Two Ribbons Trail
| Trail Features: | Scenic River Views, Quiet Forest Hike |  |
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| Trail Location: | West Entrance Road | ||||
| Roundtrip Length: | 0.7 Miles | ||||
| Trailhead Elevation: | 6693 Feet | ||||
| Total Elevation Gain: | 10 Feet | ||||
| Avg. Elev Gain / Mile: | 29 Feet | ||||
| Highest Elevation: | 6700 Feet | ||||
| Trail Difficulty Rating: | 0.72 (easy) | ||||
| Parking Lot Latitude | 44.65162 | ||||
| Parking Lot Longitude | -111.03075 | ||||
Trail Description:
The hike along the Two Ribbons Trail in Yellowstone National Park begins just a couple of miles from the West Entrance into the park. There are actually two trailheads for this loop hike, though neither of them is marked with road signs. The parking areas are 2.5 miles and 2.9 miles from the West Entrance, and both are located on the north side of West Entrance Road. Each parking area provides a short walk of roughly one-tenth of a mile to reach the main loop portion of the Two Ribbons Trail.
The loop provides hikers with the opportunity to walk along the beautiful Madison River, whose headwaters are located only a few miles upstream at the confluence of the Firehole and Gibbon rivers, now known as Madison Junction. Conversely, the Madison River is one of the headwater tributaries of the Missouri River. The confluence of the Madison, Jefferson and Gallatin rivers, located near Three Forks, Montana, marks the beginning of the Missouri River.
Essentially, there are two sections of the loop. Depending on which direction you decide to take, one portion of the hike travels along the river, while the other passes through an area that was burned during the 1988 wildfire. Along the river hikers will enjoy views of the distant Gallatin Range towards the north and west. You may also be able to see a variety of waterfowl, ospreys, bald eagles, bison, and maybe even some river otters. Generally speaking, the best time to see wildlife is in the morning or evening hours. During the early and mid-summer periods hikers will also enjoy a wide variety of wildflowers in this area.
The entire route travels along raised boardwalks. There are also several benches located around the loop that provide walkers with the chance to sit back and relax while soaking-in the scenery.
The Two Ribbons Trail is a nice and easy hike if you wish to get out and stretch your legs, or possibly take as an after dinner walk, since it’s only a few minutes from West Yellowstone. This is also a great hike for the entire family.
Additional Resources:
* Yellowstone National Park website
* Trail Map (trails are not included on the official park map)
* Lonely Planet Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks