon USA National Parks.

About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell—and they can't wait to share their favorite places with you.

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Taggart and Bradley Lakes

Where: Grand Teton National Park
Difficulty: Strenuous

This 5.9-mi (9.5-km) loop takes you to two lakes at the base of Avalanche and Garnet Canyons. At Bradley Lake, you can stare straight up at the Grand Teton.

Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point

Where: Grand Teton National Park
Difficulty: Moderate

The most popular hike in Grand Teton National Park is a 2-mi (3.2-km) round-trip that starts with a boat shuttle across Jenny Lake and takes in Hidden Falls before summiting Lower Inspiration Point, a rocky outcrop with impressive views of Jackson Hole. If you want a longer hike, instead of taking the boat shuttle you can hike the Jenny Lake Loop, a gentle 7.3-mi (11.7-km) round-trip circle around the lake, before climbing to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point.

For more best ofs, grab a copy of Best of Yellowstone and Grand Teton!

Becky Lomax

About the Author

Becky Lomax grew up hiking, camping, and skiing in Olympic National Park, North Cascades National Park, and Mt. Rainier National Park (where her dad used to serve as a ranger).

During college, she worked summers in Glacier National Park. After teaching high school English for many years outside Seattle, she and her husband moved to Montana, where she served as a hiking and backpacking guide in Glacier, worked at a ski resort, and began to write about the outdoors. She relishes visiting national parks to hike, bike, backpack, kayak, and raft.

Through her writing, she advocates for conserving wild places for their unique attributes and the renewal they bring to humans. She has written about hiking trails, historic lodges and roads, camping, paddling, skiing, bicycling, wildlife, wildflowers, birds, and climate change. For magazine stories, she has tagged along with biologists into the field to radio collar bighorn sheep and grizzly bears, even touching the bear’s claws and smelling its fur to discover its earthy scent.

Becky is the author of the bestselling Moon USA National Parks, and has published stories in several national travel magazines including Smithsonian and Backpacker. She has also authored Moon Glacier National Park and Moon U.S. & Canadian Rockies Road Trip.

Learn more about this author