Yellowstone National Park, WY – The Riddle Lake Trail, a relatively easy 4.8 mile (round-trip) out and back trail is located near the Continental Divide and has only mild elevation change (about 280 feet). From the trailhead, Riddle Lake Trail travels through forest with intermittent open areas. The area is mostly old growth trees. This hike is included in Bill Schneider’s Falcon Guide: Hiking Yellowstone National Park- A Guide to More than 100 Great Hikes.

Riddle Lake Trailhead

Riddle Lake Trail travels through pine forest

A lodgepole pine section

Open area along trail

Marshy meadow along the trail

Riddle Lake with smoke haze from wildfires

Riddle Lake is located at about 7,900 feet elevation. The name reflected early mappers’ curiosity of which ocean it drained to (Atlantic or Pacific). We now know it is on the eastern side of the Divide. The 274 acre lake comes into view near mile 2. There are many lily pads on the western side. Watch for wildlife in the area which is used by moose, elk, bears, and waterfowl. We were treated to a loon during our visit. Our views were obscured by smoke from wildfires.

Another view of Riddle Lake

Lily pads on Riddle Lake

Riddle Lake with smoke haze

To reach the trailhead, drive 4.1 miles south of West Thumb, and turn into the parking area on the east side of the road. This trail is not open until July 15, as this is a Bear Management Area earlier in the season.

While visiting Yellowstone National Park this trip, we stayed at the Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone, Montana. We also hiked a number of other trails including:

• Gneiss Creek
• Chain of Lakes (Cascade, Grebe, and Wolf)
• Pebble Creek
• Fawn Pass/Fan Creek
• Rescue Creek
• Black Canyon of the Yellowstone Backpack Overnight Trip: (Hellroaring, Yellowstone River Trail, Blacktail Deer Creek Trail)
• Upper Gallatin River/ Bighorn Pass Trail
• Nez Perce Creek (western Mary Mountain Trail)

During prior trips to Yellowstone we’ve also hiked:

• Artist Paintpots, Yellowstone River Picnic Area/Specimen Ridge, Rescue Creek, Trout Lake, Slough Creek, Beaver Ponds, Hellroaring Creek, Mary Mountain Trail, Pelican Creek, Fairy Falls
• Mount Washburn, Bunsen Peak, and Elephant Back
• Garnett Hill Loop, Pelican Valley, Snow Mesa/Hoodoos Loop, Lonestar Geyser, Clear Lake/Ribbon Lake/Wapiti Loop