Cascade Lake Trail
An easy meadow-and-forest walk to a quiet lake known for wildflowers and wildlife.
Route overview
Follow the signed trail through meadows and forest to Cascade Lake, then return the same way.
Cascade Lake Trail crosses open meadows and forest from a dedicated trailhead north of Canyon Village. Its modest grade makes it approachable, but wet ground, lingering snow, wildlife and exposure to afternoon storms still require normal Yellowstone backcountry discipline.
Trail facts
- Country
- United States
- Region
- Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Montana/Idaho
- Distance
- 7.0 km round trip
- Typical duration
- 2–3 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Elevation gain
- Gentle rolling profile; exact total not published on source page
- Best season
- Summer through early autumn
- Trail type
- Out and back
Access and logistics
- Permits and access
- No for ordinary day hiking
Safety context
Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure. Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure.
Wet trail, snow through July, bears, bison, mosquitoes and thunderstorms
Highlights
Cascade Lake, wildflowers, open meadows, wildlife habitat
Why find a buddy
A suitable first Yellowstone meetup where partners add wildlife awareness and shared navigation without a steep physical commitment.
Primary source
Explore and prepare
Discover hikes by intent, read the hiking guides, review hiking safety, prepare a BuddyPack, or browse hiking plans.
Route conditions, access, services and transport can change. Verify time-sensitive information before departure.