The Sentinel Meadows Loop is an easy loop in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. The hike takes you to a serene expansive meadow with little traffic, providing a sense of wild solitude with little effort.

Sentinel Meadows Loop

From the trailhead, begin up the freight road where you’ll soon cross over the Firehole River just after passing Ojo Caliente Spring on the right. Immediately after crossing the river, look for the Sentinel Meadows Trail to fork off to the right. The easy trail winds along the river a short while before veering away. At this point, you’ll cross under power lines, then head into a young forest.

As you cross through a meadow followed by another forest grove, you’ll reach a backcountry campsite as you emerge into a larger meadow. Continue left and ascend up a small hill. From the top of the hill, you’re provided great views overlooking the Sentinel Meadows with large hot springs in the distance.

You’ll descend the hill, wandering along the edge of the meadow. Along the route you’ll pass closer to the large hot springs, but not close enough to get up close to them. At this point, you’ll head up another small hill where you’re treated to wonderful panoramic views of the meadows receding toward the Yellowstone Caldera rim in the distance.

Descend from the hill and head into another thicker forest. After passing through the woods, you’ll enter into another part of the meadow, soon heading up a “finger” of the meadow. At the far side of the “finger,” you’ll see a small pond off to the left. At this point, the trail will veer right, easily ascending to the top of a small rise through sparse trees.

From the top of the rise, you’re greeted with fantastic views of another part of the meadow, discretely expanding into the Imperial Meadows in the distance. You’ll wander along the forest’s edge, constantly treated to beautiful views of the landscape.

Not far after, you’ll reach two branches lying in the trail, intended to direct you right. The trail will appear to continue straight, but look for the official trail to fork right. An arrow on a nearby tree will also confirm this.

Traversing across the large meadow, you’ll pass through a pair of small evergreen groves before continuing to cross the meadow. Just ahead, the trail will begin to get faint as you near some thermal features. Look for orange flags to guide you safely across. Likewise, look for another in the forest ahead to get you through where the main trail will resume. Along the way, head downstream to find logs to you across any running or boggy water.

Back into the forest, you’ll wander through another meadow where you’ll then reach a junction with the Imperial Meadows Trail. Continue left where you’ll quickly weave through more woods before reaching the main freight road once again. Head left once again and follow that back to the trailhead.

Getting There

From Old Faithful, head north on the Grand Loop Road for 10.2 miles. After passing Nez Perce Creek, look for a left turn heading onto Fountain Flat Drive. Follow that for 0.8 miles to its dead-end, where you’ll find the trailhead.