Heart Lake and Mount Sheridan

Yellowstone National Park (Heart Lake Trailhead, South Entrance area)

Heart Lake lies in the southern part of Yellowstone below Mount Sheridan, with a backcountry geyser basin along the way. Hiking Project describes the trip as a 2- or 3-day backpack that covers lodgepole forest, geysers and hot springs, a large lake, and a summit with a fire lookout.

The National Park Service says the trail is closed April 1 through June 30 because of bear activity, so the season starts in July.

The hike

Backpacker describes the route from the Heart Lake Trailhead heading east on a well-maintained trail. The forest is partially burned from about the first mile, and the trail climbs gradually to a high point of about 8,140 feet near mile 4, with occasional views of the lake and Factory Hill.

At about 4.5 miles, Hiking Project says the view opens down the Witch Creek drainage to Heart Lake, with hydrothermal steam visible below. The trail then drops about 500 feet in a mile, through areas burned in 1988, into the Heart Lake Geyser Basin. Backpacker calls the basin “peppered” with fumaroles and hot springs and warns hikers to stay well back from them. Hiking Project points out that backcountry thermal areas have no boardwalks and that thin crusts can hide scalding water, so stay off bare, unvegetated ground.

At about 8 miles, Hiking Project’s route reaches the Heart Lake Ranger Station and the Trail Creek Trail junction on the shore. The Heart Lake Trail continues south along the western shore, and within half a mile passes a large thermal area with Rustic Geyser, Composite Geyser and Columbia Spring. Backpacker puts the west-shore campsites at about 8.1 miles, for a 16.2-mile round trip without the summit.

The Mount Sheridan Trail leaves from about 200 yards south of the Rustic Geyser area, according to Hiking Project, or 500 feet past campsite 8H6, according to Backpacker. Hiking Project says the summit, marked by a fire lookout, is about 3.5 miles from the lake and roughly 2,800 feet above it; Backpacker calls it a 6-mile round trip with 2,500 feet of climbing. Hiking Project recommends summiting before noon to avoid the afternoon thunderstorms that are common here.

Hiking Project’s total for the lake and summit is 23.7 miles with about 3,933 feet of climbing. Backpacker lists grizzly bears and gray wolves in the area.

The NPS describes the full Heart Lake Trail as 17.4 miles one way, continuing south to the South Boundary Trail, with Heart Lake about 7.2 miles from its north end. For another lake overnight in the southern half of the park, see Shoshone Lake; for the long trail along Yellowstone Lake’s east shore, see the Thorofare Trail.

Tips

Go after June 30. The trail is closed April 1 through June 30 for bears.
Climb Sheridan early. Hiking Project says afternoon thunderstorms are common.
Stay on paths in the geyser basins. Off-trail travel in thermal areas is prohibited.
Hike in a group and carry bear spray. The NPS recommends groups of three or more.
Bring 35 feet of rope for the food pole.

Camping

A Yellowstone backcountry permit is required, and camping is only at designated sites. The NPS says about 75% of sites can be reserved on Recreation.gov at least three days ahead, with walk-up permits issued in person up to two days before a trip; from May 15 to Oct. 31 you pick up your permit in person. Stays run 1 to 3 nights, group sizes are 4 to 12 by site, and most sites take one group. Every site has a food pole or box. The NPS trailhead page says to sleep at least 100 yards from food storage and cooking areas and to build fires only in established rings at designated sites. Pets aren’t allowed on park trails.

Inside Intel: Backpacker’s route description points to campsite 8H6, the first of five back-to-back sites on the west shore, close to the Mount Sheridan turnoff, and notes that “Trees overhang Heart Lake next to campsite 8H6, one of 10 campsites that dot the lakeshore.” No individual camper accounts recommending a specific site were found.

Trail facts

Distance: 23.7 miles with the summit (Hiking Project); 16.2 miles round trip to the west-shore campsites (Backpacker)
Route type: Out and back
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
High point: Mount Sheridan, about 10,300 feet
Campsites: Designated sites along Heart Lake’s shore, including the west shore
Water: Heart Lake and Witch Creek; treat it and avoid thermal water
Permits: Yellowstone backcountry permit required
Season: Closed April 1 to June 30 for bears (NPS)
Bear storage: Food poles or boxes at every site; bring 35 feet of rope
Dogs: Not allowed on park trails
Trailhead: Heart Lake Trailhead (8N1), South Entrance area
Last verified: October 12, 2026

The Lowdown

Sore hips after a day on Mount Sheridan:

A summit day of roughly 2,500 to 2,800 feet of climbing, then another night at Heart Lake, is hard on side sleepers. Our article covers tent and pad fixes that help.

Read the tips →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.