Mallard Lake Trail
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
This is prime grizzly and black bear country — carry bear spray with the safety off and make noise consistently, especially in the forested stretches where visibility drops to almost nothing.
The trail is an out-and-back with no alternate return, so if afternoon thunderstorms roll in (common from July through August), you'll be exposed on the open rocky sections with no shortcut home. Check the forecast and aim for a morning start.
Pipeline Hot Springs and other thermal features near the trail can have dangerously thin crust around them — stay on the established path and keep well clear of any steaming ground or discolored soil.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Start from the southeast side of the Old Faithful Lodge cabins and take the first right — the trailhead signage is easy to miss if you're not looking for it, so pull up the map before you leave the parking area.
The 3-to-6-hour range is real: the trail's rolling terrain eats more time than the distance suggests, so budget for the longer end if you want to actually enjoy Mallard Lake rather than just tag it and turn around.
Bring a wide-angle lens or your best panorama skills for the burned-out clearings midway up — the skeletal lodgepole trunks against big sky make for some of the most iconic Yellowstone photography you'll find off the beaten path.
Photos
NPS / Addy Falgoust
