Mount Washburn

Introduction

Mount Washburn rises 3,124 meters in the northeast of Yellowstone National Park, named for Henry D. Washburn, leader of the 1870 Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition, with a 1920s fire lookout still in active service at the summit. The peak is built of andesite laid down about 54 million years ago, one of the oldest geologies along the Yellowstone caldera rim. Two main routes lead to the top: the Chittenden Road Trail follows an old dirt road for about 3.8 kilometers with roughly 420 meters of gain, suitable for most hikers, while the Dunraven Pass Trail starts from the Grand Loop Road for about 10 kilometers round trip, passing through subalpine forest, alpine meadow, and bare rock zones. The summit offers 360-degree views over the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Hayden Valley, the Absaroka Range, and the distant Tetons, with frequent sightings of mountain goats, marmots, and occasional grizzly bears, making it one of Yellowstone most popular half-day hikes.

✨ Highlights

🛈 Practical Info