Wyoming · Hiking

Obsidian Cliff

Obsidian CliffPhoto: NPS / public domain
Jul–Sep
best months

Is Obsidian Cliff open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Yellowstone National Park. It doesn't name Obsidian Cliff, 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.

Obsidian Cliff is a hike in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, managed by the National Park Service. It sits within the park's boundaries, and a fee is charged for the visit. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mammoth show July highs around 81°F with lows near 48°F, and snow is common from November through April. That station sits about 1,300 feet lower than the cliff, so temperatures up high run cooler. Several other trails lie close by. Obsidian Creek and Grizzly Lake Trail are each about 2 miles away, and Solfatara Creek Trail is about 2 miles off. Roaring Mountain is roughly 3 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit Obsidian Cliff

    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

      31° / 12°

      11 wet · 9 snow

    2. Feb

      34° / 12°

      11 wet · 9 snow

    3. Mar

      42° / 19°

      11 wet · 7 snow

    4. Apr

      50° / 26°

      11 wet · 5 snow

    5. May

      60° / 35°

      13 wet · 2 snow

    6. Jun

      69° / 42°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      81° / 48°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 47°

      9 wet

    9. Sep

      69° / 39°

      9 wet · 1 snow

    10. Oct

      54° / 29°

      9 wet · 3 snow

    11. Nov

      39° / 19°

      10 wet · 7 snow

    12. Dec

      30° / 12°

      12 wet · 10 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Yellowstone Park Mammoth, WY, 10.8 mi away at 6,195 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

HIKE

Obsidian Creek

~3 min drive

A creek that forms west of Roaring Mountain and flows north until it joins the Gardner River near the Indian Creek Campground. Obsidian Creek flows by Roaring Mountain and Obsidian Cliff.

Solfatara Creek TrailPhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Solfatara Creek Trail

~4 min drive

Moderate out-and-back creek hike in Wyoming with geothermal interest.

Norris Geyser Basin - Norris Campground TrailPhoto: R. Sieben, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Norris Geyser Basin - Norris Campground Trail

~10 min drive

Easy out-and-back walk through Norris Geyser Basin's geothermal wonders.

Bunsen Peak TrailPhoto: cchadek, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Bunsen Peak Trail

~13 min drive

8.42-mile out-and-back trail to Bunsen Peak in Wyoming with 502 ft gain.

Howard Eaton Trail:Cascade Lake-Norris CampgroundPhoto: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Howard Eaton Trail:Cascade Lake-Norris Campground

~16 min drive

Out-and-back trail linking Cascade Lake to Norris Campground in Yellowstone.

HIKE

Roaring Mountain

~5 min drive

Roaring Mountain is a large, acidic thermal area (solfatara) that contains many steam vents (fumaroles). In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the number, size, and power of the fumaroles was much greater than today. Fumaroles (Steam Vents) Fumaroles or steam vents, are the…

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

Sportsman Lake Trail

~16 min drive

Challenging 17.57-mile out-and-back hike to a scenic alpine lake in Wyoming.

Ice Lake TrailPhoto: aoiaio, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Ice Lake Trail

~14 min drive

Short out-and-back hike to a scenic alpine lake in Wyoming.

HIKE

Bunsen Peak Trailhead (1K4)

~13 min drive

Bunsen Peak prominently sits south of Mammoth Hot Springs. From this trailhead, you can embark on the following trails: Bunsen Peak Trail Bunsen Peak Road Trail Osprey Falls Trail Parking is limited. Winter trailhead access requires a snow coach drop-off, or skiing up from…

Lava Creek TrailPhoto: R. Sieben, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lava Creek Trail

~16 min drive

Accessible out-and-back hike through Wyoming's volcanic landscape and thermal features.