Purple Mountain in Yellowstone National Park

Purple Mountain

Isn't one of Yellowstone's grander peaks, but it does boast a very accessible 2.6 mile trail to the summit.

Plan Around Purple Mountain

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Purple Mountain Details

At under 8,500 feet, Purple Mountain isn't one of Yellowstone's grander peaks, but it does boast a very accessible 2.6 mile trail to the summit. You'll find the trailhead at Madison Junction. The trail is steep, gaining more than 1,500 feet in elevation, but you'll enjoy beautiful views of nearby National Park Mountain and the Madison Plateau even when you're only halfway up. Look for evidence of the 1988 forest fire that swept over the mountain and the Gibbon and Madison valleys. At the summit you'll enjoy a vantage point over the confluence of the Madison, Gibbon, and Firehole rivers.

Difficulty

Low

Distance

N/A

Estimated time

Region

Norris to Madison

Nearby Parks Around Purple Mountain

Compare nearby parks around Purple Mountain when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.

21.1 mi away

Yellowstone

National Park · WY

68.9 mi away

Grand Teton

National Park · WY

306.3 mi away

Glacier

National Park · MT

386.2 mi away

Theodore Roosevelt

National Park · ND

400.1 mi away

Rocky Mountain

National Park · CO

421.5 mi away

Arches

National Park · UT

Nearby Points of Interest Around Purple Mountain

Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Purple Mountain while the map context is still fresh.

0.1 mi away

Purple Mountain Trail

This narrow trail offers truly spectacular 180 degree views over Madison Plateau.

0.3 mi away

Madison Junction

Located south of Madison Junction at the confluence of the Madison, Gibbon and Firehole Rivers.

0.3 mi away

Madison Campground

A central location for camping in the park, this large campground is 14 miles east of the West Yellowstone entrance.

0.3 mi away

Madison Information Station

Flush toilets are available in the northeast corner of the parking lot.

0.4 mi away

Madison Information Station

One of Yellowstone's original trailside museums.