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Posted by Rick (69.135.202.130) on 19:31:06 05/23/13
In Reply to: suggestions for hikes posted by ursusani
1. Mystic Falls--just a mile or a bit more each way, no real elevation change unless you go up the switchbacks at the end, which isn't really necessary to see the falls
2. Little Gibbon Falls--less than a mile each way, bit of a hill at the end. Probably pretty soupy this early in the year, though.
3. In the Tetons, going north from String Lake past Leigh Lake up to Bearpaw and Trapper Lakes. No real elevation change at all, you're walking on the eastern shore of the lakes, partly along the "beaches." I think it's about 4 miles each way if you go all the way to the two small lakes at the end, but you could turn around at any point. I would do this as early in the morning as you can stand getting up--the lighting is much better at sunrise, and this trail gets a lot more crowded as the day goes on.
4. Storm Point--nice walk through some meadows and then through a wooded area before coming out onto the exposed area on the edge of Yellowstone Lake. About 3 miles round trip, I believe. A little up and down as you go, but no real elevation change.
5. Again in the Tetons, Swan Lake and Heron Pond make for a nice loop. Trail leaves from the Colter Bay area. Around 3 or 4 miles round trip, but there are lots of connecting trails in this area so you can add or subtract as you like. No elevation change to speak of.
6. Clear Lake/Lilypad Lake/Artist Point loop--park in the Chittenden Bridge lot on the South Rim drive. Head through some rolling meadows for a mile and a half to Clear Lake, then left for another half mile to Lilypad Lake. (Used to be an interesting little thermal area in this area, but it's been a while since I've been on this trail, so I have no idea if it's active any more.) Then left through the trees for a little while until you reach the canyon, and left to Artist Point. Then you follow the South Rim trail back toward the parking area for Uncle Tom's Trail and cut across to where you parked. Dunno the distance, maybe 6 or 7 miles total? Toughest part for you might be the South Rim Trail, since it does wind up and down some along the canyon rim. This trail has been closed at times the last few years because of bear activity, dunno what this year's status is.
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