Hiking the Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail in Yellowstone National Park
Distance: 1.7 miles / 2.7 km
Elevation Gain: ~200 ft. / 61 m
The Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail in Yellowstone National Park is a quick, easy, and typically uncrowded day hike off the shores of Yellowstone Lake and the West Thumb Geyser Basin.
For this reason, the Yellowstone Lake Overlook is one of the best effort-to-reward trails in Yellowstone National Park and one of the best kid-friendly adventures for those interested in easier adventures!
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!
West Thumb Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Yellowstone Overlook Trail can either be in one of two places.
First, you’re planning on walking through the West Thumb Geyser Basin, then I recommend parking there in order to see both without moving your car. However, by mid-morning, the West Thumb parking lot can be a bit challenging to find a parking spot in, and it’s best to look for someone who’s leaving in order to take theirs.
Additionally, if you’re only interested in the Yellowstone Lake Overlook and/ or the West Thumb proves too difficult to park, you may be able to find parking right along the road adjacent to the trail, as the Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail actually crosses the highway near the West Thumb intersection.
Parking along the road cuts out the first 0.2 miles (0.3 km) each way from the hike.
Google Maps Directions: West Thumb 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 Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail
The Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail begins on the opposite side of the parking lot from the popular West Thumb Geyser Basin.
After only 0.25 miles (0.4 km), the overlook trail crosses the highway, which is generally a 'safe' crossing, as cars are either slowing down or just starting to accelerate for the West Thumb intersection on the right.
The closer parking area described earlier is off to the left in the photo below.
This is where the trail re-enters the forest on the far side.
Yellowstone Lake Overlook Loop Trail
Shortly after re-entering the forest, the hike splits into the Yellowstone Lake Overlook Loop, and while the sign says to go right to reach the overlook, it really makes no difference which direction you choose to hike.
This is the loop trail written by going right, as it’s the most likely direction that people are going to hike.
When the trail leaves the forested section, you get the first views of the Yellowstone Lake Overlook shortly ahead.
This is also the most significant and notable elevation gain on the entire trail.
Yellowstone Lake Overlook
From the top of the Yellowstone Lake Overlook, you get expansive views of the lake with the Absaroka Mountains off in the background.
On top of this, there is a unique thermal feature at the overlook that most visitors never go out of their way to see.
Past the overlook, the trail continues around the other side to complete the loop that split just after the highway crossing.
Yellowstone Lake Overlook Loop Junction
This is the initial loop split from earlier in this post.
Overall, the Yellowstone Lake Overlook is one of my favorite hikes in Yellowstone because it’s one of the easiest trails to escape the crowds found throughout other areas the park, such as the neighboring West Thumb Geyser Basin.
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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