Avalanche Peak Trail
Cody, Wyoming
| Address: | Avalanche Peak, Wyoming 82190, USA |
| GPS: |
44°28'17.0"N 110°8'42.6"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Wyoming |
| Trails/Routes: | 3.3 mi |
Trails Ponds National Park Pet Friendly
Hike
Avalanche Peak Trail is a 4 mile trail to the peak of Avalanche Mountain. This is considered difficult because hikers will climb 2,100 feet in 2 miles. It is recommended that hikers bring trekking poles to help with the difficulty of the climbs. There are narrow ridges along the hike that must be carefully traversed. However, for experienced hikers, the views available are well worth the difficulty of this hike.
Hikers who reach the peak of the mountain will be treated to views of some of Yellowstone's tallest, most remote alpine peaks. Hikers also often encounter wildlife along this trail. Grizzly bears can be frequently seen on this trail, especially in fall months when they are drawn to the area by the whitebark pine nuts. It is not recommended that hikers take this trail in September and October, due to bear activity.
Avalanche Peak Trail is only open during summer and fall months. Snow often lingers until July. Hikers should be prepared for colder temperatures and rain as the elevation increases.
Hikers can park at a pullout by Eleanore Lake, 8 miles west of the East Entrance, and find the trailhead across the road from the pullout.
Avalanche Peak Trail is a challenging hike that is perfect for experienced hikers looking for an adventure in Yellowstone.
More Information
Yellowstone National Park Itinerary
This Yellowstone National Park Itinerary will help you get started as you plan your vacation to Yellowstone National Park.
https://www.justgotravelstudios.com/collections/national-park-itineraries/products/yellowstone-national-park-itinerary?ref=9zpxis0diinAvalanche Peak Trail (U.S. National Park Service)
Across the road from the parking area and to the right of the creek, the trail enters the forest and begins its steep ascent—2,100 feet in 2.1 miles (3.3 km). In just over a mile, it arrives at the base of the large bowl of Avalanche Peak, then continues to the left and switches back over large talus slopes to an open level area below the summit. Follow the established trail up to the narrow ridgeline and cross it with extreme caution. Those who make this arduous hike will be rewarded with stunning views of some of the park’s tallest and most remote alpine peaks. Return by the same route.
https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/yell-trail-avalanche-peak.htmYellowstone Guided Backpacking & Day Hiking Trips
Yellowstone Guided Backpacking Adventures! All-Inclusive Tours. Join our friendly and knowledgeable guides on a journey through this one-of-a-kind ecosystem.
https://www.trailguidesyellowstone.com/Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read MoreDirections
From Cody, Wyoming
- Head south on 16th St toward Sheridan Ave (85 ft)
- Turn right at the 1st cross street onto Sheridan Ave (0.7 mi)
- Continue onto 8th St (0.5 mi)
- Continue onto US-14 W/US-16 W/Hwy 20 W/Yellowstone AveContinue to follow US-14 W/US-16 W/Hwy 20 WParts of this road may be closed at certain times or daysDestination will be on the right(58.6 mi)
Other Hiking Trails Nearby
Storm Point Trail
Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park
10.8 miles NWAn easy 2.3-mile family hike along the shores of Yellowstone Lake and Indian Pond to a rocky, windy overlook — open in summer and fall, closed in winter and during high bear activity.
Hike 7.4 mi
Pelican Valley Trail
Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park
10.8 miles NWA flat, easy 6.2-mile hike through forest, over bridges, and into Pelican Valley's marshy winding creek — some of the best grizzly bear country in Yellowstone, open July 4 through fall, daylight hours only.
Hike 0.6 mi
Pelican Creek Nature Trail
Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park
12.4 miles NWA short 0.6-mile loop past streams, forest, and the vast expanse of Yellowstone Lake — spot pelicans, grebes, and teals on this family-friendly walk.
Hike 2.8 mi
Elephant Back Mountain Trail
Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park
13.9 miles NWA 3-mile loop trail climbing 800 feet to a stunning overlook of Yellowstone Lake near Lake Village — a moderate hike open in summer and fall.
Hike 2.3 mi
Natural Bridge Trail
Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park
14.9 miles WAn easy 2-mile trail through forests and meadows to a bridge carved by a creek wearing through rhyolite — best views come from hiking around to the back of the arch.
