Yellowstone National Park, the nation's first national park, is breathtakingly beautiful and vast. One of the most memorable ways of seeing this famous park is on a hiking tour that includes Old Faithful, and a whole lot more. You'll get great exercise, too.
Park Service Tours
The National Park Service ranger-guided hikes add an informative facet to your hike. One very popular hike, which takes four-and-a-half to five hours, is the Shosone Lake Discovery hike. This backcountry hike takes you "straight into the wilderness of Yellowstone'' along DeLacy Creek to the shores of Shosone Lake, according to the park's website. The National Park Service lists all ranger-guided hikes on its website, ranging from short to day long.
The Lone Star Stroll, is an easy hike of four-and-a-half to five hours to the Lone Star Geyser. The Fairy Falls Frolic is a five-hour ramble to the 200-foot Fairy Falls, and the Gem of the Rockies is a six-hour hike along a dirt road to the heart of the park's Northern Range, where elk and other wildlife can be seen. All hikes are offered from June to September.
Trekking Tours
The Wildland Trekking Company offers backcountry hiking tours of several days' duration. Its Spring Trekking Adventure, for example, is a four-day, 25-mile backpacking tour of moderate difficulty offered from May to July. The Bechler River Traverse is a five-day, 34-mile trek that takes in the most spectacular natural elements of the park: geysers, waterfalls, hot springs and wildlife; tours are offered in July and August. The longest tour is the Thorofare Adventure Hike, a 50-mile, week-long, strenuous tour to see wildlife, lakes and rivers with one lay-over day included.
Small Tours
Many hikers like to leave civilization for a while, and that might include leaving big groups behind. The outdoor outfitter REI offers small-group hikes of Yellowstone, including the Black Canyon trip, accommodating four to 10 hikers. The hike takes in Bozeman, Montana, the Canyon Trailhead and the north and south shores of the Yellowstone River, as well as a day crossing the river. If you love lakes, REI offers the Gallatin Crest Traverse itinerary, which features High Lake, Shelf Lake and the North Fork of the Yellowstone River.
Safety and Seasons
Hiking, and driving, for that matter, are constricted by the harsh winters of Yellowstone. Starting in September, people in the park are reminded to keep an ear out for road closings because of bad weather. The high winds and early snows of the winter help keep Yellowstone wild and beautiful, but hikers need to be aware of quick-changing conditions in this captivating landscape.
Gear
Layers, layers, layers. REI offers a checklist of appropriate clothing and hiking gear on its Yellowstone hiking tours website, which is useful even if you're not outfitting yourself in REI gear. With temperatures and conditions changing rapidly at different elevations, water-wicking and wind-protection layers are called for; and, as your mother always tried to tell you, bring a hat.
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