Old Faithful Area Ski Trails
For complete ski trail descriptions, maps and the most current conditions, please visit the Bear Den Ski Shops at Mammoth and Old Faithful.
The Old Faithful area is only accessible by oversnow vehicles. Please call 307-344-7311 for more information on scheduled snowcoach service and tours to Old Faithful from West Yellowstone, the South Entrance at Flagg Ranch and Mammoth Hot Springs.
Lone Star Geyser Trail
7360’-7600
9 miles (round trip), easiest
240 feet elevation gain/loss
Beginning across from Old Faithful Snow Lodge, the trail follows the Mallard Lake Trail to the Firehole River crossing. The trail then follows an old road cut. After skiing over moderate hills, the trail crosses the snow road at Kepler cascades and continues along the east bank of the Firehole River. The trail follows an old service road to Lone Star Geyser. Novice skiers should return to Old Faithful by the same route. A much more difficult return route can be made on the Howard Eaton Trail. The section of trail that begins after crossing the road and continues to Lone Star Geyser is groomed. Otherwise, the trail between Old Faithful Snow Lodge and the road is skier tracked.
Howard Eaton Trail
7360’-8100
8 miles, more to most difficult
520 feet elevation gain/loss
This trail, a steep alternative to the Lone Star Geyser trail, follows the Fern Cascades trail from behind the Bear Den Ski Shop south through the cabin area and across the snow road. From there the trail starts a long steep climb followed by a rolling descent toward Lone Star Geyser. Just before the thermal area and geyser is a trail that cuts off to the Lone Star Geyser trail.
Spring Creek Trail
7360’-8100’
8 miles, easiest to more difficult
740 feet elevation gain/loss
This one-way trip begins with a snowcoach drop-off at the Divide trailhead. The trail follows Spring Creek and consists mostly of gentle downhills with a few steep sections crossing back and forth over a series of bridges. After crossing the Firehole River Bridge, the trail joins the Lone Star Geyser Trail returning to Old Faithful.
Divide Trail
8044’-8590’
2.6 miles up and back from Spring Creek Trail Junction (plus 8 miles returning to Old Faithful via Spring Creek), more difficult
546 elevation gain/loss
The route begins approximately 7 miles east of Old Faithful where a snowcoach can drop you off. The trail coincides with the Spring Creek Trail for a short distance and then branches left and continues its climb approximately 1.3 miles up to a pass on the Continental Divide with views of Shoshone Lake and Mount Sheridan to the south. Return to Old Faithful via Spring Creek Trail.
Fern Cascade Loop Trail
7360’-7600’
3 miles, easiest to more difficult
240 feet elevation gain/loss
The one-way Fern Cascades trail begins next to the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. The trail goes along a power line and climbs approximately 250 feet. The trail continues through rolling woodlands to Fern Cascades.
Mallard Lake Trail
7360’-8120’
6.8 miles (round trip), more difficult
760 feet elevation gain/loss
The Mallard Lake Trail begins across the road from the front of the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. The trail follows a service road toward the Old Faithful Lodge and then down two short hills to the Firehole River. After crossing the bridge, the trail divides. There is a long climb to Mallard Lake with some steep sections and some side hills.
Mallard Creek Trail
7320’-8120’
12 miles round trip from Old Faithful, easiest to most difficult
800 feet elevation gain/loss
This trail branches off the Mallard Lake Trail just before the lake itself. From there the trail climbs steeply at times up to the northwest overlooking the lake and then follows the ridge to the northwest. This section of the trail has numerous steep gully crossings and many challenging turns. The return to Old Faithful is another 4 miles of flat gently rolling terrain along a power line and then through the Geyser Basin.
Black Sand Basin Trail
7280’-7360’
4 miles, easiest
80 feet elevation gain/loss
The route begins in front of Old Faithful Visitor Center and travels through the Geyser Basin toward Morning Glory Pool. Take the turn-off to the Daisy Geyser Group and continue on this trail until you come to the snow vehicle road.
Biscuit Basin Loop Trail
7320’-7360’
40 feet elevation gain/loss
The route begins across the road from Old Faithful Snow Lodge and continues through the Geyser Basin. It goes east of Morning Glory Pool and on to Biscuit Basin. This trail passes by many thermal features with good possibilities of viewing wildlife. To complete the loop back to Old Faithful, follow the Mystic Falls Trail a few yards, then onto a trail which leads down to a footbridge across the Little Firehole River. From the bridge, the trail continues through the woods and meadows for about a mile, returning to the main trail through the Geyser Basin at Grotto Geyser.
Mystic Falls Trail
7320’-7400’
7 miles, easiest to more difficult
80 feet elevation gain/loss
Follow the Biscuit Basin Trail through the Geyser Basin to Morning Glory Pool and on to Biscuit Basin. You will find the trail to Mystic Falls at the far end of the basin boardwalk area. Ahead about 50 yards the trail branches off to Summit Lake. Continuing on, the Mystics Falls Trail approaches the falls. Return by the same route.
Fairy Falls Trail
11 miles, easiest
160 feet elevation gain/loss
The route begins at the southern end of Fountain Flats Drive. The trail follows the drive for approximately 1.3 miles. From there to Fairy Falls it passes through flat terrain covered with lodgepole pine forest. To return to Old Faithful, ski back to the trailhead and cross the snow road to pick up the return trail. After ½ mile you will see Mallard Creek trail, follow along the power line for several miles back to the Geyser Basin and then several more miles back to Old Faithful.
Additional classic and ski skating trails are groomed throughout the Old Faithful area utilizing parking lots and roadways that are not used during the winter season.
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