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This week in Yellowstone National Park, from June 18th to June 24th, 2026, I will tell you why now is the time to hit up a specific lake in the northern range, give some tips on how to avoid the summer crowds, and share some history of an expedition before the park was the park. I will also give you the complete weather forecast, a cool trail to hike, the snowpack update, the wildlife report, and everything else you need to have an incredible time, “This Week in Yellowstone.”
LISTEN TO THIS AS A PODCAST
The text below is my notes for the podcast. They may be incomplete.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-yellowstone-national-park/id1789397931
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Disclaimer: I may miss a few details, so please feel free to reach out with any questions. I also mention park locations casually. If you’re unfamiliar, a quick search can help. This report only covers drivable areas of the park.
Also, this podcast is a passion project. If you enjoy it, I’d love a review or a quick email! To support my work, check out my hiking and wildlife-watching guidebooks, or join me for a guided hiking tour in Yellowstone’s backcountry. For more information, visit outdoor-society.com or contact me directly. Seriously though, come book a trail tour with me.
THIS WEEK’S YELLOWSTONE NEWS
Summer Solstice
Mosquitos
Feeding Wildlife
What to do when bison are on the trail ANSWER
EXPERIENCE OF THE WEEK
Watching Cutthroat Trout Spawn at Trout Lake
When people think about wildlife watching in Yellowstone National Park, they usually picture wolves crossing Lamar Valley, grizzly bears roaming a hillside, or bison grazing near the road. One of the park’s most fascinating wildlife events, however, happens underwater. Every year in late spring and early summer, Yellowstone cutthroat trout gather at Trout Lake to spawn, creating one of the easiest and most rewarding wildlife-viewing opportunities in the park.
If you have never heard of a cutthroat trout, you are not alone. Yellowstone cutthroat trout are a native fish species found throughout much of the Yellowstone River drainage. They are named for the bright red, orange, or pink slash marks found beneath their lower jaws, which look somewhat like a cut across the throat. During most of the year, they have a silvery appearance with dark spots scattered across their bodies. During spawning season, however, they become much more colorful, with vivid gold, orange, and red tones that make them stand out in the clear water.
These fish are far more important than many visitors realize. Yellowstone cutthroat trout are considered a keystone species within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Numerous animals depend on them for food, including river otters, ospreys, bald eagles, pelicans, mergansers, and other fish-eating wildlife. Their annual migrations help move nutrients through the ecosystem and support a surprising amount of Yellowstone’s wildlife.
One of the best places in the park to watch this natural event unfold is Trout Lake, located along the Northeast Entrance Road between Tower Junction and Cooke City. Many visitors drive right past the trailhead without realizing what they are missing. A short trail climbs about 150 feet through the forest before reaching the lake. While the climb is somewhat steep, the hike is only about 1.2 miles round trip, making it accessible for most visitors.
The timing of the spawn varies slightly from year to year depending on snowpack, runoff, and water temperatures, but mid-June through early July is generally the best window for viewing. This timing makes Trout Lake an especially appealing stop for visitors exploring the northeastern section of Yellowstone during early summer.
Once the fish begin spawning, the action becomes surprisingly easy to see. Adult cutthroat trout move from the lake into nearby streams and shallow areas where they lay and fertilize eggs in gravel-bottomed sections of water. Instead of hiding in deep water, many of the fish gather in places where visitors can watch them from shore. During peak spawning periods, dozens of trout may be visible at once.
The outlet stream near the lake is often the best place to look. Here, fish can be seen holding steady in the current, moving upstream, or gathering in groups as they search for suitable spawning habitat. Males frequently compete for access to females, creating bursts of activity that are easy to spot even from a distance. On sunny days, the trout’s bright spawning colors can be stunning against the clear water and streambed.
Early mornings are often the most enjoyable time to visit. The lighting tends to be better, temperatures are cooler, and there are usually fewer people on the trail. Evening can also be productive, particularly for photographers hoping to capture reflections on the lake or colorful fish moving through shallow water.
One of the unexpected benefits of visiting during the spawn is that you are not just watching fish. The concentration of trout often attracts other wildlife. Ospreys may circle overhead searching for a meal, bald eagles sometimes perch nearby, and river otters occasionally appear around the lake. Even if the trout are the main attraction, it is worth keeping an eye on the surrounding forest and shoreline.
As exciting as the spawn can be, it is important to remember that these fish are engaged in one of the most critical parts of their life cycle. Yellowstone asks visitors to stay on designated trails and avoid entering streams or disturbing spawning habitat. The gravel beds where trout deposit their eggs are fragile, and even minor disturbances can damage future generations of fish.
There is something special about standing beside a quiet Yellowstone lake and watching a natural process that has been repeated for thousands of years. There are no crowds surrounding a famous geyser and no long lines of cars parked along the roadside. Instead, there is simply the sight of native fish following ancient instincts as they return to spawning waters.
