Full of incredible, panoramic views and lots of wildlife, the Mount Washburn Trail is simply the best hike in Yellowstone National Park.
Yellowstone has a surprisingly small number of epic summit hikes. It’s more of a driving park. But Washburn is a very scenic hike — and at roughly five miles roundtrip, it’s completely doable for the average hiker.
I’ve personally hiked Mt. Washburn three times over the years. There are three different ways to get the summit, which sits at close to 10,200 feet, making it one of the highest points in the park.
At the summit of Mount Washburn, you’ll find a fire lookout tower that is still used by rangers to spot newly-burning forest fires. Inside this tower are bathrooms, a free telescope, benches for resting, and information boards designed to educate visitors.
In this article, I’ll go over all the details about each of the three trails to the summit, and share some personal tips and memories from my own hikes (including encountering a grizzly bear!)
Here’s everything you need to know if you plan to visit.
Three Ways to Hike to the Mount Washburn Summit
Here are the three trails to the summit of Mt. Washburn.
Note that it is entirely possible to start at one trailhead and finish at another — for instance, you could go up Chittenden Road, and hike back down on the Dunraven Pass side.
But to do this, you’ll need to coordinate a pickup with somebody who has a vehicle, since there are no shuttles in the park to get you back to where you parked your car.
1 Main Trailhead at Dunraven Pass
Distance: 6.8 miles roundtrip
Elevation gain: 1400 feet
Time Needed: 3-5 hours
Details: Moderately challenging, passes through forested sections with shade
The most common way of reaching the top is from the actual Mount Washburn Trailhead, near Dunraven Pass. This where you’ll arrive if you put “Mount Washburn Trailhead” into your Google Maps.
The 3.4-mile trip one way has about 1400 feet of elevation gain, so it’s moderately challenging, but possible for the average hiker. The elevation gain is gradual and consistent.
There’s a parking lot here that holds close to 20 vehicles, as well as a single-stall bathroom.
The park warns that this trail has a lot of bears, especially during August and September, when they come here to feast on berries and pine nuts.
2 Mount Washburn via Chittenden Road
Distance: 5.6 miles
Elevation gain: 1480 feet
Time Needed: 3-5 hours
Details: Not as exciting scenery as the Dunraven Pass trail, much less shade, more open fields
This trail starts at a trailhead on Chittenden Road, a gravel road. Due to snowfall, Chittenden Road can be closed until well into June. If that happens, you’ll have to add an extra 1.2 miles each way to complete this hike.
This route to the top is slightly shorter, but isn’t quite as scenic, as it features more open fields and fewer trees. I usually suggest that first-timers try the Dunraven Pass route instead.
3 Seven Mile Hole to Mount Washburn Spur
Distance: 16 miles
Elevation gain: 3000 feet
Time Needed: 8-12 hours
Details: Much less common option; takes much longer and fewer people will be around
Because it’s so long, this is a far less common option for reaching the top of Mount Washburn. You start near the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, at the Glacier Boulder pullout near Inspiration Point.
This trail is reasonably flat for the first six miles, and then goes up about 2000 feet in elevation in the last two miles. It’s a really long hike!
This route will take nearly all day, and is only recommended for experienced hikers who are used to hiking mountains and are comfortable being in bear country.
You’ll see wildflowers and the Washburn Hot Springs on the way. The NPS has a page dedicated to this route.
What You’ll See at the Mount Washburn Summit
The first point of interest at the summit is the “Mt. Washburn” sign, noting the elevation of 10,219 feet. Most hikers choose to get a picture with the sign.
On a clear day, you’ll be able to see remarkable views of nearly the entire park, all the way from Lamar Valley down to Yellowstone Lake. You can even see the mountains of Grand Teton National Park to the south.
Go inside the tower at the summit. Use the restroom, enjoy a breather on the benches, read the interpretive exhibits, and look through the telescope to scour the hills for wildlife.
Informational boards have maps which show you exactly what you’re looking at in the distance.
The top floor of the tower is a fire lookout station used by rangers and isn’t accessible to the public. But you can access the first floor to see the exhibits and the second floor to see an outdoor viewing deck.
My Experience Hiking on the Dunraven Pass Side
On my first day in Yellowstone, I hiked up the Dunraven Pass side of the mountain. The weather was pleasant and people were wearing shorts, but as I moved higher, it got chilly.
This route goes through forested areas, and it’s one of the last places in the park where the snow melts every year.
