Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bunsen Peak & Osprey Falls
Duration
2½ hours (6-7 hours with side trip)
Distance
4.2-mile round-trip (10.2 miles with side trip)
Difficulty
Moderate (difficult with side trip)
Elevation Change
1300ft (2100ft with side trip)
Start/Finish
Bunsen Peak Trailhead (1K4;
Click here
)
Nearest Town/Junction
Mammoth
Summary
A short but steep hike up the side of an ancient lava plug for superb views,
with the option of descending to an impressive canyon waterfall.
Bunsen Peak (8564ft) is a popular half-day hike, and you can extend it to a more demand-
ing day hike by continuing down the mountain's gentler eastern slope to the Bunsen Peak
Rd and then
waaay
down (800ft) to the base of seldom-visited Osprey Falls. It's also pos-
sible to bike 'n' hike out to Osprey Falls (
Click here
)
. The initial Bunsen Peak Trail
climbs east out of Gardner's Hole to the exposed summit of Bunsen Peak, offering out-
standing panoramas of Mammoth, the Gallatin Range, Swan Lake Flat and the Blacktail
Deer Plateau. Even if you just make it halfway up the hill you'll be rewarded with superb
views.
Bunsen Peak's trails (especially along the south slope) are free of snow much earlier
than those on most other peaks in the park and thus can be negotiated as early as May
with some mild glissading. Be prepared for frequent afternoon thunderstorms, which bring
fierce winds and lightning year-round.
Bunsen Peak
was named by the 1872 Hayden Survey for German scientist Robert Wil-
helm Eberhard von Bunsen (after whom the Bunsen burner was also named), whose pion-
eering theories about the inner workings of Icelandic geysers influenced early Yellow-
stone hydrothermal research. The mountain is actually an ancient lava plug, the surround-
ing volcanic walls of which have partially eroded away. So, yes, you are effectively
climbing up the inside of a former volcano!
From the Mammoth Visitor Center, head 4.5 miles south on Grand Loop Rd, cross the
Golden Gate Bridge
, and turn left into the unpaved parking area on the east side of the
road, just beyond the Rustic Falls turnout. The parking lot is small and fills up quickly, so
get here early.
