Hiking in Yellowstone

1 mi · 101 ft gain · 23 min

A 1-mile easy loop through forest to a group of bubbling mudpots and small hot springs — the kind of close-up thermal feature kids point at and remember. The short distance and modest climb make it an easy stop when you're driving the Norris-to-Madison stretch and want a real walk without committing half a day. Good for families and anyone who wants to see paint-pot mud and steam vents without the boardwalk crowds of the bigger basins.

1.8 mi · 101 ft gain · 37 min

An easy 1.8-mile loop through the wooded, less-trafficked half of Norris Geyser Basin — Norris is the hottest and most volatile thermal area in the park, so the springs and geysers here shift and surprise more than the predictable showpieces. Pick this over the busier basins if you want to walk among active features at a quieter pace and don't mind that what's erupting changes year to year. Suits steady walkers who'd rather wander a basin than just snap one photo.

8.5 mi · 183 ft gain · 2.6 hr

A longer 8.5-mile moderate loop that strings together Fairy Falls and the thermal country around Midway Geyser Basin, including views toward Grand Prismatic, the park's largest hot spring. This is a half- to full-day outing for hikers who want the waterfall and the geyser-basin scenery in one walk rather than as separate roadside stops. Choose it if you have the legs and the time and prefer a quiet trail to a packed overlook.

4.9 mi · 173 ft gain · 1.6 hr

An easy 4.9-mile out-and-back to one of the park's tall, slender waterfalls, on mostly level ground through burned-and-regrown lodgepole forest — manageable for families and a gentler way to earn a real waterfall than the climb-heavy trails. The route also passes near the Grand Prismatic area, so you can fold in the big hot spring on the way. A good middle-distance pick when you want a destination at the end without a hard grade.

0.7 mi · 26 ft gain · 14 min

A 0.7-mile easy boardwalk loop that packs all four Yellowstone thermal types — geysers, hot springs, mudpots, and fumaroles — into one short, flat walk. It's one of the best quick stops in the Lower Geyser Basin for anyone short on time or walking with kids or limited mobility. Choose this when you want to see the most variety for the least effort; the plopping mudpots are the crowd-pleaser.

0.5 mi · 32 ft gain · 11 min

A 0.5-mile paved, easy out-and-back to an overlook of Gibbon Falls, a wide cascade dropping over dark rock along the Madison-to-Norris road. It's barely a walk — more a stretch-your-legs stop — which makes it ideal when you're driving through and want a quick, accessible payoff. Good for travelers who want a waterfall without straying far from the road.

1.6 mi · 206 ft gain · 40 min

A 1.6-mile easy out-and-back that climbs to the elevated overlook above Grand Prismatic, the park's largest hot spring — the only spot where you actually see its full ring of blue, green, and orange color from above rather than as steam from the boardwalk. This is the view people picture when they think of the spring, and the short climb is well worth it for anyone who wants that perspective. Go midday when the sun is high if you want the colors to read; this is the photographer's version of the visit.

1 mi · 137 ft gain · 26 min

A short, easy 1-mile out-and-back through forest to a small, lily-padded pond — a quiet, low-effort detour off the Madison area rather than a marquee destination. It's a calm spot for birdwatching and a quick leg-stretch when the geyser basins feel crowded. Suits families and anyone wanting a few peaceful minutes by the water without committing to a longer hike.

6.7 mi · 367 ft gain · 2.3 hr

A 6.7-mile out-and-back, graded easy despite the distance, that extends past Fairy Falls to Imperial Geyser and its colorful runoff — a backcountry-feeling thermal feature most road-trippers never reach. The reward for the extra miles is solitude and an active spring far from any boardwalk. Choose this if you're a capable walker who wants both a waterfall and a geyser you'll likely have largely to yourself.

14.1 mi · 1,066 ft gain

This is a 14.1-mile scenic drive, not a hike — the road between Madison Junction and Norris, following the Gibbon River past meadows, Gibbon Falls, and open country where bison and elk graze. Use it as the connecting route when you're moving between the geyser basins and Norris, and plan to pull over often. It's for travelers covering ground by car who want to know what's worth stopping for along the way rather than logging trail miles.

