Bunsen Peak hike, Yellowstone

Howdee all,

Another nice hike with awesome views of Electric peak.

Charlene, Jennifer and I did this hike while Jeff and Jimmy fished.

Elevation: 8,564 Feet
Recommended Season: Spring to Fall
USGS Maps: Trails Illustrated (Mammoth Hot Springs), Mammoth USGS quad.
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 4.2 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1,300 Feet

DirectionsFrom Mammoth Hot springs, Travel 4.7 miles south. Immediately past the Golden Gate Bridge park on the left in the Glen Creek Trailhead parking lot.

Location Information
Bunsen Peak Trail, located south of Mammoth Hot Springs, offers a gradual 1,300 foot climb to the summit of Bunsen Peak. The trail climbs through sagebrush and burned pine and fir. The summit provides a panoramic view of the Blacktail Plateau, Swan Lake Flats, Absarokas Mountain Range, Electric Peak (10,992 ft.), Mount Holmes (10,336 ft.), and the Yellowstone River Valley. The peak is actually an ancient volcano cone and was named for Robert Bunsen who did early research on geysers. Return by the same route or take the trail down the back side past Osprey Falls trailhead (about 2 miles) and return via the Old Bunsen Peak Road Trail

As we begin our assent we leave the road below us..Some elevation gain and the views start coming… A lake in the distance…would love to hike out there… More distant blue lakes and mountains..

A hidden surprise on our trip to the summit..

Dusky GrouseGetting close to the summit ..and distant views of Electric peak.. Electric Peak…

will have to hike there next time we visit! At the summit…I

love this ..whoever created this rock art did an awesome job.

So I took a few photos..again Electric Peak Weathered wood

Cotton ball clouds Weathered wood sculptures

Time to head down…another way… Close encounters with…??

who knows? grasshopper? cricket?

Small bug..??

looks kind of like a stinkbug..

Down the mountain and hiking thru meadows…

The last leg of the hike is on an old roadbed..

I believe these are more sage grouse..but I didn't see any yellow around the eye..

(Dusky Grouse...ID by my fellow Bird Bloggers, Larry Jordon, and Rob Miller)

Thanks Guys!

Need birdie ID helpAny confirmations….or ID welcome.Another wonderful day…Great hike…Great views..

I Highly recommend this hike…short..and sweet… a good workout.

See ya…more Yellowstone Hikes to come…