Riverside Ski Trail

Riverside Ski Trail is a two-loop network reached by a shared forest approach from Boundary Street in West Yellowstone. The full combined outing is about 7.6 miles round trip, including both loops and the access path in and out; allow about 3 to 4 hours on foot. It is a long but mostly gentle walk, with open river meadows and a more panoramic Upriver section. The listed pieces are rounded: their distances add to about 7 miles, while the connected mapped route measures about 7.6. Use the longer figure for this full itinerary.

The approach runs about a mile through forest before reaching the junction above the Madison River. Go left for the Downriver Loop, which passes open forest and meadow beside the river; the full loop is listed at 3.5 miles, with a cutoff that shortens it to 2.2. Back at the junction, the Upriver Loop goes right for broad views of the river and Gallatin Range. It is listed at 1.5 miles. On the Upriver route, expect a short steep drop to the river before the gentler return toward the bench above it. If you only want one loop, the Upriver option makes the shortest outing from town once you add the shared access each way.

Bison and elk use this area, and bald eagles and waterfowl are among the birds to watch for. Keep at least 25 yards from bison and other wildlife and 100 yards from bears and wolves. Sightings are never guaranteed, and the route's river setting means animals can be close to the path.