For visitors looking to experience a different side of Yellowstone, the cutthroat trout spawn at Trout Lake is well worth the short hike. It offers a chance to see one of the park’s most important native species up close while gaining a deeper appreciation for the connections that tie Yellowstone’s entire ecosystem together.
TIP OF THE WEEK
Avoiding Lines and Wait Times
Summer in Yellowstone National Park is one of the most exciting times of the year. Wildflowers paint the meadows with color, bison calves race through the grasslands, waterfalls thunder with snowmelt, and nearly every corner of the park seems to come alive. It is also the busiest season.
Yellowstone receives the vast majority of its annual visitation between June and August, with millions of visitors arriving during those three months alone. That popularity means that some of the park’s most famous destinations can become crowded, especially in the middle of the day.
Fortunately, visiting Yellowstone in summer does not mean spending your entire vacation in traffic jams or crowded boardwalks. With a little planning and a willingness to adjust your schedule, it is entirely possible to enjoy a quieter side of the park while still experiencing its most famous attractions.
One of the easiest ways to avoid crowds is to embrace Yellowstone’s early mornings. While many visitors are still eating breakfast or waiting for the coffee shops to open, the park can feel remarkably peaceful. Wildlife is often most active during the cooler hours around sunrise, making early morning one of the best times to spot bison, elk, bears, wolves, and other animals. The National Park Service routinely recommends early morning and evening for wildlife viewing, and those same hours also happen to be some of the quietest times to visit popular destinations.
The difference can be dramatic. Arriving at Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, or the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone before most visitors are awake often provides a completely different experience than visiting at noon. The lighting is better, temperatures are cooler, and the sense of space that makes Yellowstone special is much easier to appreciate.
The middle of the day is when Yellowstone’s busiest areas typically see their largest crowds. Rather than fighting for parking at a major attraction during peak hours, consider using that time differently. Find a picnic area, enjoy a leisurely lunch, take a short hike, or visit one of the park’s lesser-known destinations. Yellowstone contains more than 1,000 miles of trails, and many of them receive only a fraction of the visitation seen at the park’s most famous boardwalks and overlooks.
Another helpful strategy is simply slowing down. Many visitors feel pressure to see everything in a single trip, which often turns Yellowstone into a checklist rather than an experience. The reality is that Yellowstone is nearly 3,500 square miles in size. No one sees it all in a few days.
Some of the most memorable Yellowstone experiences happen when you stop rushing. Instead of spending thirty seconds at an overlook before moving on to the next attraction, spend a little time watching the changing colors in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone or observing wildlife behavior from a safe distance. Yellowstone rewards patience. The longer you stay in one place, the more likely you are to notice details that others miss.
Where you enter the park can also influence your experience. The West Entrance near the town of West Yellowstone consistently handles the largest share of visitors. During spring and summer mornings, entrance lines can become lengthy as thousands of vehicles enter the park. You will encounter lines pretty much every day at West between 8 am and 10:30 am or later. That same traffic will also be exiting the park around 5 or 6 pm. No other entrance to the park is remotely as crowded as West. Not even the north entrance.
Food can be another source of frustration during peak season. Restaurants and snack bars often experience long lines during lunch hours. Packing a picnic can transform the experience. Yellowstone maintains dozens of designated picnic areas throughout the park, many of which are located in beautiful settings along rivers, lakes, and forests. Several picnic areas occupy sites that were once campgrounds, offering visitors a chance to enjoy some of Yellowstone’s quieter corners.
A picnic lunch also creates flexibility. Instead of structuring your day around restaurant reservations or cafeteria lines, you can stop whenever you find a scenic location that inspires you to stay awhile. Just remember to properly store and dispose of all food and trash. The National Park Service reminds visitors that even small food scraps can negatively impact wildlife.
As the day winds down, Yellowstone often becomes peaceful again. Evening is one of the most underrated times to be in the park. The crowds begin to thin, temperatures cool, and wildlife activity often increases. The golden light of sunset can transform familiar landscapes into something entirely different. Yellowstone Lake, Hayden Valley, and Lamar Valley are particularly beautiful during the final hours of daylight.
The final secret to avoiding crowds may be the simplest: venture beyond the places everyone else is visiting. Yellowstone’s famous attractions deserve their reputation, but they represent only a small portion of the park. Scenic pullouts, short trails, historic sites, waterfalls, wildlife viewing areas, and lesser-known thermal features are scattered throughout Yellowstone. Many receive only a fraction of the visitors seen at the park’s marquee destinations.
Summer crowds are simply part of visiting one of the world’s most beloved national parks. The good news is that Yellowstone is large enough to accommodate both the famous attractions and the quiet moments. By starting early, slowing down, staying flexible, and occasionally stepping away from the busiest boardwalks, you can experience the Yellowstone that keeps people returning year after year.
