Ice Lake Trail
Norris, Yellowstone National Park
| GPS: |
44°43'0.5"N 110°38'1.7"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Wyoming |
Hike
This is a short trail leading to a pretty, tree-lined lake, across ground covered by a lattice of fallen pine trunks from the 1988 fires.
The entire trail went through areas burned by the fires of '88, which scorched about a third of Yellowstone. Many burned trees still stand, and underneath, new lodgepole pines are growing. Lodgepole pine trees rely on fire - their seeds are released from their cones by the heat of forest fires. The young lodgepole pines are thriving in this area and all over the park. Courtesy of adventuresinyellowstone.blogspot.com
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=9zpxis0diinBackcountry Conditions - Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
This page provides a map and details conditions of trail status, closures, and known hazards.
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/situationreport.htmIce Lake Trail, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Ice Lake Trail in Yellowstone NP - a short, easy path to a tree-lined lake close to the Gibbon River, across land recovering from the 1988 wildfires
https://www.americansouthwest.net/wyoming/yellowstone/ice-lake-trail.htmlBe courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read MoreDirections
From Norris, Yellowstone National Park
- Head southeast toward Norris Canyon Rd (0.2 mi)
- Turn right (0.3 mi)
- Continue onto Norris Canyon RdPartial toll roadParts of this road may be closed at certain times or daysDestination will be on the left(3.4 mi)
Start point for the Ice Lake hike is at a small layby along the Norris-Canyon road - 3.5 miles east of Norris Geyser Basin, and nearly opposite the far end of the one-way side road past Virginia Cascade.
Other Hiking Trails Nearby
Little Gibbon Falls
Norris, Yellowstone National Park
0.4 miles SEA 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 2.9 mi
Grebe Lake Trail
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park
4.1 miles EAn 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.
Hike
Beryl Spring / Emerald Spring
Norris, Yellowstone National Park
6.2 miles SWOne of Yellowstone's hottest thermal features, right off the Grand Loop Road — the water exceeds boiling point, making this a stunning roadside look-don't-touch volcanic wonder.
Hike 18.2 mi
Howard Eaton Trail
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park
6.5 miles EA 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 1.4-2.6 mi
Ribbon Lake Trail
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park
6.6 miles EA 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
Lower Falls of the Yellowstone
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park
6.7 miles EAt 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 2.4 mi
Cascade Lake Trail
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park
7.6 miles EAn 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
7.6 miles EA 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 9.0 mi
Seven Mile Hole Trail
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park
8.0 miles EA 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 3.4 mi
Dunraven Pass - Mount Washburn Trail
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park
10.0 miles NEA 6-mile Yellowstone hike via Dunraven Pass through quiet forests to the summit of Mount Washburn — a panoramic perch with bighorn sheep in summer and grizzlies near pine nuts in fall.
Hike 16.3 mi
Mount Washburn Spur Trail
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park
11.3 miles NEAn 8-mile descent from the peak of Mount Washburn through bighorn sheep country, wildflower meadows, and forests to Canyon Village — with sweeping Grand Canyon of Yellowstone views from the top.
Hike 4.4 mi
Chittenden Road - Mount Washburn Trail
Canyon Village, Yellowstone National Park
11.4 miles NEA steady, well-packed 5.8-mile out-and-back on the former Chittenden service road to Mount Washburn's summit, with bighorn sheep, wildflowers, and sweeping Yellowstone views at the top.
Hike
Mud Volcano
Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park
11.7 miles SEMud 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 6.1 mi
Purple Mountain Trail
Madison, Yellowstone National Park
11.9 miles SWA quiet 6-mile out-and-back through dense Yellowstone forest, climbing 1,500 feet to the peak of Purple Mountain for panoramic views of the Madison and Gibbon rivers.
Hike 0.8 mi
Harlequin Lake Trail
Madison, Yellowstone National Park
13.5 miles SWA half-mile stroll through peaceful pine forest leads to a lily-pad-covered lake frequented by Harlequin ducks and other waterfowl — quiet and uncrowded even in busy Yellowstone.
