Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
This popular return hike climbs gradually to the fire lookout tower on the summit of
10,243ft
Mt Washburn
for some of the park's best views. Over 10,000 hikers do this trail
annually - go early to avoid the crowds. Older teenagers should be able to do the hike.
Mt Washburn is all that remains of a volcano that erupted some 640,000 years ago,
forming the vast Yellowstone caldera. Interpretive displays in the lookout tower point out
the caldera extents, making this a memorable place to get a sense of the awesome scale of
the Yellowstone supervolcano. The peak is named after Montana surveyor- general Henry
Washburn, who rode up the peak to see the view during the Washburn, Langford and
Doane expedition of 1870.
The suggested route starts from Dunraven Pass (8859ft) on the Grand Loop Rd, 4.8
miles north of Canyon and 14.2 miles south of Tower. Alternatively, begin from the larger
Chittenden parking area (5 miles north of the pass) for a marginally shorter but more ex-
posed hike (and bike trail) to the summit. Use the south side of Trails Illustrated's
1:63,360 map No 304
Tower/Canyon
. Two USGS 1:24,000 quads also cover the route:
Canyon Village
and
Mount Washburn
.
The Washburn Bear Management Area, immediately east of the trail on the mountain's
east slope, is closed annually from August 1 to November 10 and open May 10 to July 31
only by special permit from the Tower Ranger Station, so avoid wandering off-trail. Keep
in mind that grizzlies flock to Mount Washburn's east slopes in large numbers during
August and September in search of ripening whitebark pine nuts.
Snow often obstructs the Dunraven Pass approach through the end of June and can
block the trail into July. Wildflower displays in July and August are legendary. Frequent
afternoon thunderstorms bring fierce winds and lightning, so pack a windbreaker even if
the weather looks clear and be ready to make a quick descent if a storm rolls in.
The wide trail follows a rough, disused road (dating from 1905) and so makes for a
comfortable, steady ascent, following a series of long ribbonlike loops through a forest of
subalpine firs. After 20 minutes the views start to open up. The fire tower appears daunt-
ingly distant, but the climb really isn't as painful as it looks! Continue northeast up broad
switchbacks, then follow a narrow ridge past a few stunted whitebark pines (look out for
bears) to the gravel Chittenden Rd at the Mt Washburn Trail junction. At the junction the
road left leads up to the three-story
fire-lookout tower
, about two hours from the trail-
head. The side trail right at the junction leads down the Washburn Spur Trail to Canyon
Junction (
Click here
)
.
The viewing platform and ground-level public observation room has restrooms, a
calling-card-only pay phone, a public 20x Zeiss telescope, displays on the Yellowstone
caldera and graphics to help you identify the peaks and valleys surrounding you. The fire
tower was built in the 1930s and is still staffed from June to October. The majestic panor-