RANDOM YELLOWSTONE FACT OF THE WEEK
The 1870 Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition Expedition
If you have ever stood at Old Faithful, gazed into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, or driven past Mount Washburn, you have experienced the legacy of one of the most important journeys in Yellowstone history. Long before Yellowstone became the world’s first national park in 1872, a small group of explorers set out to determine whether the incredible stories coming from the Yellowstone region were actually true. Their journey, known today as the 1870 Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition, helped convince the nation that Yellowstone was a place unlike any other and worthy of protection.
The expedition began in August 1870 when a party of civilians from Montana Territory joined forces with a military escort led by Lieutenant Gustavus Doane. The civilian members included Surveyor General Henry D. Washburn, businessman and future Yellowstone advocate Nathaniel P. Langford, attorney Cornelius Hedges, and several other prominent Montanans. Their goal was straightforward: explore, map, and document the Yellowstone region in greater detail than anyone had before. Earlier expeditions had reported incredible geysers, waterfalls, canyons, and hot springs, but many people back east dismissed those reports as exaggerations. The Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition would provide the evidence needed to prove otherwise.
Starting near present-day Bozeman, the expedition traveled south into what is now Yellowstone National Park. Over the course of several weeks, the group visited many of the same places that millions of visitors travel to every year. They marveled at Tower Fall, explored the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, traveled along Yellowstone Lake, and ventured into the geyser basins along the Firehole River. Their journals and reports described a landscape that seemed almost impossible to believe.
One of the most famous moments of the expedition occurred on September 18, 1870, when the party observed a geyser erupting with remarkable regularity. After watching it erupt repeatedly during their stay, they gave it a name that has endured for more than 150 years: Old Faithful. Today, Old Faithful remains one of the most famous geysers in the world, and every visitor who gathers around it is witnessing a feature that received its name during this expedition.
The expedition also left its mark on Yellowstone’s map. Mount Washburn, one of the park’s most recognizable peaks, was named for expedition leader Henry Washburn. Other features throughout the park commemorate members of the party, including Mount Everts, Mount Langford, and Hedges Peak. Even if visitors know nothing about the expedition, they encounter its legacy every time they read a map or stop at a trailhead bearing one of these names.
One of the most dramatic episodes of the journey involved expedition member Truman Everts. During the trip, Everts became separated from the group and spent 37 days alone in the Yellowstone wilderness before being rescued. His survival story captured national attention when it was later published, helping fuel public fascination with Yellowstone. While modern visitors travel the park on paved roads and maintained trails, Everts’ ordeal serves as a reminder of how remote and challenging this landscape once was.
Perhaps the expedition’s greatest contribution was not the places it visited but the stories it told afterward. Nathaniel Langford, Cornelius Hedges, and others returned home determined to share what they had seen. They wrote articles, delivered lectures, and promoted the Yellowstone region to audiences who had never witnessed anything like it. Their descriptions helped inspire the famous 1871 Hayden Survey, which brought scientists, artists, and photographers into Yellowstone. The findings from those expeditions ultimately helped persuade Congress to establish Yellowstone National Park in 1872.
Visitors today can still see tangible evidence of the expedition’s influence throughout Yellowstone. Old Faithful remains the park’s most iconic attraction. The trail to the summit of Mount Washburn honors the expedition leader. Tower Fall still carries the name popularized by these early explorers. Even the idea of Yellowstone as a place preserved for future generations can be traced, at least in part, to conversations and advocacy that emerged after the expedition returned home. Cornelius Hedges became one of the strongest supporters of setting the region aside from private development, helping shape the conservation vision that eventually became the national park system.
It is important to remember that the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition did not “discover” Yellowstone. Indigenous peoples had lived in, traveled through, hunted in, and known this landscape for thousands of years before the expedition arrived. What the expedition accomplished was something different. Its members introduced Yellowstone’s wonders to a wider American audience at a time when the nation was expanding westward and deciding how to manage its public lands.
More than 150 years later, the impact of the expedition remains visible everywhere in Yellowstone. Every eruption of Old Faithful, every hike up Mount Washburn, and every visitor who pauses at the edge of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone reflect a legacy that began with a group of explorers determined to see whether the stories were true. What they found exceeded their expectations and helped ensure that future generations would be able to experience the same remarkable landscape for themselves.
WEATHER FOR THE COMING WEEK
I am too lazy to type it all out, so you’ll have to listen to the podcast to get the weather forecast, or just contact me.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-yellowstone-national-park/id1789397931
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/41E5WWldz4s7n6NXh2Lahr
RSS: https://rss.com/podcasts/this-week-in-yellowstone-national-park/
ROADS CONDITIONS
No main park roads are closed now. While unlikely, be aware that roads can close at any time due to inclement weather.