Hike
Sentinel Meadows & Queen's Laundry
Madison, Yellowstone National Park
14.3 miles SWAn easy Yellowstone hike through open meadows along the Firehole River to flaming red hot springs and the historic Queen's Laundry bath-house ruins from the 1800s.
Hike 0.8 mi
Wraith Falls Trail
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
15.6 miles NA less-than-a-mile family-friendly hike near Mammoth Hot Springs to the unique fan-shaped 79-foot Wraith Falls — open year-round and easy for all skill levels.
Hike 4.0 mi
Bunsen Peak Trail
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
15.6 miles NA moderately difficult 4.6-mile hike to Bunsen Peak with a 1,300-foot climb and sweeping views of Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces, Swan Lake Flats, and the Gallatin Mountains.
Hike 7.8 mi
Osprey Falls Trail
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
15.6 miles NAn 8-mile out-and-back near Mammoth Hot Springs hiking green meadows and burned forest to the rim of Sheepeater Canyon and a breathtaking 150-foot waterfall on the Gardner River.
Hike 2.8 mi
Elephant Back Mountain Trail
Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park
15.9 miles SEA 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.
HikeNearby Campsites
Little Gibbon Falls
Norris, Yellowstone National Park
0.4 miles SEA 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
Norris Campground
Norris, Yellowstone National Park
3.4 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
Canyon Campground
Canyon Junction, Yellowstone National Park
7.2 miles EA 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
Indian Creek Campground Yellowstone
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
12.4 miles NWIndian Creek Campground is a quiet, wooded, tent-friendly Yellowstone campground near Mammoth Hot Springs, big on wildlife and peace.
Camp
Madison Campground
Madison, Yellowstone National Park
12.5 miles SWA 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
Bridge Bay
Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park
15.9 miles SEA 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
Fishing Bridge RV Campground
Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park
16.8 miles SEAn 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
Tower Falls
Tower Junction, Yellowstone National Park
17.1 miles NETower Fall plunges 132 feet off Tower Creek in Yellowstone, framed by dramatic rock pinnacles — located about 3 miles south of Roosevelt Junction.
Camp, Hike 0.1-5.3 mi
Mammoth Hot Springs
Mammoth, Yellowstone National Park
18.1 miles NColorful 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
Mammoth Hot Springs Campground
Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
18.2 miles NThe 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
Hellroaring Creek Trail
Yellowstone National Park
18.8 miles NEA 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 14.8 mi
Biscuit Basin to Fairy Falls and Firehole Meadows
Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
21.6 miles SWA 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
Grant Village
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
22.6 miles SNamed 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
Slough Creek Campground
Tower Junction, Yellowstone National Park
22.6 miles NEA small, popular Yellowstone campground right on Slough Creek where wolf packs are frequently spotted — sites fill fast, so arrive early.
Camp 6.9 mi
Heart Lake Trail
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
27.7 miles SAn 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
Pebble Creek Campground
Northeast Entrance, Yellowstone National Park
29.0 miles NEA 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 0.1 mi
Lewis Lake Campground
Grant Village, Yellowstone National Park
30.0 miles SYellowstone'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
Big Springs
Island Park, Idaho
34.2 miles SWA Big Springs campground shaded by Lodgepole Pines on Henry's Fork — with a 1-mile interpretive trail, fish feeding under the bridge, the historic Johnny Sack Cabin, and access to the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway.
Camp, Hike
Upper Coffee Pot Campground
Island Park, Idaho
39.3 miles SWHenry's Fork of the Snake River winds through a lodgepole pine forest past this campground, offering fly-fishing for rainbow and brook trout and easy tubing and canoeing.
Camp, Canoe 0.9 mi
Buffalo River Campground
Island Park, Idaho
41.2 miles SWAn easy, clear, and often warm float on the Buffalo River near Island Park, with slow enough current to paddle back upstream in a canoe or kayak after your run.
Camp, Canoe, Kayak, Swim