Last updated: February 5, 2024
Thing to Do
Beaver Ponds Trail
![Hikers travel along a trail through the sagebrush with a mountain peak in the distance.](/common/uploads/cropped_image/primary/D2B00F56-B711-94F7-4D438609A995DAC6.jpg?width=1300&quality=90&mode=crop)
NPS / Neal Herbert
The trail gains over 350 feet in elevation and rambles through sagebrush meadows and stands of trees. The beaver ponds are approximately half-way around the loop. You might see beavers or their sign, but you are more likely to see muskrats and water birds. Along the way, look for bears, elk, mule deer, pronghorn, and moose.
Safety notes: Grizzly and black bears frequent this area.
Trailheads: North of Liberty Cap, near the stone house or behind Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel at start of Old Gardiner Road.
More on Day Hikes in Yellowstone
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Yellowstone Backcountry Situation Report
Current conditions for Yellowstone National Park trails & campsites.
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Safety in Yellowstone
Prepare yourself to safely enjoy wildlife, hydrothermal areas, and other features of Yellowstone National Park.
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Bear Spray
Read about this highly effective bear deterrent.
![Hikers standing on the rocky top of Avalanche Peak with Yellowstone Lake in the background.](/common/uploads/grid_builder/thingstodo/crop16_9/0038ED04-1DD8-B71B-0B466B2982A30A32.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Lace up your boots and explore some of the over 1,000 miles of trails in Yellowstone National Park.
![Wide valley covered in sagebrush with snow-capped mountains in the distance.](/common/uploads/grid_builder/thingstodo/crop16_9/6237718E-1DD8-B71B-0BA6E0ADC5A2B543.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Discover the amazing hikes in the northern part of Yellowstone National Park.