Family-Friendly Hikes in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone is a stunningly beautiful place to visit, but it’s not always the easiest for families. This post will give you some ideas of hikes that are great for your family so that you can have an awesome time in Yellowstone National Park!

Grand Prismatic Spring

The Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the United States and the third largest in the world. It’s located in Yellowstone National Park and is easy to access from all over, with a short walk from an easily accessible parking lot. This makes it a great place to see wildlife and enjoy some incredible views of nature!

Old Faithful

Old Faithful is a geyser in Yellowstone National Park. It is the most popular attraction in the park and erupts every 90 minutes or so. While you can see Old Faithful from many different vantage points, hiking to it offers a unique experience that allows you to get closer than most other visitors.

The trail is paved and wheelchair accessible for those who cannot walk on uneven terrain or steep grades. However, it has some steep inclines and boardwalks over wet areas (like mud).

Dunraven Pass

Dunraven Pass is one of the most popular hikes in Yellowstone National Park. It’s only about 5 miles roundtrip, but it does have some elevation gain and can take up to 2 hours to reach the top if you’re not in shape. The trail winds through a forested canyon before opening up into meadows and alpine tundra as you climb higher.

There are two ways to access Dunraven Pass: either from Dunraven Lake Trailhead off of Mammoth Hot Springs Road or from Windy Point Trailhead on Bear Lake Road (which requires driving down another 3 miles).

If you choose the first option, there’s no need to park at both – just drive up until signs indicate where parking is allowed along the road (usually within 1/2 mile). For those going with option two, know that there will be plenty more traffic coming down than going up, so watch out for cars!

Dunraven Pass offers stunning views across Yellowstone National Park towards Mount Holmes and other peaks in the Absaroka Range. However, these aren’t always visible due to weather conditions like fog or clouds rolling in during summer.

Artist Point (in Yellowstone)

Artist Point is a great hike to take with your family. It’s short, easy, and will give you a beautiful view of Yellowstone Falls. You can see both the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River and Lower Falls from here and Upper Falls (if it’s running).

Before reaching it, you must take this trail down from the Artist Point parking lot. However, it won’t take much time, and there are plenty of signs along the way to guide you if needed!

Midway Geyser Basin (in Yellowstone)

Not far from the favorite campground of our friends from Traveling Sapiens, the Madison Campground is Midway Geyser Basin. It is a great place to spend an afternoon with your family. You can see many different types of geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles. Be sure to check out the Sulphur Caldron, one of Yellowstone’s most colorful thermal features!

This hike takes about 4 hours round trip, with an elevation gain of 1,500 feet (457 m). There are numerous trails in Midway Geyser Basin, so make sure you have a map before beginning your hike.

The trailhead is located at mile marker 16 on Grand Loop Road. It’s about 7 miles (11 km) from Old Faithful Lodge or 8 miles (13 km) from Madison Junction Visitor Center if driving north on Highway 89/191 through West Yellowstone toward Gardiner & Cody Wyoming state line.

Observation Point (in Grand Teton National Park)

Observation Point is a strenuous 8-mile round-trip hike that takes about 4 hours to complete. It’s best in the morning or late afternoon, as it can get hot during the day. This hike is especially beautiful during summer months when wildflowers are in bloom all over the trail.

The elevation gain on this hike is steep at times (over 2000 feet), so make sure to bring plenty of water and wear comfortable shoes!

Fairy Meadows Loop Trail (in Yellowstone)

The Fairy Meadows Loop Trail is a 5.1-mile loop that takes about two hours to complete. It’s easy, with only a few steep sections, and most of it is shaded by trees. The trail has great views of the Fairy Meadows area of Yellowstone National Park, so bring your camera if you want picturesque shots of this beautiful area!

The Fairy Meadows Loop Trail is open year-round, but if snow is on the ground, it may be difficult or impossible to access this trailhead without snowshoes or skis (and even then).

Conclusion

The hikes in Yellowstone National Park are some of the most beautiful and family-friendly hiking trails in America. The park is full of amazing sights, from waterfalls to geysers and more. If you’re looking for a great place to go on vacation with your kids, then this is it!