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Yellowstone National Park: Narrow Gauge
Link some of Yellowstone National Park's most striking thermal features on this 5.2-mile loop near Mammoth Hot Springs.
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| Author: | Backpacker Magazine |
| Activity: | Hiking |
| State: | Wyoming (WY) |
| Distance: | 5.2 mi |
| Difficulty: | 5 / 10 |
| USGS Topo Map: | Mammoth |
| Rating: |
 1 rating(s)
|
Travel beyond Mammoth Hot Springs to discover some of Yellowstone's more extraordinary thermal features, as well as classic views of Mount Everts, Bunsen Peak and the Gardner Canyon. Starting from the Mammoth Terrace Trail, turn right onto the Sepulcher Mountain Trail to head toward Hymen Terrace, a broad travertine formation backdropped by the stately Mount Everts.
Continuing to the west, pass through a grassy meadow frequented by grizzlies as the trail climbs upward at a moderate grade. After winding through woods dotted with Douglas firs and aspens, the trail flattens out around mile 2.1 and crosses into a broad, grassy field, offering superb panoramas of Mammoth Hot Springs, the surrounding mountains, and a pine-blanketed countryside.
From the grassy plateau, it's an easy downhill to the Orange Spring Mound at mile 3.9. This 20-foot-high feature, which owes its signature orange hue to microbial bacteria, has grown so large that it actually hides the spring that feeds it. Less than a half mile further, the trail visits the Narrow Gauge Terrace where a set of terraced, travertine pools emit steam and vapors. Break out your camera to document this striking geothermal feature before heading back to Waypoint 4 and turning right to complete the loop.
MORE PARK INFO: Yellowstone National Park, (307) 344-7381; nps.gov/yell/.
-Mapped by Jeff Chow
TO TRAILHEAD: From Tower Junction, head northwest on Grand Loop Rd. for 18.1 miles. Turn left at Grand Loop Rd. and head south. Go 0.3 mile to trailhead parking.
| Position Format: | Datum: |
Tracks
Narrow Gauge
| Distance: 5.19 mi | Points: 473 |
Points of Interest
NRG001
Location: 44.973041, -110.703977Head north on the Mammoth Terraces Trail.
NRG002
Location: 44.973740, -110.704283Turn left to head west toward Hymen Terrace on the Sepulcher Mountain Trail.
NRG003
Location: 44.973444, -110.705065Pass Hymen Terrace, a low, steaming feature framed by Mount Everts in the background. Keep your eyes open for elk.
NRG004
Location: 44.973254, -110.708343Bear right at Y-junction on the Sepulcher Mountain Trail; bypass the Howard Eaton Trail. Cross the bridge to continue your steady but moderate climb upward.
NGR005
Location: 44.975356, -110.713896Turn left to stay on the Sepulcher Mountain Trail at the Y-junction. Caution: Grizzlies frequent this grassy area.
NGR006
Location: 44.974785, -110.723527Cross a hillside bridge. The grade lessens here as the trail weaves through aspen groves and Douglas firs.
NGR007
Location: 44.973164, -110.727597Veer left off the Sepulcher Mountain Trail onto the Clagett Butte Trail. Walk over a footbridge that crosses a small stream and begin a very brief descent.
NGR008
Location: 44.971280, -110.727114Cut between a horseshoe-shaped pond on the left and a small green pond on the right as the trail begins swinging uphill again.
NGR009
Location: 44.966394, -110.726848Pop out of the forest and into a flat sagebrush meadow that showcases spectacular views of Bunsen Peak (named for the guy who invented the Bunsen Burner), Gardner Canyon, Mammoth Hot Springs, Mount Everts.
NGR010
Location: 44.963955, -110.726781Stay on the Claget Butte Trail at the Y-junction.
NGR011
Location: 44.960850, -110.728021Turn left at the Y-junction to bypass the trail on the right leading to Snow Pass.
NGR012
Location: 44.960862, -110.718911Flanked by juniper bushes, fir and moss, the trail passes by formations of travertine (a chemical precipitate of calcium bicarbonate that comprises the terraces). These sedimentary rocks suggest the presence of a hot spring in the area at one point.
NGR013
Location: 44.960388, -110.717038To the right, pass a narrow, gaping cleft that plunges down 50 feet.
NGR014
Location: 44.959241, -110.715108At the Snow Pass Trail junction, hang an immediate left onto the unmarked trail.
NGR015
Location: 44.966673, -110.715140Hit the Orange Spring mound, a 20-foot high, 30-foot long, calcium carbonate deposit. The mound's several spring outlets cause the feature to transform at a rapid rate. Look for the dead stalks of suffocated trees, cemented into the mound's rounded-out structure.
NGR016
Location: 44.969563, -110.710567Turn right at the Y-junction to hit Narrow Gauge Terrace, a highly active feature that has grown over six feet in the past three years. Surrounded by terraced hot pools and trees struggling to survive, the terrace emits smells of rotten eggs (actually sulfur).
NGR017
Location: 44.969504, -110.710082After getting your fill of Narrow Gauge, head north to follow the trail back to Waypoint 4 and turn right to reach the trailhead.
Narrow Gauge Terrace
Location: 44.969514, -110.710378© Jeff Chow
Grizzly Bear
Location: 44.975238, -110.716105© Jeff Chow
Back-Scratching Grizzly
Location: 44.975307, -110.717332© Jeff Chow
Small Pond
Location: 44.971797, -110.727446© Jeff Chow
Bunsen Peak
Location: 44.964730, -110.726842© Jeff Chow
Jaw Bone
Location: 44.962539, -110.726641© Jeff Chow
Shells
Location: 44.961488, -110.727051© Jeff Chow
Wildflowers
Location: 44.961392, -110.727244Narrow Gorge
Location: 44.960380, -110.716803© Jeff Chow
Meadow
Location: 44.961698, -110.715668© Jeff Chow
Orange Spring Mound
Location: 44.964494, -110.716224© Jeff Chow
Steam From Orange Spring Mound
Location: 44.966785, -110.715076© Jeff Chow
Front View of Orange Spring Mound
Location: 44.966726, -110.715113© Jeff Chow
Orange Spring Mound Profile
Location: 44.967191, -110.714445© Jeff Chow
Orange Spring Mound Close-Up
Location: 44.967218, -110.714400© Jeff Chow
Orange Spring Mound Texture
Location: 44.967248, -110.714354© Jeff Chow
Round Pools at Narrow Gauge Terrace
Location: 44.968249, -110.711821© Jeff Chow
Dead Trees at Narrow Gauge Terrace
Location: 44.969432, -110.710684© Jeff Chow
Steaming Pools at Narrow Gauge Terrace
Location: 44.969441, -110.710549© Jeff Chow
More Views: Narrow Gauge Terrace
Location: 44.969441, -110.710549© Jeff Chow
Submerged Trees: Narrow Gauge Terrace
Location: 44.969441, -110.710549© Jeff Chow
Steaming Falls at Narrow Gauge Terrace
Location: 44.969356, -110.710501© Jeff Chow
Sunset at Narrow Gauge Terrace
Location: 44.969514, -110.710378© Jeff Chow
Lone Tree at Narrow Gauge Terrace
Location: 44.969570, -110.710143© Jeff Chow
Narrow Gauge Terrace Sign
Location: 44.969342, -110.710525© Jeff Chow
Overlook
Location: 44.970155, -110.709885© Jeff Chow
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