Yellowstone National Park · Idaho, Montana, Wyoming

Lost Lake Trail

4.0 mi of trail, end to end · about 500 ft of climbing · 1,100 ft of descent · 6,302 ft–6,888 ft · earth surface · trail class Minimally Developed · hiking

6,677 ft 6,302 ft · 1.1 mi high 6,888 ft

Trailhead Lost Lake Trailhead 6,338 ft Drive there

Lost Lake Trail the Park Service's write-up

1-2 Hours · no dogs

Start Tower Junction

A small lake coverd in lily pads surrounded by a forest.
Photo: NPS / Addy Falgoust

This trail begins behind Roosevelt Lodge and climbs 300 feet (91 m) onto the bench. Here it joins the Roosevelt horse trail and continues west to Lost Lake. From Lost Lake the trail follows the contour around the hillside to the Petrified Tree parking area, crosses the parking lot and continues up the hill. It loops behind Tower Ranger Station, crosses the creek and returns to the lodge.

Safety notes: This area is home to many bears and bison, use caution when traveling. Trail frequented by horseback-riders. If you encounter horses, move to the downhill side of the trail and remain still until they have passed.

Trailheads: Starts behind Roosevelt Lodge or at the end of the Petrified Tree parking lot west of Tower Junction.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

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About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.