Bunsen Peak Trail
One of the best short, scenic day hikes in the park.
Plan Around Bunsen Peak Trail
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Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Bunsen Peak Trail Details
One of the best short, scenic day hikes in the park, this trail offers panoramic views from the windswept and exposed summit of Bunsen Peak. The peak is actually the eroded core of an ancient volcano, and is named after geyser researcher Robert Bunsen. The trail ascends steeply, climbing 1,300 feet in 2 miles through both pineforest and meadow area, and there are a number of scenic vantage points well before the summit. The summit, which is often snow-covered until mid June, juts into Yellowstone Valley, some 3,000 feet below, and provides breathtaking views of the Gallatin, Madison, and Absaroka Ranges. Trailhead: 5 miles (8 km) south of Mammoth on the Mammoth-Norris Road, across from the Glen Creek trailhead
Difficulty
Moderate
Distance
4.2 miles
Estimated time
2.0 hours
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Bunsen Peak Trail
Compare nearby parks around Bunsen Peak Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Bunsen Peak Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Bunsen Peak Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.0 mi away
Glen Creek Trailhead
Trailhead parking for Bunsen Peak Trail, Bunsen Peak Road and Osprey Falls.
0.0 mi away
Old Bunsen Peak Road Trail
This trail is open to and very popular among cyclists.
0.1 mi away
Swan Lake Flat
One of Yellowstone's wolf packs has a territory centered on the sage-covered Swan Lake Flat.
0.2 mi away
Golden Gate
Plunges more than 1,400 feet in less than three miles.
0.2 mi away
Glen Creek Trail
This trail is typically used to combine other trails in Mammoth area for better access to sites.
