Yellowstone National Park, WY · MT · ID
A remote 3.7-mile connector between two backcountry trails.
Overview
Map & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Yellowstone Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Yellowstone National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Yellowstone audio tour“First time driving through a national park. We used the Yellowstone tour on grand loop Road and it’s just like having a tour guide in your car with you.”
Trail guide
Fern Lake Trail is a 3.7-mile point-to-point connector in Yellowstone’s remote Pelican–Wapiti backcountry. Its west end joins Wapiti Lake Trail and its east end joins Astringent Creek Trail; it passes near Fern Lake. Allow about three hours for this segment alone. It drops roughly 650 feet from west to east, with a few smaller rises. The high elevation and isolation count more than the mileage.
There is no road-side Fern Lake trailhead. The west junction is about 12 miles along Wapiti Lake Trail from Chittenden Bridge Picnic Area, the named Wapiti Lake trailhead. The 3.7 miles here does not include that approach or a way back from the east end. Treat this as one leg of a longer backcountry route and plan the full connection before setting out.
The route sits around 8,200–8,900 feet and has no direct road access. Yellowstone bars pets on trails and recommends groups of three or more in the backcountry. Stay on established trails and don’t hike after dark; check current restrictions for the approach you choose.
Wildlife
713 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
743 sightingsWolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
5,273 sightingsBisonMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
3,258 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
397 sightingsMooseMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
1,494 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Yellowstone. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModeratePelican Creek Trail9.2 mi · 5 hr · 6.9 mi awayA remote creekside walk through Yellowstone meadow country.
ChallengingAstringent Creek Trail9.1 mi · 6.5 hr · 7.5 mi awayA remote nine-mile connector between Pelican Valley and Wapiti trails.
EasyMud Volcano Trail0.6 mi · 1.5 hr · 8.2 mi awayA compact boardwalk loop through bubbling Yellowstone mudpots.
ChallengingMist Creek Trail14.3 mi · 12 hr · 8.6 mi awayBear country, a high pass, then a long descent to the Lamar.
ChallengingMount Washburn Spur Trail16.2 mi · 9 hr · 8.8 mi awayFrom canyon rim to Washburn Hot Springs and a 10,219-foot summit.
ChallengingSeven Mile Hole Trail10 mi · 6.5 hr · 8.8 mi awaySilver Cord Cascade first, then the steep drop to the river.
ModerateArtist Point–Point Sublime Trail3 mi · 1.8 hr · 9 mi awayThe canyon views begin before you reach Point Sublime.
ChallengingPelican Cone Trail22.3 mi · 10 hr · 9.4 mi awayA long backcountry walk to a rare summit fire lookout.
Sight · 7.3 mi awayLeHardys RapidsWatch the river tumble; spring trout are a bonus.
Picnic area · 7.8 mi awayNez Perce Ford Picnic AreaA quiet lunch break beside the Yellowstone River.
Picnic area · 7.9 mi awayLeHardys Picnic AreaA chance to see cutthroat trout leap upstream in spring.
Picnic area · 7.9 mi awayCascade Picnic AreaA useful table break beside the Yellowstone River.
Sight · 8 mi awaySulphur CaldronA quick look at one of Yellowstone's most acidic hot springs.
Sight · 8.1 mi awayPoint SublimeFollow the canyon rim; the clearest views come before the far point.
Sight · 8.2 mi awayMud VolcanoBubbling mud, sulfur air, and Dragon’s Mouth share a short loop.
Sight · 8.4 mi awayHayden Valley Overlook at Yellowstone RiverWide river bends make this a good place to scan for bison.Parkwolf’s Yellowstone ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
