Storm Point - Yellowstone National Park

One of the best things you can do during your visit to Yellowstone is to take a hike in the back country. You will be able to appreciate the natural wonders of Yellowstone without the distracting crowds of tourists. A hike to Storm Point is an easy back-country hike.  You'll walk on a mostly level trail through a beautiful pine tree forest and end on a secluded section of Yellowstone Lake.

Location: The trail head is located at a pull out on the East Entrance Road 2.7 miles east of Fishing Bridge.

Hiking Distance and Time: 2.3 miles round trip. Plan for this hike to take about 90 minutes.

Open Season: Late June through September (The trail is open earlier, but bears frequent the area in May and Early June so hike with caution if you want to try to hike earlier.)

Date of Visit: Wednesday, June 21, 2017

In the summer of 2017 I received a job with Xanterra Parks and Resorts in Yellowstone National Park. I moved there with my husband and our four young children. We lived in a 25 foot RV and spent all our free time exploring the park. This is one of many posts that I will write about specific features within Yellowstone National Park. Be sure to check out my other posts for more tips for your Yellowstone visit.
I first heard about the Storm Point Hike from one of my co-workers.  It was her first hike in Yellowstone and she said it was great. A few days later my family tried to squeeze in a hike to Storm Point before we went to on a trip to Cody, Wyoming.  But a large buffalo was sleeping within 3 feet of the trail.  So we decided to try the hike another day.

That other day happened to be June 21st, the first day of summer. . The trail starts at a pull out on the south-side of the East Entrance Road 2.7 miles east of Fishing Bridge. First we passed Indian Pond.

After about 100 yards we could see Yellowstone Lake.

Soon we were standing on the edge of a small cliff above the lake.  Any time you stand on the edge of this lake you can't help but marvel at the beauty of the blue water. This location is extra special because it's far away from the road.  Somehow not being able to hear cars drive by makes the view even better.

The trail headed to the right into a pine forest.  Most of the time we were skirting the edge of the cliff.

At one point we descended down into a ravine and crossed a small stream.

Eventually the trail opened up into a large field on the edge of the lake. We had seen a total of about 4 other people on our hike.  I always loved when we felt like we had Yellowstone completely to ourselves.

Storm Point itself is a large outcropping of rocks.  There hadn't been much wind while we hiked, but there was a steady breeze blowing at Storm Point.

Several weeks later we would take a boat ride on Yellowstone Lake.  This is what Storm Point looks like from the water. 

From the rocks on Storm Point we could see some picturesque cliffs.

The trail continued along those cliffs so we kept going as well.  It felt like we were standing on the edge of a stormy sea. We all enjoyed taking in the beautiful vistas. 

My kids enjoyed playing in a sandy area next to the trail.

The trail took us to an area that was near the water.  But no one was tempted to get in the water because the water was so cold.

The Storm Point trail is a loop trail.  The way back took us through more of the pine forest.  There really weren't any great sights on the way back.  Part of me wished that we returned the way we had come because we would have been able to see the lake. 

It was "Golden Hour" by the time we emerged from the forest into the clearing. I love how the light looked on the sage brush.

Recommendation: The Storm Point trail is a great back country trail for someone who doesn't want a long and strenuous hike. It has very little elevation change and leads to some beautiful vistas on Yellowstone Lake. This is a great place to go when you want to take a break from all the crowds of tourists.

Directions: The trail head is located on the East Entrance Road 2.7 miles east of Fishing Bridge.  There is a pull out on the south side of the road.  There is also a small sign that says "Storm Point Trail" to let you know you are in the right location.



Places Nearby:  If you want to see the lake, but you don't want to hike you can go to the Beach at Fishing Bridge. Its a great place to relax.

Want more Yellowstone Vacation Ideas?  Visit my list of Things you can't miss and hidden gems along the way.