Yellowstone National Park · Idaho, Montana, Wyoming

Observation Peak Trail

2.5 mi of trail, end to end · about 1,400 ft of climbing · 8,006 ft–9,403 ft · earth surface · trail class Minimally Developed · hiking

PeaksBackcountry camps

8,084 ft 9,252 ft · 2.0 mi high 9,252 ft

Along the way 4E3 4P1 Observation Peak

Observation Peak Trail the Park Service's write-up

5-6 Hours · no dogs · Summer, Fall

Start Canyon Village

A hiker approaches a fire lookout on top of a mountain.
Photo: NPS / Addy Falgoust

Hike to a high mountain peak for an outstanding view of the Yellowstone wilderness. Trail passes through open meadows to Cascade Lake where wildflowers abound and wildlife is often seen. Beyond the lake, the trail climbs 1,400 feet in 2.6 miles through whitebark pine forest.

Safety notes: The trail can be wet and snowy through July. Observation Peak trail is not recommended for persons with heart and/or respiratory problems. Past Cascade Lake, no water is available.

Trailheads: Cascade Lake trailhead 1-¼ miles (2 km) north of Canyon Junction on the Grand Loop Road.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 473 trails in Yellowstone National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

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.