Enjoy your hike safely and protect the park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Keep your distance. You must stay at Filter drinking water with a Do not disturb or remove any natural, Day Hike Sampler ö least 100 yards (91 m) from bears and 7 commercial filter, treat it with a n archeological or historical features, Yellowstone National Park wolves. You must be 25 yards (23 m) from chemical such as iodine or chlorine, or boil it such as flowers, arrowheads, or cultural bison, elk, and other animals. Regardless at least one minute. Never drink water from artifacts. of distance, if any wild animal changes its a thermal area or hot spring. behavior due to your presence, you are too Do not shortcut across switchbacks close. Pets are not allowed on any trail 1 on steep slopes. It causes erosion and ` or any portion of the backcountry. may be dangerous for hikers below you. Pack out all trash. You must keep all Service animals are allowed only by permit. U of your food, trash, and scented items Possession and use of any weapons, secure unless in immediate use. Do not leave Except for some wheelchairs, $ nets, or traps are prohibited in your pack unattended. ô wheeled vehicles are prohibited in the the backcountry. Firearms are allowed backcountry. Bicycles are allowed only on in national parks pursuant to state and Sanitation matters. Do not wash designated trails. federal regulation. Discharge of firearms is m yourself, clothing, or dishes in lakes, prohibited. They are prohibited in facilities ponds, rivers, or streams. Bury human waste Campfires are allowed only in where signs are posted, such as visitor six to eight inches (15–20 cm) below ground , designated grills in campgrounds, centers, government offices, and some and a minimum of 200 feet (60 m) from some picnic areas and specific backcountry concession operations. water. Dispose of wastewater at least 200 campsites. Liquid or gas fuel stoves or self- feet (60 m) from water or campsites. contained charcoal grills may be used for cooking at all picnic areas. nps / P Safety in Bear Country EACO On average, bears injure Bear spray is Exploring the Bunsen Peak Trail near Mammoth Hot Springs one person each year within proven to be Yellowstone National Park. highly successful at Experience more of Hiking in bear country takes stopping aggressive appropriate preparation. Yellowstone North Entrance Northeast behavior in bears. Entrance Before you set out, be sure to 13 More than 900 miles of hiking trails criss- Mammoth learn what to do if you ever encounter a Bear spray is sold at gift Hot Springs 18 cross Yellowstone. You can explore one to 16 17 bear unexpectedly. shops, outdoor stores, 14 19 seven of those miles with these suggested 15 Tower– Pebble Creek and bookstores inside the • BE ALERT for bears, Roosevelt Campground day hikes, numbered here by location and Slough Remember to check at local visitor park, as well as in many Creek watch for tracks sign, described briefly inside. Campground centers or ranger stations for recent stores in the surrounding 12 bear activity before hiking, and respect or scat. communities. Overnight trips require a permit, available all bear management closure areas. 11 • MAKE NOise in areas at a backcountry office. Day hiking does Bears and other wildlife will protect Once discharged, bear spray should not Norris Canyon Village not require a permit. a food source aggressively. Bears with be reused. Bear spray canisters can be with limited visibility. 10 21 20 cubs are especially dangerous. dropped off for recycling at most hotels For your safety— West Entrance and stores, or any visitor center or • CARRY beaR spRay • Check at a visitor center or ranger Madison If you have a surprise ranger station. Fishing & know how to use it. station for updates on trail conditions 7 Bridge 8 encounter with a bear— and area closures. Lake Village 1 9 • DO NOT RUN. Back away slowly. Do If a bear charges at you: • AVOID hiKinG Bridge Bay East • Tell someone about your hiking plans, Entrance not drop your pack. • Remove the safety clip. ALONE—hike with including your destination, route, and • Aim slightly downward and adjust for 2 Old Faithful Yellowstone • If a bear charges you, stand your three or more people. estimated time of return. Lake ground. Use your bear spray. crosswind. 4 • Stay on designated trails in hydrothermal 3 West Thumb 5 Grant Village • If a bear charges and makes contact • Begin spraying when the charging Shoshone • DO NOT RUN. areas. Thin crust can plunge you into Lake with you, fall onto your stomach and bear is 30–60 feet (10–20 yards) away. boiling water. 