Guide to the Canyon Area

15¢
This leaflet has been produced to increase your enjoyment of Yellowstone National Park by the Yellowstone Library and Museum Association in cooperation with the National Park Service. U. S. Department of the Interior
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There are miles of trails in the Canyon area. Many are well traveled, short and paved; others are maintained and marked, but not paved.
The elevation of the Canyon rim is about 8000 feet, which makes even the short walks surprisingly strenuous for many people. Take your time, and wear good walking shoes or boots. At times it is wise to carry raingear. On the longer trails you may want to carry water and a lunch, or whatever food you think necessary.
As you travel, to avoid accidents, watch your footing and please stay on the trails. Climbing into the Canyon off the established trails is both dangerous and prohibited by law. Due to the steepness of the Canyon walls many trails have been constructed in switchback (“zigzag”) fashion. It is dangerous to cut across switchbacks. You can easily slip and fall and you might knock rocks down on someone below you. You would also cause ugly and unnatural erosion of the walls.
Do not throw anything into the canyon. Rocks and other hard objects might injure someone below you. Litter is unsightly. Removing litter from the Canyon is a dangerous and expensive job. Please help us keep the area clean.
If you plan to hike overnight in the backcountry be sure to pick up a backcountry permit at the Ranger Station. While there you can also obtain the latest trail information and advice regarding the adequacy of your equipment for the trip. For longer trips you should purchase a USGS topographic map of the park. These are available at any Visitor Center. Permits should be obtained before 5 p.m.
Most trails in Yellowstone are marked with orange or yellow metal tags tacked to trees or posts. In wooded sections the tags are fairly small (about 3×5 inches); in meadows they are larger (about 8 inches square).