Hiking the Mystic Falls Trail (Little Firehole Loop) in Yellowstone National Park
Distance: 3.6 miles / 5.8 km
Elevation Gain: ~500 ft. / 152 m
The Mystic Falls Trail in Yellowstone National Park is an easy, beautiful day hike past the popular Biscuit Basin to the 70-ft. (21-m) cascade that is Mystic Falls.
The trail, which is most comparable to Fairy Falls, located just to the north, can either be hiked as a 2.2-mile (3.5-km) out-and-back adventure to the waterfall or as the full 3.6-mile (5.8-km) loop, commonly called the Little Firehole Loop, which extends past Mystic Falls to the Biscuit Basin Overlook before returning to the beginning.
In either case, both the Mystic Falls Trail and the Little Firehole Loop Trail are great ways to escape the vast majority of crowds that can be found at nearby places, like the Upper and Midway Geyser Basins.
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!
Biscuit Basin Trailhead Parking
Since Mystic Falls shares the same trailhead as Biscuit Basin, as well as with the Artemisia Trail across the road, parking in the small lot for Biscuit Basin can be difficult on any given summer day.
This means that if parking isn’t an option in the small Biscuit Basin parking lot, you may need to park somewhere along Grand Loop Road.
Google Maps Directions: Biscuit Basin 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 Mystic Falls Trail
The Mystic Falls Trail starts off on the same boardwalk as the loop through Biscuit Basin.
Biscuit Basin Loop
To take the fastest path through the thermal features, go straight at the first intersection.
At the back of the Biscuit Basin Loop Trail, the Mystic Falls Trail branches off toward the forest.
Biscuit Basin (Mystic Falls) Trailhead
While carrying bear spray may not be necessary on the Biscuit Basin boardwalk prior to this point, it is absolutely necessary from this point on, as the number of people on the trail drops significantly.
Mystic Falls Loop Trail (Little Firehole Loop)
At the first split, you can go either way to complete the Mystic Falls Loop, but I personally recommend going left toward the waterfall first.
I say this because the trail directly to the overlook is much steeper than hiking to Mystic Falls first, which is more gradual overall.
Mystic Falls-Summit Lake Junction
Then, only 0.1 miles (0.2 km) after the loop junction, the trail splits again with the trail to Summit Lake.
While the sign may not say, the Summit Lake Trail is actually a small part of the much longer Continental Divide Trail (CDT) that spans the United States from Mexico to Canada.
Go right at this split to continue toward Mystic Falls.
From this point on, the Mystic Falls Loop parallels the Little Firehole River until the waterfall.
Overall, the elevation gain on this stretch is very gradual, which is why I prefer to hike the loop in this direction, as opposed to the overlook first.
Mystic Falls
According to the National Park Service, Mystic Falls is 70 ft. (21 m) tall.
If you’re interested in getting closer, there are a few ways to make your way down to the river when the snowmelt is not at its peak.
To give you an idea, these photos were taken in early August when the majority of the snow had already disappeared from the park.
Past Mystic Falls, the trail continues up a handful of switchbacks, where the majority of the elevation gain is located when hiking the loop in this direction.
That being said, it’s only 0.5 miles (0.8 km) to reach the top of the uphill, which I personally think is a bit easier than coming from the other direction.
Mystic Falls-Fairy Creek Junction
The Fairy Creek Junction is the top of the uphill on the Mystic Falls Loop Trail.
From here, go right, and the Biscuit Basin Overlook will shortly ahead.
Biscuit Basin Overlook
The view from the top of the Biscuit Basin Overlook reminds me a lot of Purple Mountain, which I highly recommend for a much more expansive view of Yellowstone’s most popular geyser basins!
Read My Separate Post: Purple Mountain Trail
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 overlook, the trail descends a number of steep switchbacks before reaching the forest below, where the loop began.
Mystic Falls Loop Junction
Once at the bottom, go left to return to the Biscuit Basin boardwalk and trailhead.
This is the same loop split from earlier in this post.
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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