Bunsen Peak Trail: A Stunning Yellowstone Hike with Panoramic Views

The Bunsen Peak Trail is a great moderate/hard hike in Yellowstone that you should add to your hiking list! Standing at a lower elevation than most other peaks in the area, Bunsen Peak is often snow-free before the rest of the mountains in Yellowstone National Park.

This trail is popular, and parking is somewhat limited, so be sure to get there early to secure a spot. It’s a popular area for grizzly bears, so don’t forget your bear spray.

After a nice mountain hike, head to the otherworldly Norris Geyser Basin. Read on for more about the Bunsen Peak Trail.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read our full disclosure for more information.

Need to Know Info

• Make sure to carry bear spray while hiking in Yellowstone.
• The trailhead parking area is small and can fill up very quickly, so it’s best to get to this point as early as possible. This small lot holds about 22-25 cars, depending on the situation.
• Visit our gear page to purchase your America the Beautiful Pass online at REI’s website. This could save you some time at the entrance.
• It’s best to visit Yellowstone during late June, July, or August. During these warmer months, you can hit the trails, and everything should be mostly snow-free along the trails in the higher elevations. Depending on the snowpack from the prior winter, you may still see snow!

Bunsen Peak Trail

If you are following our itinerary and staying in West Yellowstone, MT, head to the nearby entrance and use Highways 191 and 89 to reach the trailhead parking area. This spot is a little over an hour’s drive.

Once you reach the trailhead, get ready for a great hike! This is an out-and-back for a total of about 4.3 miles. Although it might seem short, the elevation gain is about 1,300 feet. Over a short distance, this hike might make it feel longer than it really is. Views of the Gallatin and Washburn mountains at the summit await!

There is an option to make this hike a longer loop by continuing to hike down the mountain on the other side and using the Bunsen Peak Road Trail to return to the parking lot. This loop is about 7.5 miles if you’d like a longer route.

Trail Route

The trail begins in a lush green oasis with nearby creeks and small ponds. These make for some great photography as you head out on the trail. At about a quarter mile in, you’ll have some nice views of the curvy road below as you look to the north.

You may also be able to see part of Rustic Falls that tumbles below, but if you can’t, stop here after the hike for a nice, quick view of the waterfall.

🏞️ Next up on your itinerary: The Norris Geyser Basin Trail.

Keep hiking through the burned forest, and the trail will begin to steepen as you enter a series of switchbacks around the 1.3-mile mark. Here, off in the distance, you’ll have a nice view of Mammoth Hot Springs.

Keep hiking up the switchbacks, and at the 2-mile point, you’ll reach the first of Bunsen Peak’s three summits. There is some communication equipment here, so be sure to keep hiking past this for more stellar views. The valley below, when facing west, is the Swan Lake Flat.

Finally, as you approach the next 2 peaks, panoramic views of the Gallatin and Washburn mountains and valleys are in full view. Spend some time here and enjoy the views.

Keep Hiking or Turn Around?

From the summits of Bunsen Peak Trail, you can turn around and head back the way you came, or continue along the trail toward the Bunsen Peak Road Trail. Once you reach the junction, take a right and head back toward the parking lot.

We chose to cut our hike short here and opted to return the same way we hiked up so we could spend the afternoon at the Norris Geyser Basin. If you skipped the first part of the Bunsen Road Trail back near the parking lot, be sure to check it out for some beautiful scenery with the creeks, ponds, and background mountains.

⛰️ Don’t miss one of the other best hikes in Yellowstone: Mount Washburn.

Safety and Weather in Yellowstone National Park

• Cell phone coverage could be spotty in certain areas of Yellowstone.
• Get our favorite bug spray here!
• Plan on letting a family member or friend who isn’t on the trip with you know where you’ll be each day while exploring. If you get lost, this will aid in your rescue.
• Water: Carry a water bladder instead of those pesky plastic bottles!
• Food: There are limited food options in Yellowstone. If you are looking for food here, your best bet is to travel back to West Yellowstone, Gardiner, or Cooke City.
• Weather conditions can differ based on where you are in the park. Temperatures tend to be cooler at higher elevations, particularly in forested or shaded areas. In fact, snow may still be present at higher altitudes during the summer. From July to August, keep an eye out for afternoon thunderstorms and the risk of lightning. Check out the current conditions on the national park website.

Animal Safety in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park has a diverse range of animals living in the park. Grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, moose, elk, bison, and mountain goats are just a few. Yellowstone is home to the largest concentration of mammals in the 48 states!

Always carry bear spray while hiking in Yellowstone. Purchase your bear spray before entering the park, or rent it from somewhere if you don’t plan on keeping it. Bear spray is NOT allowed on aircraft in checked or carry-on luggage. Make sure to review the steps to take if you encounter a bear during your adventure.

Before hiking, learn how to spot the difference between grizzly and black bears and what to do if you see one. That being said, it’s unlikely that you will have an aggressive animal encounter, but always be prepared. Do NOT leave food in your car!

🌲 Want someone else to do the driving in Yellowstone? Check out the fun options from Viator!

Where to Stay While Visiting Yellowstone National Park

We recommend staying outside the park while exploring Yellowstone National Park, unless you are camping, of course. Check out some of the options that we recommend based on location below:

• Gardiner (North) – Yellowstone Village Inn: Clean, comfortable, and super convenient to the northern section of Yellowstone. Free coffee anytime and a chance to see wildlife on the huge front lawn. Indoor pool open seasonally with multiple room types available. Book a stay on Expedia or Booking.com.
• Cooke City/Silver Gate, MT (East) – High Country Motel & Cabins: We stayed here in a cabin for one night so we would be super close to Lamar Valley in the morning for the best chance of spotting Yellowstone’s wildlife. Super rustic and limited cell service. However, it is located in town and close to restaurants. We loved it! Check it out here on Booking.com.
• West Yellowstone, MT (West) – Alpine Motel: #1 in West Yellowstone and one of our favorite stays with super-friendly owners and competitive rates. Free parking and air conditioning. It might be a little dated, but it’s immaculately clean! Visit their website and give Brian and Patty a call!

Final Thoughts

We got to the Bunsen Peak Trailhead bright and early around 8-8:30 am, and parking was not an issue for us. The hike winding up to Bunsen Peak has some stellar views of the nearby mountain ranges, and there are some great photo opportunities at the peaks!

We had heard this was a prime area for grizzly bears, and we were hoping we might see one (from a distance, of course!), but that was not the case for us. That being said, this was still a really nice hike that wasn’t too long. Perfect for spending a morning in Yellowstone.

After hiking, we drove to Norris Geyser Basin – another awesome area in Yellowstone National Park that you really can’t miss!

🛏️ Don’t forget to book a room in West Yellowstone, MT. Do it as soon as you know your travel dates, especially in the summer.