Hike, Mountain Bike
Mud Volcano
Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park
17.7 miles NWMud Volcano is one of Yellowstone National Park's most fascinating — and most pungent — hydrothermal areas, tucked along the Grand Loop Road in the Hayden Valley region between...
Hike 0.4 mi
West Thumb Geyser Basin
Grant Visitor's Center, Yellowstone National Park
21.5 miles WBoardwalks trace the edge of Yellowstone Lake at the scenic West Thumb Geyser Basin — hot springs, mud pots, fumaroles, lake shore geysers, and underwater vents in one compact visit.
Hike 1.4 mi
Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
21.5 miles WAn easy 1.7-mile loop from the West Thumb Geyser Basin parking lot with a rewarding overlook of Yellowstone Lake — a great beginner hike open in summer and fall.
Hike
Lake Overlook
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
21.6 miles WA 1.7-mile escape from the West Thumb crowds, leading through forest to a mountain-top meadow overlook of West Geyser and Yellowstone Lake.
Hike 0.5 mi
Duck Lake
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
21.6 miles WA short 0.8-mile hike through lodgepole pine in Yellowstone near West Thumb, revealing the fire history of 1988 and a quiet, calm lake with a sandy beach feel.
Hike 4.9 mi
Riddle Lake Hike
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
22.9 miles WAn easy 5-mile round trip through pine forest and meadows to a sandy-beached lake in Yellowstone — bear scratch marks on tree trunks remind you this area is active grizzly habitat.
Hike 1.4-2.6 mi
Ribbon Lake Trail
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park
23.9 miles NWA gentle 6-mile trail through Yellowstone meadows past Clear Lake's thermal blue-green waters, lily-padded Ribbon Lake, and Grand Canyon overlooks — with bison and bears en route.
Hike 9.0 mi
Seven Mile Hole Trail
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park
23.9 miles NWA challenging 10-mile hike along the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone rim, then a 1,000-foot descent into the canyon for up-close Yellowstone River views and active hot spring sightings.
Hike
Lower Falls of the Yellowstone
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park
24.4 miles NWAt 308 feet, the tallest waterfall in Yellowstone National Park towers over the iconic yellow canyon walls — taller than Niagara Falls, with multiple viewpoints and trails accessible even in winter.
Hike 2.1-11.5 mi
Lewis River Channel / Dogshead Loop
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
24.8 miles SWA serene hike along Lewis Channel to Shoshone Lake — the largest lake in the continental US without a road to it — with Teton views, driftwood shores, osprey, bald eagles, and ravens.
Canoe, Hike, Kayak 6.9 mi
Heart Lake Trail
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
24.8 miles SWAn 8-mile moderate hike to a remote backcountry lake with blue thermal pools, fumaroles, Rustic Geyser, and remarkable fishing for native cutthroat, mountain whitefish, and Arctic grayling.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Hot Springs 18.2 mi
Howard Eaton Trail
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park
25.3 miles NWA 10-mile Yellowstone trail passing Cascade Lake, Grebe Lake, and Wolf Lake through forests and meadows — fish any of the lakes with a valid permit, or hike the full 20-mile out-and-back.
Hike 2.4 mi
Cascade Lake Trail
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park
25.6 miles NWAn easy, well-marked 4.5-mile out-and-back hike through meadows and forest to Cascade Lake near Canyon Village, with wildflowers in summer and frequent wildlife sightings year-round.
Hike 7.6 mi
Observation Peak Trail
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park
25.6 miles NWA nearly 10-mile Yellowstone hike that eases through meadows and past beautiful Cascade Lake before a strenuous 1,400-foot climb to a spectacular panoramic peak.
Hike 2.9 mi
Grebe Lake Trail
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park
26.2 miles NWAn easy 6-mile Yellowstone round trip on a converted fire road to Grebe Lake — with elk, wildflowers, burned forest regeneration, and fishing allowed on the lake at trail's end.
HikeNearby Campsites
Fishing Bridge RV Campground
Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park
12.8 miles NWAn RV campground near the mouth of the Yellowstone River where visitors can watch White Pelicans, waterfowl, and trout from the historic Fishing Bridge — fishing from the bridge is no longer permitted.
Camp
Bridge Bay
Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park
15.0 miles WA scenic campground on the western shore of Yellowstone Lake at 7,800 feet — wooded upper loops, open meadows, and a nearby marina store, though far from the park's main dining hubs.
