Uncle Tom's / South Rim, Yellowstone

CAN WE ALL GO?

Who this trail suits

🐕 No dogs 🧒 Comfortable from age 8 👶 No stroller 🚻 Restrooms at the trailhead 💧 No refill recorded ☀️ 20% shaded

Underfoot & overhead canyon rim

WHAT THIS CLIMB COSTS YOU

Uncle Tom's / South Rim charges in hours, not miles.

2 mi and 500 ft of climbing work out to 55m of moving time — before you stop for anything. No refill is recorded on the route — you carry all of it. Informational only, not medical advice.

Get the fall refuel plan →

NAISMITH · CDC · ACSM · how these numbers are worked out

55mmoving time, no breaks

0.5–0.9 Lwater, cool day → hot

30–60 gcarbs across that climb

HOW HARD IT FEELS

Steepness and shade

250 ft per mile 1st steepest of the 6 trails we've measured in Yellowstone National Park

20% shaded Open ground — the hour you start decides the day

In July, Yellowstone National Park runs around 78°F at the main visitor elevation, and this route gives you almost nothing to hide under. With no refill recorded on the route, everything you drink starts in your pack.

TODAY AT THE PARK

Before you leave the car

Today

49°F · Partly Sunny · wind 1 to 7 mph

NOAA forecast for Yellowstone National Park — not for this trailhead specifically

⚠️ Most Park Roads Closing to Regular Vehicles November 1

The last day to enjoy most of the park in a regular vehicle is October 31. Most roads will open to guided oversnow tours on December 15 (weather permitting). The road between the North and Northeast entrances is the...

Live NPS alert for Yellowstone National Park · source

⚠️ Traffic Delays - Gardner River High Bridge

Expect a single lane of traffic with up to 15-minute delays, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from April 1 through November 24, 2026. Oversized/overweight vehicles (8'6"+ wide, 75'+ long, 80,000 lbs+ gross vehicle...

Live NPS alert for Yellowstone National Park · source

NOT THIS ONE?

Other trails in Yellowstone National Park

Shorter day Old Faithful & Geyser Hill Loop 1.6 mi · 60 ft · 5% shade More shade Storm Point Trail 2.3 mi · 40 ft · 40% shade Also here Grand Prismatic Overlook 1.6 mi · 105 ft · 10% shade

All 6 trails in Yellowstone National Park →

QUICK ANSWERS

Frequently asked

How long does Uncle Tom's / South Rim take?

About 55m of moving time for 2 mi and 500 ft of climbing — that is Naismith's planning rule, so it counts walking only, with nothing for photos, lunch or the queue at the top.

How much water should I carry on Uncle Tom's / South Rim?

Planning figures for that much moving time are 0.5–0.9 L, cool day to hot. No refill point is recorded on the route, so you carry all of it. Informational only, not medical advice.

Can I take a dog on Uncle Tom's / South Rim?

No — Uncle Tom's / South Rim is closed to dogs. Our Yellowstone National Park dog guide lists the trails where they are welcome, plus boarding and the nearest 24/7 vet.

Is Uncle Tom's / South Rim good for kids?

We rate it comfortable from age 8. It is not a stroller route. That rating is our own hand-check of length, footing and exposure, not an official NPS grade.

When is the best time of day to hike Uncle Tom's / South Rim?

About 20% of the route is shaded, and Yellowstone National Park peaks around 78°F in its hottest month. The less shade a route has, the more of it you want behind you before midday.