The Best Easy Hikes in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is an exciting place full of colorful hot pools, abundant wildlife, and stunning forests. Hiking is a special way to experience the magic of this national park, and this article is here to help you find the best easy hikes in Yellowstone!

No matter your age, ability, or skill level, there is a fabulous hike in Yellowstone for you. The best easy hikes in Yellowstone are Mystic Falls, Storm Point, Trout Lake, Brink of the Lower Falls, and the Grand Prismatic Overlook.

My name is Ash, and I’m a former park ranger. I think that this park is best seen from the trail, which is why I’m so excited to share the best easy hikes in Yellowstone with you. Let’s talk about your hiking options!

---

What are the Best Easy Hikes in Yellowstone?

Yellowstone has many easy hiking options, and each one provides a unique experience to see the gorgeous views and geysers that the park is famous for.

This list of the five best easy hikes in Yellowstone includes trails that are more like traditional hiking — trails where you’ll get some dirt in your shoes! This park has a lot of “boardwalk trails”, or wooden trails that travel over the fragile thermal areas. These boardwalks are typically short and easy trails, but they are not included in my main trail recommendations because they’re more like walks versus hikes (however, you will find a few listed as alternatives in the list below).

If a trail is less than three miles, doesn’t gain more than 300 feet of elevation, and is somewhere I take my own small children, it’s included in this list of the best easy hiking trails in Yellowstone.

Mystic Falls

The trail to Mystic Falls is extremely varied and exciting for hikers of all ages! You’ll start by walking along the boardwalks that travel through Biscuit Basin, which has brightly colored hot pools and several small geysers.

After passing through Biscuit Basin, the trail to Mystic Falls veers off into the forest. At this point, you’ll follow a dirt path along a charming creek. Be on the lookout for wildlife as you hike through the trees! After a short distance, the views open up to the powerful 70-foot Mystic Falls.

Mystic Falls Trail Information

Distance: 2.4 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 150 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: No
Pets Allowed: No

When you start walking through Biscuit Basin, keep left when the trail forks and follow the boardwalk to the top of the loop. You should see the Mystic Falls Trail at that point.

There are several places where the trail branches off, so I suggest hiking with a map so you can easily find your way. When you reach Mystic Falls, you’ll notice that the trail continues to switchback up the mountain. If you follow this trail beyond the falls, you’ll hike an extra 1.5 miles and gain 500 feet more of elevation, but it does loop back around to Biscuit Basin.

After enjoying the spray of Mystic Falls, turn around and return the way you came. I suggest taking a left when you reach the Biscuit Basin boardwalk to explore the parts you missed at the beginning of your hike.

{ALTERNATIVE} Other easy hikes in the area include the Geyser Hill Loop, Observation Point, and Black Sand Basin.

Location

The Mystic Falls Trail begins at the Biscuit Basin Trailhead, located about 3 miles north of Old Faithful.

Storm Point

The Storm Point Trail cuts through some of Yellowstone’s best bear habitat to reach the shores of Yellowstone Lake. If you enjoy the feeling of discovering a place that seems untouched, you’ll love the wild, raw, and peaceful scenery of this trail.

This hike is perfect for anyone who loves a quiet walk in the forest. There are lots of good opportunities to spot wildlife as you hike through the meadows and trees. Get ready for a surprising landscape when you reach the lakeshore!

Storm Point Trail Information

Distance: 2.3 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 95 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: Yes
Pets Allowed: No

This trail begins by skirting the edge of Indian Pond as you walk through the beautiful meadows. This a great place to keep an eye out for buffalo. You’ll then enter the trees as you make your way to the shores of Yellowstone Lake.

Storm Point is an outcropping of land along the lakeshore — it gets windy out here! But the biggest surprise is the rocky cliffs that get battered by the waves. It’s reminiscent of the rocky beaches of Acadia or Olympic National Parks.

Yellow-bellied marmots love Storm Point. If you’re lucky, you’ll see them sunning themselves on the rocks near the trail. After spending some time at Storm Point, continue on the trail as it loops into the trees and back to the trailhead.

The Storm Point Trail is typically closed in the Spring and early Summer due to bear activity in the area. I always recommend hiking with bear spray while in Yellowstone National Park.

{ALTERNATIVE} Other easy hikes in the area include Pelican Creek, Natural Bridge, and Mud Volcano.

Location

The Storm Point Trailhead is located 2.5 miles east of Fishing Bridge.

Trout Lake

After a day of looking for wildlife in the Lamar Valley, you’ll come across this small trailhead where your adventure can continue as you hike. Trout Lake is one of the best easy hikes in Yellowstone because it’s short, and it provides picturesque views and ample opportunities to see wildlife.

Trout Lake Trail Information

Distance: 1.2 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 200 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: No
Pets Allowed: No

The trail begins by climbing up and over a hill. As you go up the hill, you may be thinking that this is not an easy trail, but the elevation gain is only for a short time. To keep your mind engaged elsewhere, try to spot the massive Douglas Fir trees as you climb up the hill.

When you reach the top of the hill, you’ll then have a downhill hike to the lake, and then it flattens out as you hike around it. Look for trout and otters in the water, and bears or buffalo on the surrounding hillsides.

{ALTERNATIVE} Other easy hikes in the area include the Lamar River Trail, Wraith Falls, and the Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces.

Location

Trout Lake is located in the Lamar Valley, approximately 18 miles east of Tower-Roosevelt.

Brink of the Lower Falls

The 308-foot Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River is perhaps the most famous waterfall in the entire park, and this trail takes you right to the top of it. Hearing the thunderous roar and feeling the spray of the river as it tumbles down the cliffs is a unique experience!

Brink of the Lower Falls Trail Information

Distance: 0.8 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 250 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: Yes
Pets Allowed: No

This trail is the most challenging hike on this list. You’ll dip 250 feet below the canyon rim to reach the top of the falls, and then you’ll have to switchback your way back up the hill when you’re done. Going back up can be a challenge, but the trail is short, and benches are provided so you can take your time hiking out.

Be sure to stop at Artist Point while you’re in the area so that you can get a grand overview of the waterfall you hiked to the top of!

If this trail sounds too challenging, try the Brink of the Upper Falls instead. This waterfall is shorter than the Lower Falls, but you can stand at the top of it with very little effort.

{ALTERNATIVE} Other easy hikes in the area include the North Rim Trail, the South Rim Trail, and the trail to Lily Lake. The Uncle Tom’s Trail and the Red Rock Point Trail are both short trails that provide fabulous views of the Lower Falls, but they do gain a fair amount of elevation, like the Brink of the Lower Falls Trail.

Location

The Brink of the Lower Falls Trail is located along the North Rim Drive near Canyon Village.

Grand Prismatic Overlook

The Grand Prismatic Spring contains the most spectacular display of colors in Yellowstone! This massive sun-shaped spring has “rays” that paint the colors of the rainbow on the desolate ground. This overlook trail takes you above Grand Prismatic so that you can get a birds-eye view of its beauty.

Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail Information

Distance: 1.2 miles roundtrip
Elevation: 105 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Restrooms: No
Pets Allowed: No

This trail does not begin at the boardwalk that travels around Grand Prismatic, it begins at the Fairy Falls Trailhead just down the road. The first part of the trail is completely flat as it follows the beautiful Firehole River. Sometimes I see elk in this area near the water!

After about 0.6 miles, you’ll take a left to start hiking up the hill. You’ll find a nice overlook along the hillside where you can admire Grand Prismatic for as long as you like. Return the same way you came.

{ALTERNATIVE} Other easy hikes in the area include the boardwalks at the Midway Geyser Basin and the Lower Geyser Basin.

Location

The Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail is located at the Fairy Falls Trailhead, about 6 miles north of Old Faithful.

What are the Best Wheelchair-Friendly Trails in Yellowstone?

Yellowstone has quite a few wheelchair-friendly trails! You can find more specific and detailed information on the park’s website, but here are my picks for the top trails with the best views or most interesting features.

Mud Volcano Lower Loop — this thermal area is one of the most active (and smelly) areas of Yellowstone, which means it’s one of the most fun places to be!

Ice Lake — this trail is about 1-mile roundtrip and travels to the shores of Ice Lake. There’s a wheelchair-accessible backcountry campsite here if you’re looking for a little extra adventure.

North Rim Trail — this trail travels between the viewpoints along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The section between Lookout Point and Grandview Point is wheelchair accessible.

Upper Mammoth Terrace — take the boardwalk from the parking area to Canary Spring for nice views of the Mammoth Terraces. Some of the Lower Terrace boardwalks are also wheelchair-accessible.

Porcelain Basin — this boardwalk travels through the colorful area of the Norris Geyser Basin. Some assistance may be needed on the steeper portions of the boardwalk.

Morning Glory Pool — you’ll find a paved pathway from Old Faithful down to the Morning Glory Pool. You’ll pass by Castle Geyser, Daisy Geyser, and Riverside Geyser along the way.

West Thumb Upper Loop — the West Thumb Geyser Basin is unique because of its location right along the shores of Yellowstone Lake. The upper loop is wheelchair-friendly, and you may be able to explore the lower loop with assistance.

Yellowstone Hiking Regulations

To protect this beautiful place and leave it better than you found it, please follow these regulations:

• Don’t take anything. Rocks, flowers, sticks, antlers, etc., must stay in the national park. If you find something cool, take a picture of it, but please don’t remove it.

• Stay on the trail. Please don’t make your own trail or follow trails that other people have made. The ground at Yellowstone can be very unstable, and leaving the trails and boardwalks can lead to injury or death.

• Don’t feed the wildlife. These animals need to be able to find food on their own in order to survive the harsh winters. They often become aggressive and transmit diseases to humans if fed.

• Don’t throw anything into the thermal areas. This can change the composition, colors, and temperature of the hot pools so that they are never the same again.

• Pets are not allowed on any park trails or boardwalks. See where you can take your pets if you bring them to the park.

What are the Best Longer Day Hikes in Yellowstone?

If you’re able to hike longer distances and are feeling extra adventurous, Yellowstone has many phenomenal longer trails that travel to places most people never see. These trails are definitely not easy, but if you’re looking for a challenge, consider hiking to Mount Washburn, Avalanche Peak, Fairy Falls, or along the Lamar River Trail.

Mount Washburn

The hike to the top of Mount Washburn is the park’s best-known longer dayhike. You won’t have this trail to yourself, but you’ll enjoy the dramatic views of the surrounding mountains.

Avalanche Peak

Avalanche Peak is a challenging hike with big rewards. It’s not as well-known as Mount Washburn, so you’ll enjoy a quieter experience with even better views!

Fairy Falls

This waterfall hike is actually quite flat and easy if you don’t mind a little mileage. After seeing the falls, continue on to Spray and Imperial Geysers for an extra dose of fun.

Lamar River Trail

If hiking near the bison that live in the Lamar Valley sounds like an adventure, you’ll love this trail. It follows the Lamar River through the most wildlife-rich area of Yellowstone.

This park has so many magnificent hikes to accomplish. I hope you enjoy these easy trails in Yellowstone National Park — happy hiking!

This post may contain affiliate links. Dirt In My Shoes gets paid a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you purchase from these links. Thanks for your support!