Yellowstone River Picnic Area Trail
Short but scenic trail follows the eastern side of the canyon's edge.
Plan Around Yellowstone River Picnic Area 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.
Yellowstone River Picnic Area Trail Details
Often overlooked, this short but scenic trail follows the eastern side of the canyon's edge, offering excellent views of the northernmost part of the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone River. The trail is well maintained, and experiences little elevation change before reaching its terminus near Specimen Ridge Trail. Well known for bighorn sheep sightings, its also home to a number of osprey, eagles, black bears, and even the occasional wolf. The scattered heaps of elk bones are evidence of the area's bourgeoning wolf population. Great views of the Overhanging Cliff area, Bannock Indian Ford, basalt columns, and the Tower Fall towers are in abundance along this pleasant trail.
Difficulty
Moderate
Distance
1.75 miles
Estimated time
1.5 hours
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Yellowstone River Picnic Area Trail
Compare nearby parks around Yellowstone River Picnic Area Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Yellowstone River Picnic Area Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Yellowstone River Picnic Area Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.0 mi away
Yellowstone River
Located 1.2 miles east of Tower Junction on the Northeast Entrance Road.
0.4 mi away
Yellowstone River
The longest undammed river in the lower 48 states.
0.4 mi away
Ruddy Duck Pond
A small, seasonal pond located little more than a mile from Tower Junction, southeast of Junction Butte.
0.7 mi away
Calcite Springs
This geothermally altered rhyolite inspired the artist Moran.
0.8 mi away
Tower-Roosevelt
Named for its most prominent natural and manmade features -- Tower Falls and the Roosevelt Lodge.
