Wyoming · Hiking

Cascade Lake Trail

4.3 mi
round trip
56 ft
climb
8,021 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Sep
best months

Is Cascade Lake Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Yellowstone National Park. It doesn't name Cascade Lake Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: NPS · Yellowstone National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Cascade Lake Trail is an easy out-and-back hike in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, about 4.3 miles long. It sits at a modest elevation of roughly 8,000 feet, with the low point at 7,948 feet and the high at 8,021 feet, and a total climb of 56 feet one way. The trailhead is named Cascade Lake Trailhead, and the land is managed by the National Park Service. The most comfortable months for a visit are July and August, when typical averages from the nearby Lake Yellowstone weather station run to highs around 71°F and lows in the low 40s. June and September are cooler, with highs near 61°F. Winters are cold, with January highs around 23°F. A fee is charged for the hike, and dogs are not allowed on this trail. The Observation Peak Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and the Canyon Rim Trail and Bear Aware (Canyon) are both within about a mile. Paddlers can reach Broad Creek, about 9 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit Cascade Lake Trail

    Best months: July–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      23° / 3°

      17 wet

    2. Feb

      27° / 3°

      15 wet

    3. Mar

      35° / 11°

      14 wet

    4. Apr

      42° / 19°

      12 wet

    5. May

      50° / 29°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      61° / 36°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      71° / 43°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      71° / 42°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      61° / 34°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      46° / 25°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      33° / 15°

      12 wet

    12. Dec

      24° / 7°

      16 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lake Yellowstone, WY, 13.8 mi away at 7,892 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Bear Aware (Canyon)Photo: timlitw, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Bear Aware (Canyon)

~2 min drive

Looking to rent some bear spray to carry with you on your adventure around Yellowstone, instead of purchasing a canister? To learn more and rent some bear spray, stop by the kiosk located near the Canyon Visitor Education Center or the Yurt south of the Yellowstone Tribal…

Canyon Rim TrailPhoto: timlitw, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Canyon Rim Trail

~2 min drive

Short out-and-back rim walk with canyon views in Wyoming.

Seven Mile Hole TrailPhoto: Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA - God bless it!, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Seven Mile Hole Trail

~3 min drive

9.94-mile out-and-back trail in Wyoming with 256 ft elevation gain.

Mount Washburn Spur TrailPhoto: Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA - God bless it!, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mount Washburn Spur Trail

~3 min drive

16.89-mile out-and-back trail with 2,347 ft gain on Mount Washburn Spur Trail in Wyoming.

Wapiti Lake TrailPhoto: cchadek, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Wapiti Lake Trail

~5 min drive

Scenic 16.32-mile out-and-back to alpine Wapiti Lake in Wyoming.

HIKE

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone - Lookout Point

~3 min drive

Scientists think the oldest Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone formed in rock and sediments about 160,000 to 140,000 years ago. This canyon was not as deep, wide, or long as today’s canyon. Past and current hydrothermal activity altered and weakened the rhyolite, making the…

Cascade Creek TrailPhoto: timlitw, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Cascade Creek Trail

~2 min drive

Easy out-and-back creek walk through Wyoming forest.

North Rim TrailPhoto: Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA - God bless it!, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

North Rim Trail

~4 min drive

Easy out-and-back rim hike with scenic views near North Rim.

Clear Lake-Ribbon Lake TrailPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Clear Lake-Ribbon Lake Trail

~5 min drive

Out-and-back alpine trail connecting Clear Lake and Ribbon Lake in Wyoming.

HIKE

Dunraven Pass

~5 min drive

Look for abundant wildflowers in high-elevation wetlands near the road in this area. The volcanic rocks that underlie the Absaroka Mountains are rich in calcium, magnesium, and iron. These minerals weather into soils that can store more water and provide better nutrients…

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors