Latitudes with Lucy

Many visitors to Yellowstone National Park don’t hike more than a few miles. Main attractions like Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic are close to the road; you can see many incredible sights with only one day in Yellowstone. However, it’s well-worth it to escape the crowds and hike deeper into Yellowstone’s incredible wilderness.

I visited Yellowstone during the busiest part of summer, and I only passed two other groups on this trail. It has the best of Yellowstone: woods, valleys, thermal features, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. But, don’t let the name fool you, Seven Mile Hole is a ten-mile hike.

Seven Mile Hole

10 miles, 2000 ft elevation gain

Seven Mile Hole is a slice of solitude in an otherwise overcrowded park. Please take care of this beautiful place and Leave No Trace. Pack everything out, including food waste like orange peels, and reduce off-trail foot traffic.

Seven Mile Hole is a trail to the bottom of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and you can wade in the Yellowstone River at the end. This hike is very steep and strenuous; prepare for a challenge!

The trailhead is at Glacial Boulder Trailhead just before Inspiration Point. The trail starts out flat through a forest with overlooks on the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Three miles in, the descent into the canyon begins. The trail loses nearly 2,000 ft of elevation in just two miles. That is significant.

Know your limits! You have to hike back out of the canyon. Not only is it harder to hike uphill, but it gets hotter in the afternoon.

The steep dirt has little traction, so quality hiking shoes are a necessity.

Around halfway down, the trees open up to expansive canyon views. But watch your step; thermal features bubble near the trail here!

Once you reach the bottom, dip your feet in the sparkling blue Yellowstone River! Pack plenty of water and snacks, so you can rest as long as needed.

It’s absolutely beautiful down here, and you should feel proud that you are one of the few Yellowstone visitors that have seen the bottom of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. But remember, the hard part is still to come.

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