Mt. Washburn via South Trail

The parking lot for the Mt. Washburn Hike from Dunraven Pass trailhead is located about 5 miles north of Canyon Village along the Grand Loop Road. Since we wanted to reach the top of Mt. Washburn before sunrise, we began our hike 2 hours earlier. If you decide to attempt a sunrise hike, I highly recommend carrying either a flashlight, or even better, using a headlamp, and having bear spray readily available as this area is known for having black bears and grizzlies.

The trail begins with a steep ascent straight out of the parking lot and wraps along the side of the mountain. About 1.5 miles into the trail, you will reach the beginning of a series of switchbacks that will extend for a mile. Once you reach the end of the switchbacks, the trail flattens out a little bit as you walk along a ½ mile stretch with drop-offs on both sides. As you get closer to the lookout tower, the trail will merge with Chittendon Road, so keep left.

The hike up took us about 1 and ½ hours, which should have given us plenty of time to relax before sunrise. Unfortunately, the weather can change in an instant in Yellowstone, and the thunderstorms came in much earlier than was forecasted, so we spent most of the morning taking photos in the rain. From that experience, I would not recommend hiking Mt. Washburn if rain is in the forecast at all for the day of your hike, unless you are comfortable with getting your camera gear wet.

For anyone visiting Yellowstone, this trail is a must and should be at the top of your list. The lookout tower at the peak of Mt. Washburn is the highest point in Yellowstone National Park and gives you a 360° view, which allows you to see for miles through the valleys on a clear day.