Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
For details of the first section of this hike up to Mt Washburn,
Click here
.
From the four-way junction just below Washburn Peak, the
Mt Washburn Spur Trail
drops southeast along an undulating ridge past alpine wildflower meadows. After dipping
through a saddle to another little gap at the tree line, bear right and descend 2.6 miles from
the summit through small clearings to
Washburn Meadow
and campsite 4E1 (campfires
allowed). Keep your wits about you - this is prime grizzly habitat.
The trail descends southwest through boggy grassland grazed by elk and deer to
Wash-
burn Hot Springs
, a small field of boiling mud pots and hissing fumaroles. Proceed past
more small thermal areas to the Sevenmile Hole Trail junction, 2.9 miles from campsite
4E1.
The steep trail switchbacks down 1400ft through Douglas firs, passing a 10ft-high gey-
ser cone before arriving at a more active thermal area. Anglers who frequently make the
hike claim it feels like '5 miles in and 7 miles out.' Continue down past the easily missed
turnoff to campsite 4C1, then cross a small thermal stream for the final walk to campsite
4C2 beside the
Yellowstone River
. Large springs emerge from the reddish chalky cliffs
on the river's east bank. To reach campsite 4C3, ford narrow
Sulphur Creek
, then follow
the riverbank past a tiny hot pool. Stock animals and wood fires are not allowed at any of
the campsites. Unattended food must be out of reach of bears - if you are day-tripping
down here hang (don't dump) your pack at the junction.
DAY 2: SEVENMILE HOLE TO GLACIAL BOULDER TRAILHEAD
4 HOURS, 5 MILES, 1400FT ASCENT
Back at the junction after the hard ascent, heading southwest, the trail is broader and leads
along the north rim of the 1200ft-deep
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
for the final
2.7 miles, passing through lodgepole forest carpeted with fragrant, low-lying grouseberry
shrubs. The views are increasingly spectacular as you pass the unsigned overlook of long,
thin
Silver Cord Cascade
, which drops nearly 1000ft to the canyon floor. The amazing
technicolor columns of the canyon's eroding sides stretch another 1 mile to the Glacial
Boulder Trailhead.
Canyon Village
is 1.5 miles west along paved Inspiration Point road.
ALTERNATIVE ROUTE: GLACIER BOULDER TO SEVENMILE
HOLE
6-7 HOURS, 11 MILES, 1400FT ASCENT/DESCENT
An alternative route for hiking to Sevenmile Hole starts at the Glacial Boulder Trailhead
just before
Inspiration Point
. This out-and-back hike is an 11-mile round-trip and drops
1400ft in 1.5 miles; as always, the hard part is the return trip. It's a decent day hike or re-
laxed overnighter.
