Hiking the Elephant Back Mountain Trail in Yellowstone National Park
Distance: 3.8 miles / 6.1 km
Elevation Gain: ~800 ft. / 244 m
The Elephant Back Mountain Trail, also called the Elephant Back Loop Trail in Yellowstone National Park, is a mostly forested day hike near Yellowstone Lake that climbs the cliffs just north of Lake Village to several beautiful viewpoints along the upper loop.
That said, the Elephant Back Trail is one of the least-visited trails in Yellowstone, which is one of my favorite reasons to visit—especially in the early morning! I say this because cool mornings around Yellowstone Lake are typically very calm and quiet, unlike any other time of the day.
All this to say, if you’re staying at the nearby Lake Lodge or Yellowstone Lake Hotel, I highly recommend hiking the Elephant Back Trail, as the trail is not too difficult or too long, making Elephant Back Mountain a really fun and casual Yellowstone adventure!
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
Elephant Back Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Elephant Back Mountain Trail is located directly off Grand Loop Road in a small turn out near Lake Village.
There isn't a lot of parking available for the trail, but Elephant Back Mountain is typically one of the quieter, less busy hiking trails found throughout the park.
Google Maps Directions: Elephant Back Mountain Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Yellowstone-Tetons
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in the Yellowstone-Teton area.
Bear Spray & Holster - If you aren’t flying, don’t rent bear spray! It’s a waste of money. Prepare ahead of time by buying your own, as this may be one of the most important items on this list.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Elephant Back Mountain Trail
Personally, I think the Elephant Back Mountain Trail makes for one of the best early morning hikes in Yellowstone National Park.
I say this because the views along the trail are nothing too crazy, but if you’re looking for a nice, cool walk through the forest that isn’t too difficult of a workout, then Elephant Back Mountain is a great option just after sunrise!
Initially, it may seem like the trail begins directly adjacent to the parking area, but in order to reach the true Elephant Back Trailhead, you need to follow the path above that runs south along Grand Loop Road until you reach the real trailhead shown below.
This clearing for the power lines makes for a nice mental checkpoint when you’re on your return hike.
Overall, the beginning of the Elephant Back Trail is fairly flat with a few minor hills, and there isn’t any significant elevation gain until the trail splits into the upper loop.
Elephant Back Mountain Loop Trail
At about 0.9 miles (1.4 km) into the hike, the Elephant Back Mountain Trail splits into one larger loop trail that leads to all of the best viewpoints found throughout the hike.
It doesn’t make too much of a difference which direction you decide to hike, but going up the right switchbacks are shorter and steeper, and going up the left is slightly longer and more gradual.
Personally, I like to go left not only because it's the easier 'half' of the Elephant Back Loop, but there are a few small viewpoints on the way up that are nice to slow down and enjoy.
During early times of the year when there’s still snow on the ground, these trail markers on the trees can be very helpful.
Additional Early Season Gear
Depending on the winter snowpack, micro-spikes may be necessary, as the trail starts to climb the steeper sections of the hike.
This is because very shaded trails, like Elephant Back Mountain, can be covered in snow for much longer than areas that receive direct sunlight, making these sections very slippery when they are still snowy and icy.
I personally use the Yaktrax below.
I just happened to have my camera out at the right time to capture this cool moment.
My Print - Chipmunk
More than once I got to see Woodland pinedrops along the Elephant Back Trail, which was more than I’ve noticed it growing elsewhere in the park.
Elephant Back Mountain
On a bit of a moody morning in Yellowstone, the view from the top wasn’t as clear as it could have been, but it was stunning to watch the clouds move through the trees and the Absaroka Range off in the distance.
Warning
Afternoon thunderstorms in high Mountain West areas, such as this, are a serious concern during the summer monsoon season.
Even if the weather forecast doesn’t predict any storms, I can tell you from personal experience that they may show up out of nowhere and can put you and your entire group in a very dangerous situation.
I say this to emphasize the importance of turning around at the first sign of lightning, thunder, or even heavy cloud buildup. However, if you ever get caught in a storm unsuspectingly, follow the steps linked below to reduce the risk of getting struck.
U.S. Forest Service: Lightning Safety Tips
Past the main Elephant Back viewpoint, the trail begins descending gradually as it makes its way around to the other side of the loop.
Eventually, the trail will begin descending the steeper east (right) switchbacks, which is what’s typically considered the harder 'half' of the Elephant Back Loop Trail had I gone up this way.
At the bottom of the switchbacks, the trail levels out before reaching the end of the loop.
Elephant Back Mountain Loop Junction
This is the same junction from earlier, where the Elephant Back Mountain Trail first split into the upper loop.
Go left to return back to the Elephant Back Trailhead, which is only 0.9 miles (1.4 km) away.
How Bad are the Mosquitoes?
If this is your first trip to Wyoming, you’re likely unfamiliar with how bad the mosquitoes will be. Locals don’t joke when they call the mosquito the Wyoming state bird, which is why I recommend grabbing this cheap bug net before going. You never know where and when you may want it because even midday in the most unsuspecting places, the mosquitoes can be out in clouds!
More Yellowstone Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Yellowstone National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
From personal experience, I’ve seen that the Yellowstone-Teton area has one of the highest Grizzly Bear densities in the country. Even on the popular trails, you need to be hiking with bear spray and know how to react in the event of a Black or Grizzly Bear encounter.
Aside from wildlife, Wyoming, like any Mountain West state, is known for its violent afternoon thunderstorms, which are more typical in the warmer summer months than other times of the year.
That said, it’s important to check the local forecast before setting off on any adventure, as lightning strikes are not uncommon in and near mountain ranges across the West. I have personally been knocked to the ground by a strike that hit near me in the past, and I confidently say that it’s an experience you don’t want to live through. This is why I highly recommend checking Mountain Forecast for any high-elevation adventures you may be interested in—especially when climbing a summit.
Finally, know that when micro-spikes are necessary for an early-season adventure, micro-spikes are never supposed to be a substitute for conditions that require crampons.
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park websites.
National Park Service: Grand Teton National Park / Yellowstone National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
Disclaimer
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