Mount Washburn Spur Trail
Photo: Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA - God bless it!, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 16.9 mi
- round trip
- 2,347 ft
- climb
- 10,249 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Mount Washburn Spur Trail open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Yellowstone National Park. It doesn't name Mount Washburn Spur Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Most Park Roads Closed to All Vehicles
Park closure covering Yellowstone National Park · NPS · Yellowstone National Park
Biscuit Basin Closed Due to Hydrothermal Explosion
Park closure covering Yellowstone National Park · NPS · Yellowstone National Park
As of · Source: NPS · Yellowstone National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Mount Washburn Spur Trail is a hard hike in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, managed by the National Park Service. The route is an out-and-back of about 17 miles, with a one-way climb of roughly 2,350 feet from a low point around 7,834 feet to a high point near 10,249 feet. The trail is long and steep. It starts at a base near 7,800 feet and climbs more than 2,000 feet to Mount Washburn's summit. Because of that, it's a challenging day for anyone without much backcountry experience. A park entrance fee applies. Plan for food and supplies to last the full length of the trip. Several other routes sit right along the way. Seven Mile Hole Trail and Glacial Boulder are each about 0.1 mile away. Grandview Point Trail and Canyon Rim Trail are both within a mile.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Roger Sylvia, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Artist Point-Point Sublime Trail
~1 min drive
Scenic 1.3-mile out-and-back with dramatic viewpoints and natural formations.
Photo: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Grandview Point trail
~1 min drive
1.12-mile out-and-back trail in Wyoming with 133 ft elevation gain and loss.
HIKE
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone - Lookout Point
~2 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…
Photo: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Clear Lake-Ribbon Lake Trail
~2 min drive
Out-and-back alpine trail connecting Clear Lake and Ribbon Lake in Wyoming.
Photo: cchadek, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Wapiti Lake Trail
~3 min drive
Scenic 16.32-mile out-and-back to alpine Wapiti Lake in Wyoming.
Photo: Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA - God bless it!, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)North Rim Trail
~2 min drive
Easy out-and-back rim hike with scenic views near North Rim.
Photo: timlitw, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Canyon Rim Trail
~1 min drive
Short out-and-back rim walk with canyon views in Wyoming.
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…
Photo: R. Sieben, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Howard Eaton Trail: Fishing Bridge-Canyon
~3 min drive
Moderate out-and-back hike from Fishing Bridge to Canyon through thermal landscapes.
Photo: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Dunraven Pass - Mount Washburn Trail
~7 min drive
7.00-mile out-and-back trail in Wyoming with 1,380 ft gain.
Route details
- Distance
- 16.9 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 2,347 ft
- Starts at
- Glacial Boulder Trailhead (about 7,901 ft)
- Summit
- 10,250 ft
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Time
- About 7 hours
Other routes up Mount Washburn
Questions about this route
How long is the Mount Washburn Spur Trail on Mount Washburn?
About 16.9 mi round trip from Glacial Boulder Trailhead (about 7,901 ft).
How much elevation gain is on the Mount Washburn Spur Trail?
About 2,347 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Mount Washburn Spur Trail?
It is rated hard.
Where does the Mount Washburn Spur Trail start?
Glacial Boulder Trailhead (about 7,901 ft).
How long does the Mount Washburn Spur Trail take?
About 7 hours round trip.
How many routes go up Mount Washburn?
4: Chittenden Road - Mount Washburn Trail, Dunraven Pass - Mount Washburn Trail, Mount Washburn Spur Trail and Mount Washburn South Trail.
Conditions and forecast on Mount Washburn
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
