Stan
Well-known member
After leaving the Lewis & Clark Trail in Montana, we spent a night in Yellowstone NP, our fifth trip into the park where we never cease to be amazed, especially at the sight of wildlife, usually an abundance of bison, elk, coyotes, and occasionally wolves. There are grizzlies but we’ve never seen them in Yellowstone. We stayed at Roosevelt Lodge in a rustic and inexpensive cabin. In addition to the geothermal sites at Monmouth and the ever awe inspiring Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, we did a couple comparatively short hikes.
Bunsen Peak
This is a 7 mile hike with 1300 ft. of elevation gain, much of it with clear vistas to snow capped mountains in all directions, the views courtesy of forest fires from decades ago. It is located in the northern part of the park near Monmouth.
View attachment 3137
From the summit one can retrace the route back or continue on and descend to the east where another trail loops back around the south of the mountain to the trailhead. This adds three miles to the hike. If you decide to go this way, check with a ranger on the condition of the trail and markings. A wrong turn could take you deep into some wild country.
View attachment 3138
This hike offers great rewards for only “moderate” effort and is a good way to acclimate to the altitude as it starts at 7,150 ft.
Elephant Back Mountain
This 3.6 mile loop is described as “moderately strenuous” in the park flyer of day hikes near Yellowstone Lake but it only climbs 800 feet. It offers excellent views of the Lake and the Absaroka Range to the east. For us it was a nice diversion as we made our way south through the Hayden Valley, which is usually teeming with bison, to Jackson.
Bunsen Peak
This is a 7 mile hike with 1300 ft. of elevation gain, much of it with clear vistas to snow capped mountains in all directions, the views courtesy of forest fires from decades ago. It is located in the northern part of the park near Monmouth.
View attachment 3137
From the summit one can retrace the route back or continue on and descend to the east where another trail loops back around the south of the mountain to the trailhead. This adds three miles to the hike. If you decide to go this way, check with a ranger on the condition of the trail and markings. A wrong turn could take you deep into some wild country.
View attachment 3138
This hike offers great rewards for only “moderate” effort and is a good way to acclimate to the altitude as it starts at 7,150 ft.
Elephant Back Mountain
This 3.6 mile loop is described as “moderately strenuous” in the park flyer of day hikes near Yellowstone Lake but it only climbs 800 feet. It offers excellent views of the Lake and the Absaroka Range to the east. For us it was a nice diversion as we made our way south through the Hayden Valley, which is usually teeming with bison, to Jackson.
