Hiking the Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail in Yellowstone National Park
Distance: 1.7 miles / 2.7 km
Elevation Gain: ~200 ft. / 61 m
The Yellowstone Lake Overlook is one of the easiest effort-to-reward trails in Yellowstone National Park.
I personally enjoy the trail because it makes for a quick and easy adventure before or after visiting the West Thumb Geyser Basin, and the overlook is easily one the best kid-friendly trails in Yellowstone!
West Thumb Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Yellowstone Overlook Trail can either be in one of two places.
First, you’re planning on walking through the West Thumb Geyser Basin, then I recommend parking there in order to see both without moving your car. However, by mid-morning, the West Thumb parking lot can be a bit challenging to find a parking spot in, and it’s best to look for someone who’s leaving in order to take theirs.
Additionally, if you’re only interested in the Yellowstone Lake Overlook and/ or the West Thumb proves too difficult to park, you may be able to find parking right along the road adjacent to the trail, as the Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail actually crosses the highway near the West Thumb intersection.
Parking along the road cuts out the first 0.2 miles (0.3 km) each way from the hike.
Google Maps Directions: West Thumb 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 Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail
The Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail begins on the opposite side of the parking lot from the popular West Thumb Geyser Basin.
After only a quarter mile, the overlook trail crosses the highway, which is generally a 'safe' crossing, as cars are either slowing down or just starting to accelerate for the West Thumb intersection on the right.
The closer parking area described earlier is off to the left in the photo below.
This is where the trail re-enters the forest on the far side.
Yellowstone Lake Overlook Loop
Shortly after re-entering the forest, the hike splits into the Yellowstone Lake Overlook Loop, and while the sign says to go right to reach the overlook, it really makes no difference which direction you choose to hike.
This is the loop trail written by going right, as it’s the most likely direction that people are going to hike.
When the trail leaves the forested section, you get the first views of the Yellowstone Lake Overlook shortly ahead.
This is also the most significant and notable elevation gain on the entire trail.
Yellowstone Lake Overlook
From the top of the Yellowstone Lake Overlook, you get expansive views of the lake with the Absaroka Mountains off in the background.
On top of this, there is a unique thermal feature at the overlook that most visitors never go out of their way to see.
Past the overlook, the trail continues around the other side to complete the loop that split just after the highway crossing.
This is the initial loop split from earlier in this post.
Overall, the Yellowstone Lake Overlook is one of my favorite hikes in Yellowstone because it’s one of the easiest trails to escape the crowds found throughout other areas the park, such as the neighboring West Thumb Geyser Basin.
