Parking
No road access or parking at either junction. Reach the west end on foot through the Snake River Cutoff and Harebell Cutoff trail network; plan a longer backcountry route through Heart River Trail.
Overview
About Snake River Canyon Trail
Why go
- Follows the Snake River through open meadows and forest.
- Connects the South Boundary network with Heart River Trail.
Heads up
- No road access; the approach and exit are longer backcountry routes.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Yellowstone map
Full mapElevation7,182–7,287 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
5 active Yellowstone alerts
- ClosureBiscuit Basin closed after hydrothermal explosionBiscuit Basin’s parking lot, boardwalk, and Firehole River are closed to all travel.Official details
- ClosureMost Yellowstone roads close to regular vehicles November 1Most Yellowstone roads and the West, South, and East entrances are scheduled to close to regular vehicles November 1, 2026, as the park prepares for winter operations.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
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- Wildlife heatmapsfor Wolf, Grizzly Bear, Bison, and 13 more
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Trail guide
Hiking Snake River Canyon Trail
What this route connectsSnake River Canyon Trail is a 2.
Snake River Canyon Trail is a 2.5-mile one-way connector through Yellowstone's southern backcountry. It links the South Boundary trail network with Heart River Trail. The mapped route starts at the Snake River Cutoff and Harebell Cutoff junction and ends at the Heart River Trail junction; the line measures 2.58 miles. Count the approach to its western end, and the route beyond Heart River, separately. This is a point-to-point segment, not a loop.
Access and effortThere is no road access or parking at either junction.
There is no road access or parking at either junction. Reach the western end on foot through the Snake River Cutoff and Harebell Cutoff trail network, then plan an onward route from Heart River Trail. The segment itself is rated easy; allow about 1½ hours for its 2.5 miles, then add all approach and exit miles. That's a planning estimate because no stand-alone time is published. Pets aren't allowed on hiking trails or in the backcountry; trained service animals are allowed.
Along the riverExpect open meadows alternating with tree cover, with the Snake River valley as the main payoff.
Expect open meadows alternating with tree cover, with the Snake River valley as the main payoff. At the river-side junction, stop for the view down the valley; include the grassy bank, water and pine-covered slopes in your photo.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Yellowstone
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.