For most of the trail, the snow was gone, but in some spots, it was a couple inches deep, even as temperatures were mild everywhere else in Yellowstone:
As I reached a lengthy series of switchbacks, I was hit with a blast of some sort of hail/rain/snow combination – a wintry mix, as they say. It was cool to experience snow during the summer.
(And all this time, I thought Vanessa Williams was full of it when she sang, “Sometimes the snow comes down in June…”)
Fortunately, I was dressed for the weather. If you’re going to hike Washburn, taking some heavier clothes with you is a must, no matter what time of year.
I started feeling a little dizzy and thought I might be starting to feel altitude sickness. Not wanting to risk passing out up there, I stopped and turned around.
When I returned to Yellowstone years later, I was determined to get to the Washburn summit, and this time, I did it.
The weather was warm and sunny, and a few friends joined me as we reached the top and basked in the views.
My Experience Hiking on the Chittenden Road Side
I decided to give the Chittenden Road side a shot as well. If Chittenden Road is open, you can drive the gravel road to a point partially up the hill, which leaves a 2.8-mile each way.
If the road isn’t open, you can still hike that side, but you’re looking at an additional 1.2-mile hike to reach the trailhead. The entire trail is an old gravel service road, so it doesn’t feel like a backcountry trek.
The Chittenden Road Trail has a couple of forested areas, but it’s mostly wide open, leaving lots of great views and a good shot at seeing wildlife.
As I began the hike, I spotted bighorn sheep tracks. This was a great sign!
Then came the scary signs. Like bear tracks right on the trail. And trees whose trunks had apparently been slashed by grizzlies marking their territory.
At this point, I’d never seen a bear in the wild, so I was pretty frightened. But I embraced the fear and continued onward.
Shortly after reaching a nice open area, I spotted a group of people standing together and pointing. Then, I saw the grizzly!
It was maybe 100 yards away, about the length of a football field. I snapped a couple of pictures and slowly began backing away, since it was heading in my direction.
Before long, it turned around and went back over the hill. Here’s a diagram of where I saw Grizzie the bear.
Plus, it was getting late in the day and I was alone – two no-nos when it comes to hiking near grizzly bears.
FAQs About Hiking the Mount Washburn Trail
What’s the best time of year to hike?
Don’t try to hike the Mount Washburn Trail before June, because it will be covered with several feet of snow.
Around early to mid-June, the trail becomes passable with microspikes and hiking poles. Usually, by late June, the trail is fine for general hiking, with only a few small patches of snow remaining.
How crowded is this trail?
Washburn is one of the more popular hikes in the park. That said, the hiking trails in Yellowstone are not as crowded in those at other parks.
And the limited size of the parking lot means it’s not even possible for the trail to get super-crowded.
Who was Mount Washburn named after?
The peak was named after Henry D. Washburn, one of the expedition members from the 1870s who used to wash their clothes in Old Faithful.
What is the weather like?
As noted, the peak of Mount Washburn is above the tree line and is fully exposed to wind. It can get very cold up there, even during summer. And summer storms are common.
One time, I reached the summit of Washburn on a sunny day in a tshirt, with a nice, gentle breeze. Another time, I encountered a hail-sleet mix and very strong winds.
Both of these hikes were in late June. So you just never know. Wear layers, and bring a winter hat!
Is it safe to hike this trail alone?
Hiking alone is not advised in grizzly country. However, I’ve done it before, and I did encounter a handful of other hikers going it alone.
The trail is crowded enough that you can get by on your own as long as you stay reasonably close to other people.
What kind of wildlife might you see?
As noted, black bears and grizzly bears live in the area. Bring bear spray and know how to use it! Bighorn sheep and elk are sometimes spotted.
Otherwise, you’ll mostly encounter smaller creatures, like squirrels, pikas, and marmots. And you’ll hear lots of birds of all kinds, especially if you hike on the Dunraven Pass Trailhead side.
If you’re wondering where else to see bears in Yellowstone, check out my guide on the park’s wildlife.
How can I check current conditions on the trail?
The official National Park Service site is one good resource. But I prefer AllTrails.com, which features recent trip reports from hikers. They will tell you how much snow is left on the trail, which animals they saw, and anything else you need to know.
Is there cell phone service on the hike?
For the most part, no. But there’s a Verizon tower atop the summit, so if you have Verizon service, you may get a signal up there.
What other hikes are good in Yellowstone?
I recommend the Lamar Valley Trail and the Bunsen Peak Trail. Both are good for wildlife without being overly strenuous.
Hiking Mount Washburn in Yellowstone was a memorable experience – one of the most fun hikes I’ve ever taken in grizzly bear country!
