Avalanche Peak Trail
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
Grizzly bears are highly active in this area during fall, feeding on whitebark pine nuts. The park strongly discourages hiking here in September and October — if you go anyway, travel in groups of four or more, carry bear spray accessible at your hip, and make constant noise above treeline.
The summit ridgeline is narrow and exposed with steep drop-offs on both sides. High winds can gust without warning at the top, so cross with extreme caution and avoid it entirely in deteriorating weather.
Snow can linger on the upper slopes well into early July, obscuring the trail and creating slippery conditions on the talus. Check with the Fishing Bridge ranger station for current conditions before heading up.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Start before 9 AM — afternoon thunderstorms are common above treeline in July and August, and you do not want to be on that exposed ridgeline when lightning rolls in.
Trekking poles earn their weight on the descent, where the loose talus and steep grade turn your knees into a negotiation. The trail is dry with no water sources, so carry at least two liters.
The summit panorama is a 360-degree showstopper, but the best photo angle is actually from the ridgeline just before the top, where Yellowstone Lake fills the frame with the Absarokas behind it — arrive in morning light for the cleanest shot.
Photos
NPS / Diane Renkin
