Trails › United States of America › Wyoming › Gallatin Range › Observation Peak

Observation Peak Trail

On Observation Peak, Gallatin Range

Local route7.5 km · 4.7 miBest Jun–Sep

Next nearby hike: Cascade Lake Trail 0.4 mi · 0.6 km Explore Observation Peak →

7-day forecast

Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)

Best time to hike

Best months: Jun–Sep · highs 15–21 °C (59–70 °F)

J-5°-13°56
F-3°-12°44
M1°-9°56
A4°-6°67
M9°-3°102
J15°2°111
J21°7°80
A21°7°65
S15°3°60
O7°-3°60
N-1°-10°65
D-6°-14°58

Average high °C · low °C · precipitation mm per month. Highlighted: best months.

How we pick months

Best months are those where the 1981–2010 average daily high is 10–27 °C (50–81 °F), the average overnight low is 0 °C (32 °F) or warmer, and average precipitation is 200 mm (7.9 in) or less. Values are long-term monthly averages for the ~1 km cell at the trail point on the map, from CHELSA V2.1 climatologies (Karger et al., CC0), not a forecast. Higher or more exposed parts of a route can be colder, wetter or snowier.

About this trail

Hike to a high mountain peak for an outstanding view of the Yellowstone wilderness. Trail passes through open meadows to Cascade Lake where wildflowers abound and wildlife is often seen. Beyond the lake, the trail climbs 1,400 feet in 2.6 miles through wh

OpenStreetMap (ODbL).

Trail facts

Mapped length: 7.5 km · 4.7 mi (OSM route, Waymarked Trails)
Mountain: Observation Peak (mountain, 2,862 m; GeoNames)
Mountain range: Gallatin Range (Rocky Mountains › North American Cordillera; GMBA)
Nearest town: 36 km SE of Gardiner (Park County, Montana) · GeoNames
Park or forest: Yellowstone National Park
Connects to: Cascade Lake Trail (at its start or end)
Best months: Jun–Sep
Country: United States of America
Region: Wyoming
Continent: North America
Route type: Local route
From / to: Cascade Lake Trailhead
Route centre: 44.7611, -110.5185
Route start: 44.7502, -110.4920
OpenStreetMap: relation 13180111
Official info: nps.gov/thingstodo/yell-trail-observation-peak.h

How it’s scored

Hikers can rate difficulty from 1 to 10 (1 = flat, short, easy walk for anyone; 3 = gentle hills, a little effort; 5 = moderate climbs, some fitness needed; 7 = steep or long, solid fitness required; 10 = extremely strenuous or technical; long steep climbing; experienced hikers only). The community average is shown once at least 3 people have rated the trail; until then the official or computed score is used when we have one.

Nearest trails

distance from the trail start

Cascade Lake Trail

0.4 mi · 0.6 km · Yellowstone National Park

Casecade Lake Trail

0.7 mi · 1.2 km · Yellowstone National Park

Cascade Creek Trail

0.8 mi · 1.3 km · Yellowstone National Park

Canyon Rim Trail

1.8 mi · 2.9 km · Yellowstone National Park

North Rim Trail

2.0 mi · 3.3 km · Yellowstone National Park

Artist Point-Point Sublime Trail

2.3 mi · 3.8 km · Yellowstone National Park

All trails in Wyoming → · All 36,834 trails in United States of America →