Mount Washburn Summit and Fire Lookout

At Dunraven Pass, parking can be very limited on peak summer days. There’s no water along the trail, and it crosses open alpine ground where lightning is a concern. The park advises against the Dunraven route in September and October because grizzlies frequent the area. Both summit approaches depend on seasonal road access, so check road status before you set out. A second route starts from Chittenden Road; bikes are allowed on that route.

This is one of Yellowstone’s three fire lookout stations. It’s staffed continuously from mid-June until the fire season ends, with a firefighter living there through the summer to detect, locate and monitor fires. The base has interpretive exhibits, so the tower is more than a landmark on the skyline. Public entry is not guaranteed, though, so treat the exhibits as a bonus to the summit walk.

The view takes in a broad stretch of Yellowstone. Look for the low caldera basin between the foothills and distant mountains, and the Yellowstone River valley cut across the middle distance. For a panorama, keep that valley in the frame; a tight shot of the tower misses the landscape that makes the climb worthwhile.

Mount Washburn is a remnant of an Absaroka Volcanics volcano about 50 million years old. The National Park Service says a much later eruption, 631,000 years ago, cut it in half, leaving the northern part visible. The road toward the summit also exposes old lavas and volcanic sediment, so the climb crosses evidence of the mountain’s earlier life.

In July, wildflowers carpet the slopes. Bighorn sheep are often seen near Dunraven Pass, though a sighting is never guaranteed.