Hiking the Purple Mountain Trail in Yellowstone National Park
Distance: 6.5 miles / 10.5 km
Elevation Gain: ~1,500 ft. / 457 m
The Purple Mountain Trail in Yellowstone National Park is one of best and least-trafficked trails across the entire park!
That’s because Purple Mountain is often an overlooked trail, as visitors drive north and south between the various geyser basins on the west side of Yellowstone.
Purple Mountain Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Purple Mountain Trailhead is located just north of the Maddison Junction in a little turnout off the side of Grand Loop Road.
The parking area for Purple Mountain is small, but that is largely because so few people venture out on this lesser-known Yellowstone hike.
I think it’s worth noting that when you look up from the parking area, you are looking right up at Purple Mountain, as shown in the photo below.
Google Maps Directions: Purple Mountain Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Yellowstone-Tetons
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in the Yellowstone-Teton area.
Hiking the Purple Mountain Trail
The Purple Mountain Trail begins across Grand Loop Road from the parking area shown above.
In my experience, I didn’t see any signs of bear activity on the Purple Mountain Trail. However, it's important to know that bears inhabit all areas across Yellowstone, which means that one or multiple people in your party need to be carrying bear spray.
After only 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the trail starts gaining elevation, which will remain steady for nearly the entire distance to the Purple Mountain summit.
Depending on the time of year, you may notice these red Canadian Buffaloberries along the Purple Mountain Trail.
Know that they are considered edible for humans, but I have read that they do not taste very well.
Purple Mountain Switchbacks
At about 1.5 miles (2.4 km), the Purple Mountain Trail begins a series of seven switchbacks, depending on how you count.
The lower switchbacks are a bit longer, but they gradually get shorter and shorter as you near the summit.
Additional Early Season Gear
Depending on the winter snowpack, micro-spikes may be necessary, as the trail gets steeper on the switchbacks up Purple Mountain.
This is because upper elevation/ shady trails like Purple Mountain can be covered in snow into the middle of July, and possibly even later.
I personally use the Yaktrax below.
Toward the upper elevations of Purple Mountain, the Lodgepole pines begin to thin out, which is a nice sign that you’re nearing the top.
At the top of the last switchback, the Purple Mountain Trail will contour around the side of the mountain before reaching a flatter section just prior to the viewpoint.
The photo below is where the Purple Mountain Trail levels off before reaching the beautiful east-facing summit.
It was cool to see this little baby Lodgepole pine growing right off the trail.
Purple Mountain
According to the USGS, the summit of Purple Mountain in Yellowstone National Park is 8,392 ft. (2,558 m), but know that the main viewpoint is not the true summit of Purple Mountain.
That being said, this east-facing viewpoint on Purple Mountain gives you expansive views of the Madison River Valley and Yellowstone’s most popular geyser basins, including Old Faithful, which can be seen off in the distance in the photo below.
