Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Junction, or the nearby picnic area of the same name. July is a great time for wildflowers
along this route, but the trail can be wet early in the season (in which case the southern
Cascade Creek trail offers a drier alternative).
The path quickly joins the trail from the picnic area and continues past the trailhead
board to enter an open valley frequented by bison. The double-wide track crosses several
creeks before swinging into forest to follow a meandering creek. One mile into the hike
you'll hit the Cascade Creek Trail that leads here from the Canyon-Norris road. Take the
right branch to
Cascade Lake
.
Ten minutes from the junction, the path leads into a wide valley, past backcountry site
4E4 on the left to the trail junction at the west end of the lake, less than an hour from the
trailhead. The right branch leads to backcountry site 4E3 and Observation Peak; straight
ahead takes you to the eastern part of the lake and on to Grebe Lake 2 miles away. The
first time we did this hike we stood transfixed here for over two hours as a pack of six
wolves attempted to take down a bull elk by the edge of the forest.
The lake itself opens to meadows on the west and backs on to the Solfatara Plateau and
its ghost forest of burnt snags. The lake is worth exploring for its wildfowl and occasional
moose. Bison often graze the meadows to the east. The lake's waters drain down Cascade
Creek, eventually to plunge into the Yellowstone River in the form of Crystal Falls (
Click
The hike up to
Observation Peak
, part of the Washburn Range, takes about 1ΒΌ hours
and gains 1400ft in 3 miles. After 30 minutes the trail crests a saddle and curves to the
left, opening up views of the peak ahead. It loops further to a ridge line, giving you time
to catch your breath before the final 20-minute climb to 4P1, one of the park's most un-
usual backcountry campsites, in a forested hollow just below the main peak. The site
makes a fine place to enjoy dusk and dawn views, but there's no water here, so you'll
have to haul up everything you need.
The views from the peak are superb; Cascade and Grebe Lakes sit below you, smoking
Norris Geyser Basin is to the west and the Hayden Valley yawns to the south. Temporarily
hidden below to the left are views of the Yellowstone Canyon. To the north is the Wash-
burn Bear Management Area, classic grizzly country, so keep your eyes peeled. The
ranger hut at the summit is normally boarded up. The descent back to Cascade Lake takes
about one hour, from where you return to the trailhead the way you came.
