Wyoming · Hiking

Obsidian Creek

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

Is Obsidian Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Yellowstone National Park. It doesn't name Obsidian Creek, 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 Creek 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 1,100 feet lower than the creek, so temperatures here run cooler. Several other trails lie close by. Obsidian Cliff is about 2 miles away, Grizzly Lake Trail about 2.6 miles, and Bighorn Pass Trail about 2.8 miles. Sheepeater Cliff is roughly 3 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit Obsidian Creek

    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, 9.1 mi away at 6,195 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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 Cliff

~3 min drive

Obsidian is found in volcanic areas where the magma is rich in silica and lava has cooled without forming crystals, creating a black glass that can be honed to an exceptionally thin edge. Unlike most obsidian, which occurs as small rocks strewn amid other formations…

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

Solfatara Creek Trail

~7 min drive

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

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

Bunsen Peak Trail

~10 min drive

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

Snow Pass TrailPhoto: cchadek, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Snow Pass Trail

~13 min drive

Short out-and-back climb to a scenic alpine pass in Wyoming.

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

Lava Creek Trail

~14 min drive

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

HIKE

Sheepeater Cliff

~5 min drive

Sheepeater Cliff is made up of columnar basalt deposited by lava flows roughly 500,000 years ago. The Gardner River flows through the valley, exposing the flow and forming the cliff. The basalt of Sheepeater Cliff are known as columnar basalt due to the hexagonal fracture…

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

Sportsman Lake Trail

~13 min drive

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

HIKE

Bunsen Peak Trailhead (1K4)

~10 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…

HIKE

Snow Pass Trailhead (1K2)

~13 min drive

This trailhead is nestled into the forests south of the Upper Terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs. This trailhead provides access to: Snow Pass Trail Parking is available at a nearby pullout. Snow Pass Trail A moderate 2.4-mile (3.8 km) there-and back trail that climbs to the…

HIKE

Howard Eaton Trail: Mammoth-Golden Gate

~14 min drive

Out-and-back thermal features trail from Mammoth to Golden Gate in Yellowstone.