For up-to-date information, call (307) 344-2117 for recorded information, or sign up to receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting “82190” to 888-777.
CAMPING INFO
Mammoth is open. Madison is open. Fishing Bridge is open. Bridge Bay is open. Tower Campground is open. Canyon is open. Indian Creek is open. Slough Creek is open. Lewis Lake is open.
WILDLIFE WATCHING UPDATE
You have to listen to the podcast to get this information. Sorry.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-yellowstone-national-park/id1789397931
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/41E5WWldz4s7n6NXh2Lahr
RSS: https://rss.com/podcasts/this-week-in-yellowstone-national-park/
PICK UP A GUIDEBOOK
Love what you have heard on this podcast and want more information on wildlife watching? Get a copy of my wildlife-watching guidebook to the region! Available in both ebook and paperback formats, my book will help you spot wildlife like a seasoned local. Please consider buying a book directly from me, as I make next to nothing when they are sold on Amazon. Grab your copy now at outdoor-society.com!
TRAIL ALERTS AND UPDATES
The backcountry Conditions Page is updated! I have a link to it in the show notes. That site is the easiest way to check the status of a trail you want to hike.
Carry bear spray. Have it readily accessible and not in a backpack. Know how to use it.
TREK OF THE WEEK
Mount Washburn from the Canyon Side
If there is one hike that perfectly combines Yellowstone’s mountain scenery, wildlife viewing opportunities, and sweeping panoramic views, it is Mount Washburn. Rising to 10,219 feet, this prominent peak stands near the center of the park and offers some of the most expansive vistas available from any day hike in Yellowstone. On a clear day, you can see mountains and park features in all directions, making the summit one of the finest viewpoints in the park.
Most hikers reach the summit from the Dunraven Pass Trailhead, located about 4.5 miles north of Canyon Village. This route is approximately 7 miles round-trip and is considered strenuous for many. However, the grade remains fairly consistent throughout the climb, so there are no super steep parts. The trail follows an old road that works its way up ridgelines, allowing the scenery to unfold almost immediately.
One of the things that makes Mount Washburn so enjoyable is that the views begin long before you reach the summit. After leaving the trailhead, the path climbs gradually through subalpine terrain before emerging into open slopes covered with wildflowers during mid-summer. Late June is particularly spectacular, when a little snow still lingers, and the first of the wildflowers start their colorful blooms. Looking back, you can often see the forests of the Yellowstone Plateau stretching toward Canyon Village, while distant mountain ranges rise along the horizon.
Wildlife is another reason many visitors consider this one of Yellowstone’s classic hikes. Bighorn sheep are frequently seen on the upper slopes, often grazing surprisingly close to the trail. Spotting one is not guaranteed, of course, but Mount Washburn is among the most reliable places in the park to encounter them. Marmots, ground squirrels, and soaring raptors are also common sights during the summer months.
As you gain elevation, the trail spends much of its time above treeline, which creates the feeling of walking through Yellowstone’s alpine world. The open terrain provides remarkable views but also means hikers are exposed to the weather. Afternoon thunderstorms can develop quickly, and lightning is a serious concern on the mountain. Starting early in the day is often the best strategy, allowing you to enjoy cooler temperatures and increase your chances of reaching the summit before storms develop.
The summit itself is a destination worth savoring. Sitting atop the mountain is one of Yellowstone’s historic fire lookouts, one of only a few remaining lookout stations in the park. The lookout remains staffed during much of the fire season, and interpretive exhibits inside the shelter help visitors understand both Yellowstone’s fire history and the surrounding landscape. From the summit, the views seem endless. Yellowstone Lake glimmers in the distance, the Absaroka Range dominates the eastern skyline, and much of northern Yellowstone stretches out below.
Mount Washburn is also fascinating from a geological perspective. The mountain is actually the remnant of an ancient volcano that formed roughly 50 million years ago as part of the Absaroka volcanic field. Later volcanic activity associated with the Yellowstone Caldera dramatically altered the landscape, leaving only part of the original volcano visible today. Standing on the summit, you are literally standing on one of Yellowstone’s oldest volcanic features while looking out across one of its youngest.
Although the hike is popular, it still feels distinctly wild. As with most of the park, black and grizzly bears regularly use the Mount Washburn area. Yellowstone National Park recommends hiking in groups of three or more people, carrying bear spray, making noise, and staying alert.
For visitors looking for a hike that delivers a little bit of everything, Mount Washburn is hard to beat. It offers alpine scenery, wildflowers, wildlife, geology, history, and some of the best views in Yellowstone, all on a single trail. Whether it is your first visit to the park or your tenth, reaching the summit feels like earning a front-row seat to one of the most spectacular landscapes in North America.
