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 is one of the best hikes near Yellowstone Lake, and if you happen to be staying at the nearby Lake Lodge or Yellowstone Lake Hotel, I highly recommend hiking the Elephant Back Trail while you’re in the area.
Personally, I love the hike because it’s not too difficult to see the beautiful upper views of the lake, and very few people venture out on this lesser-known Yellowstone trail.
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.
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.
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.
