Purple Mountain Trail
This narrow trail offers truly spectacular 180 degree views over Madison Plateau.
Plan Around Purple Mountain 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.
Purple Mountain Trail Details
This narrow trail offers truly spectacular 180 degree views over Madison Plateau, all the way to the Tetons, some 50 miles away. To get to this viewpoint, however, requires a constant uphill, 1,560-foot climb up the north side of the valley. The trail, which never achieves a very steep grade, ascents through undamaged evergreen forest with overgrown undergrowth and lots of small, slow-moving streams and deep ravines. From the summit of the flat-topped, highly exposed mountain, which was named after the purple volcanic ash found on its upper slopes, there are greats views into the valleys below, where the confluence of the Madison, Gibbon, and Firehole rivers can be spotted.
Difficulty
Moderate
Distance
2.5 miles
Estimated time
90 minutes
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Purple Mountain Trail
Compare nearby parks around Purple Mountain Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Purple Mountain Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Purple Mountain Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.1 mi away
Purple Mountain
Isn't one of Yellowstone's grander peaks, but it does boast a very accessible 2.6 mile trail to the summit.
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.
0.4 mi away
Madison Information Station
Flush toilets are available in the northeast corner of the parking lot.
0.5 mi away
Madison Information Station
One of Yellowstone's original trailside museums.