Camp
Grant Village
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
21.3 miles WNamed for President Grant near Yellowstone Lake's West Thumb, this village has lakeside dining, a geyser basin next door, campfire ranger programs, and tree-lined campsites steps from the water.
Camp, Canoe, Kayak 6.9 mi
Heart Lake Trail
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
24.8 miles SWAn 8-mile moderate hike to a remote backcountry lake with blue thermal pools, fumaroles, Rustic Geyser, and remarkable fishing for native cutthroat, mountain whitefish, and Arctic grayling.
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Hot Springs
Canyon Campground
Canyon Junction, Yellowstone National Park
24.9 miles NWA popular Yellowstone campground of 300-plus sites just minutes from the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the Upper and Lower Falls, with hiking trails and North Rim Drive access right from camp.
Camp 0.1 mi
Lewis Lake Campground
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
27.2 miles SWYellowstone's third-largest lake draws canoeists, kayakers, and serious anglers, with a quiet campground open mid-June through early November on a first-come basis.
Camp, Canoe, Kayak 0.8-3.8 mi
Little Gibbon Falls
Norris, Yellowstone National Park
28.9 miles NWA family-friendly 4.5-mile Yellowstone loop reaches fishing and swimming spots along Gibbon Creek, with kid-safe trail, canoeing options, and bearspray-worthy backcountry feel.
Camp, Canoe, Hike
Pebble Creek Campground
Northeast Entrance, Yellowstone National Park
30.9 miles NA quiet campground tucked in Yellowstone's far northeast corner near Trout Lake and world-class Lamar and Soda Butte trout rivers — arrive before 11 a.m. to secure a spot.
Camp
Tower Falls
Tower Junction, Yellowstone National Park
31.4 miles NTower Fall plunges 132 feet off Tower Creek in Yellowstone, framed by dramatic rock pinnacles — located about 3 miles south of Roosevelt Junction.
Camp, Hike
Norris Campground
Norris, Yellowstone National Park
32.7 miles NWCentrally located in Yellowstone NP, this campground puts you within a short drive of Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Hayden Valley, Old Faithful, and Yellowstone Lake.
Camp
Slough Creek Campground
Tower Junction, Yellowstone National Park
33.9 miles NA small, popular Yellowstone campground right on Slough Creek where wolf packs are frequently spotted — sites fill fast, so arrive early.
Camp
Hellroaring Creek Trail
Yellowstone National Park
36.0 miles NWA suspension bridge over the Yellowstone River leads to sandy creek-side beaches and a mild backcountry trail past Yellowstone's largest granite slab — great for all ages.
Camp, Hike, Swim
Madison Campground
Madison, Yellowstone National Park
37.4 miles WA partly wooded riverside campground at 6,800 feet in Yellowstone, close to Old Faithful and the geyser basins, with great fishing on the Madison River and 270-plus individual sites.
Camp 14.8 mi
Biscuit Basin to Fairy Falls and Firehole Meadows
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
38.6 miles WA nearly 15-mile backcountry hike starting at Biscuit Basin passes turquoise pools, a 70-foot waterfall, Firehole Meadows, Imperial Geyser, and three stunning blue lakes with rust-red shores.
Backpack, Camp, Hike
Indian Creek Campground Yellowstone
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
40.4 miles NWIndian Creek Campground is a quiet, wooded, tent-friendly Yellowstone campground near Mammoth Hot Springs, big on wildlife and peace.
Camp
Mammoth Hot Springs Campground
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
44.0 miles NWThe only year-round campground in Yellowstone, with 85 first-come sites at 5 miles from the North Entrance, walking distance to the famous Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces and nearby hiking and fishing.
Camp 0.1-5.3 mi
Mammoth Hot Springs
Mammoth, Yellowstone National Park
44.2 miles NWColorful limestone terraces covered in glistening hot-spring water, a 1-mile boardwalk with 300 feet of elevation, elk in the parking lot, and an easy family-friendly loop — Yellowstone's showiest geology.
Camp, Hike
Loon Lake
Ashton, Idaho
47.0 miles SWCamp, Kayak, and Swim near Ashton, Idaho
Camp, Kayak, Swim
Cave Falls of Yellowstone
Ashton, Idaho
48.0 miles SWA campground right on the Fall River along Yellowstone's south boundary puts you steps from legendary fishing, with fire rings and bear-proof boxes at each site.
Camp, Hike