0.7 mi · 55 ft gain · 15 min

A 0.7-mile easy boardwalk loop that carries you right past Grand Prismatic and Excelsior Geyser Crater — close-up, at steam level, where the scale and color of the park's biggest hot spring hit you. It's flat, short, and stroller-friendly, which makes it one of the highest-reward quick stops in the park. Pair it with the overlook trail if you want both the up-close walk and the view from above.

2.5 mi · 679 ft gain · 1.4 hr

A 2.5-mile moderate out-and-back with a steep pull near the end — roughly 679 feet of gain over a short distance — climbing to a rarely visited ridgetop basin of odd, cone-shaped thermal monuments. The reward is solitude and strange formations few people bother to see; the cost is a sustained climb. Pick this over the easy basins if you want to earn a quieter, weirder corner of the park and don't mind sweating for it.

3.6 mi · 636 ft gain · 1.7 hr

A 3.6-mile moderate loop near Old Faithful that climbs to Mystic Falls and a ridge overlooking the Upper Geyser Basin steaming below — a strong half-day choice that combines a waterfall, forest, and a basin overview in one walk. The 636 feet of climbing keeps it honest without being punishing. Good for hikers who've already seen the Old Faithful boardwalks and want to get above the crowds for a wider perspective.

1.8 mi · 154 ft gain · 40 min

An easy 1.8-mile loop through Norris, the hottest and most dynamic thermal basin in the park — features here run more acidic and unpredictable than the famous geysers, so the basin looks raw and changes more often. It's a manageable walk for most travelers who want to feel how volatile Yellowstone's underground really is. Choose it when you want active thermal ground over a single well-known eruption.

2.9 mi · 180 ft gain · 1.0 hr

The full 2.9-mile easy loop of Norris Geyser Basin, the park's highest-rated trail here, taking in both the open Porcelain Basin and the wooded Back Basin — the complete tour of the hottest, most changeable thermal area in Yellowstone. Do this version if you want to see all of Norris in one walk rather than picking a half; it's still easy walking despite covering the most ground. Best for travelers who'd rather absorb a whole basin than rush one corner.

1 mi · 108 ft gain · 24 min

A 1-mile easy loop through Porcelain Basin, the bright, bleached, nearly treeless half of Norris where milky mineral ground vents steam in every direction — the most otherworldly-looking thermal terrain in the park. It's short and flat enough for almost anyone, with an open, lunar feel the forested basins don't have. Pick this if you want maximum strangeness for minimal effort and don't need to walk all of Norris.

6.6 mi · 1,601 ft gain · 3.6 hr

A 6.6-mile moderate out-and-back with about 1,600 feet of steady climbing through forest to a summit view over the Madison and Gibbon river valleys — the most demanding trail in this group, and the one that actually gets you above the geyser country. The payoff is a wide overlook and quiet you won't find on the boardwalks. Choose this if you want a real climb and a summit, not a stroll; it's the workout option near Madison.

0.2 mi · 9 ft gain · 4 min

A 0.2-mile paved, fully accessible loop past a small group of hot springs near Madison — about as short and easy as a walk gets in the park. It's a quick, no-effort stop to see active thermal water up close, well suited to anyone with limited mobility, young kids, or just a few spare minutes. Treat it as a brief, pleasant pull-over rather than a hike.

3.2 mi · 101 ft gain · 1.0 hr

An easy 3.2-mile loop through the Upper Geyser Basin, which holds Old Faithful and the densest concentration of geysers in the world — the boardwalks here let you walk among dozens of active springs and geysers beyond the famous one everyone gathers for. The flat, stroller-friendly route makes it accessible to almost any visitor with the time to wander. Choose this when you want to see far more than Old Faithful's single eruption and explore the whole geyser field at your own pace.

4.9 mi · 357 ft gain · 1.8 hr

A 4.9-mile moderate loop that walks the Upper Geyser Basin and climbs to Observation Point, the perch that looks straight down on Old Faithful as it erupts — the rare angle where you watch the geyser from above rather than from the packed benches. The 357-foot climb is the price for getting above the crowd. Pick this over the flat basin loop if you want the elevated view of the eruption and a fuller tour of the world's densest geyser field in one outing.