Yellowstone National Park's Divide Trail Faces Maintenance Challenges, Offering Limited Views
The Divide Trail, also known as the Divide Mountain Trail, in Yellowstone National Park, is an out-and-back day hike situated off Grand Loop Road, connecting the Upper Geyser Basin and the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake. This trail ascends to the former site of a mid-20th-century fire lookout above Shoshone Lake, though the lookout itself is no longer standing. The trail is predominantly forested and covers a distance of 3.4 miles (5.5 km) with an elevation change of approximately 700 feet (213 m). A significant characteristic of the Divide Trail is the presence of considerable deadfall, as it is not among the most popular trails in Yellowstone National Park. Consequently, other trails receive priority for maintenance, leading to numerous fallen Lodgepole Pines that hikers must navigate. The views along the trail are described as extremely limited, only improving if hikers venture off-trail at an unmarked junction near the end of the hike.