6 “play dead.” Lewis • Spray at the charging bear so that the • Stay alert in burned areas. Wind may Lake • If a bear persistently stalks you, then bear must pass through a cloud of Yellowstone National Park topple standing dead trees. attacks—fight back. spray. P.O. Box 168 Yellowstone NP, WY 82190 • Plan your hike for enjoyment. Allow • If a bear attacks you in your tent— If the bear continues to charge: PH: 307 344-7381 yourself plenty of time to appreciate the fight back. • Spray into the bear’s face. www.nps.gov/yell park’s views and natural wonders. South Entrance YELL 242 • 05/2013 EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA TM ç Old Faithful Lake and the Absaroka Mountains. This trail is mostly level, Cascade Lake • Round trip 5 miles (8 km), easy. with a moderately strenuous 400 foot (121 m) elevation gain Choose from two trailheads for this easy hike: ç Tower-Roosevelt near the overlook. Caution: hydrothermal area − Stay on 11 Fairy Falls • Round trip 5 or 7 miles, 8 or 11.2 km, easy. Round trip 4.0 miles (6.4 km), • Cascade Lake Trailhead, 1.25 miles (2 km) north of Canyon Lost Lake Loop • Fairy Falls, 200 feet (61 m) high, is one of Yellowstone’s designated trail and abide by detour signs at all times. 1 Junction on the Grand Loop Road 16 moderate. The trail starts behind Roosevelt Lodge most spectacular waterfalls. Choose from two routes: Round trip 5 miles (8 km), easy. and climbs 300 feet up a forested hillside. At the junction, Riddle Lake • • Cascade Creek Trailhead, 0.25 miles (0.4 km) west of veer right (west). You reach Lost Lake in 0.2 miles (0.3 km). • Shorter route: Park 1.0 mi (1.5 km) south of Midway 6 The trailhead is about 3.0 miles (5 km) south of Grant Canyon Junction on the Canyon–Norris Road From there, follow the trail through a ravine to the Petrified Geyser Basin, cross steel bridge, walk 1.0 mi (1.5 km) to the Village junction, just south of the Continental Divide sign. The Cascade Lake Trail joins the Cascade Creek Trail after trailhead. This fairly level trail crosses the Continental Divide and runs Tree parking area. From the parking lot, the trail climbs to a 1.2 miles. if you begin on this trail, remember to bear left on sagebrush meadow, descends to the Tower Ranger Station • Longer route: Park at the end of Fountain Flat Drive and through forest and marshy meadows to the shores of a pictur- your return trip. Either way, you will hike through forest and area, and then 0.2 miles (0.3 km) to Roosevelt Lodge. If you walk 1.75 mi (2.8 km) to the trailhead. esque little lake. Bear management area: Trail usually opens July 15. meadow to a pretty lake. encounter horses, move to the downhill side of the trail and From the trailhead, walk 1.6 miles (2.6 km) through a young remain still until they have passed. Opening may be later if trumpeter swans are nesting on the Mount Washburn • Round trip from Dunraven lodgepole pine forest to the falls. You can continue 0.6 miles lake. (0.97 km) to Spray and Imperial geysers. This adds 1.2 miles 12 Pass 6.2 miles (5 km), from Chittenden parking area Yellowstone River Picnic Area • Round trip (1.9 km) to the hike. 5 miles (4 km), strenuous. From an elevation of 10,243 feet 17 3.7 miles (5.9 km), moderate. Begin at the Yellowstone Bear management area: Trail opens in late May. ç Fishing Bridge/Lake Village (3,107 m), Mount Washburn offers panoramic views of about River Picnic area, 1.25 miles (2 km) northeast of Tower Junc- 20 to 50 miles (32 to 80 km) in all directions. During July, tion on the Northeast Entrance Road. The trail climbs steeply Mystic Falls • Round trip 2.5 miles (4 km), moderately Elephant Back Mountain • Round trip 3.6 miles wildflowers carpet the slopes. Look for bighorn sheep. The to the east rim of the Narrows of the Yellowstone River and 2 strenuous. The trail begins at the west end of the Biscuit 7 (5.8 km), moderately strenuous. Starting at a pullout southern trail starts at the Dunraven Pass Trailhead and the then follows the rim. Return the same way or make a loop Basin boardwalk near Avoca Spring about 2.0 miles/3.2 km 1.0 mile (1.5 km) south of Fishing Bridge junction, this trail northern trail starts at the Chittenden Road parking area. by continuing to the next trail junction, where you need to north of Old Faithful. (You can also begin 0.25 miles/0.4 climbs 1.0 mile (1.5 km) through a lodgepole pine forest be- Both climb steadily about 1,400 feet (425 m).