Mallard Lake, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Numerous natural wonders exist within Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Visitors can almost spend two weeks right in one area and never get bored. For individuals wishing to tour the park and its many wonders Mallard Lake is a great stop. Mallard Lake can be reached by any of the national park entrances but it is closer to the west entrance and Jackson entrance. Mallard Lake trail is near Old Faithful Lodge Cabins and Firehole River as a point of reference. It also means that Mallard Lake is near Old Faithful Geyser, Upper, Lower, and Midway Geyser Basins.

Visitors will need to park near the lodge and cabins to pick up the trail head for Mallard Lake. There is a first right turn into the lodge area which takes visitors down the road to the trailhead. The trail will cross Firehole River, pass Pipeline Hot Springs, and then climb hills where lodgepole pine and an open rocky area allow visitors to view the lake. Mallard Lake Trail is not a loop. Instead visitors will return the same way. The trail is a total of 6.8 miles to reach the lake and back to the parking area. The trail is considered moderately strenuous.

For visitors who want a longer walk they can take the Mallard Creek Trail. This trail will be picked up from the lake trail and is a total of 12 miles. Since the trail can be 12 miles in length visitors may require camping equipment to stay out overnight. There is camping in the area. Plenty of water should be brought along, as well as food.

The pines one sees on the trail have been mildly affected by fire. The fire of 1988 ran through some of the area, wiping out the trees and some of the wildlife. Luckily visitors can see the re growth that is occurring. The growth is moving a little faster due to the nutrients left behind by the decaying fire ridden trees.

Mallard Lake is filled with Lake Trout. At certain points in history the lake has been overly full of the fish. As a result the park rangers have allowed fishing. Grizzly bears will do their part in clearing out the trout up the rivers and streams. Along the paths you may even find some grizzly bear. It is important to know bear protocol to remain safe on the trails.

Once done with the trail to Mallard Lake visitors to the area can explore the region around the trail and Old Faithful Lodge. Old Faithful Geyser and the trail to it present a number of other geysers like Excelsior. Old Faithful can be divided into the south and north sections. The south section contains Giantess Geyser, Doublet Pool, Solitary Geyser, Plume Geyser, and Lion Group of Geysers. There is a trail head for this walk as well. Any visitor wishing to stay at the lodge will have plenty of trails in the area to see the natural wonders including Mallard Lake and the creek.