Montana Best of Hiking: Yellowstone’s Norris region
Posted on Dec 28, 2009 in hiking
Top 5 hikes in the Norris region of Yellowstone National Park
The Norris area of Yellowstone National Park offers a variety of hiking opportunities just a short drive from West Yellowstone, Montana and Gardiner, Montana, and a reasonable drive from Bozeman, Montana. These towns offer great Montana hotels, lodging and vacation rentals, while keeping you close to one of Yellowstone’s best hiking areas. Here’s our top five, not to miss hikes for the Norris area.
- Grizzly Lake: This trail passes through a lodgepole pine forest that burned in 1976 and 1988, beautiful meadows and takes you to the long, beautiful Grizzly Lake. The lake is long, narrow, and heavily wooded. The hike is popular with fishers due to a large population of small brook trout. It is four miles long, and not too difficult, with just a few steep hills to climb.
- Solfatara Creek: The trail follows Solfatara Creek for a short distance to the junction with Ice Lake Trail, it then parallels a power line for most of the way to Whiterock Springs. This hike is short and easy, and passes by two beautiful thermal springs, Amphitheater Springs and Lemonade Creek (which, despite the name, you shouldn’t drink). The hike is normally uncrowded, and can offer the chance to see grizzlies.
- Ice Lake Trail: This short, family friendly hike brings you to beautiful Ice Lake, nestled in a thick lodgepole pine forest, parts of which burned in 1988. Hikers with ambition can continue to Wolf Lake, Grebe Lake, and Cascade Lake, and then on to Canyon.
- Wolf Lake Cut-off Trail: Follow this trail along the Gibbon River and pass the Little Gibbon Falls. After the falls, you’ll enter a dense lodgepole forest. Before reaching the amazing Wolf Lake, you’ll have to cross a couple narrow streams. The hike is moderate at a six mile round trip.
- Cygnet Lakes Trail: The trail passes through patches of burned lodgepole pine forest and small marshy ponds to the wildflower-filled meadows of Cygnet Lakes. This is a day hike only, and is relatively easy at 5.5 miles with little elevation gain.
Montana Vacations recommends talking to a Yellowstone National Park guide, or a park ranger before attempting any hikes, in order to get up to date information on wildlife activity, trail closures, and extreme weather.
Related posts:
- Montana Best of Hiking: Madison area of Yellowstone
- Montana Best of Hikes: Yellowstone hikes near Gardiner
- Hiking Glacier National Park in the Montana Rockies
- Montana Best Hikes: Glacier National Park, Lake McDonald
- Montana Best of Hikes: Glacier National Park, Logan Pass
Great work! keep the posts coming… i’ll keep reading them. Thanks