The route description makes it sound steep and heinous but it turned out to be a pleasant hike. Some recent storms had put out all the wildfires so we had superb views.
Tonka - Aug 24, 2012 9:22 am Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2012
Short but fun hike
I was up in an 1 1/2 hours on what I would call just a good steady pace and the whole route was done in 2:20 with a little light jog on the way down. All the fires made the view foggy but still beautiful. The description I had said to be careful on the "ridge" up to the summit. This was funny because that ridge is like 20 feet across and than sloping at that on the edges. There were only 4 or 5 people on the hill when I was there.
Kruck - Jun 12, 2012 8:28 am Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2012
fun in fresh
nice routefinding fun in a little fresh snow. Dust on crust in the morning ascent, which unfortunately turned to glop on top by descent time.
SummitWolvesYNP - Jun 10, 2012 4:12 pm Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2012
5 times... still going strong
We've done avalanche multiple times, at all different times in the season, and in both the light and dark. Its one of the easiest big summits to reach inside of the park. A lot of great views, and a lot of great practice for the mountains across the street.
chicagosky - Aug 11, 2011 12:42 am Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2011
My first summit
My first summit - truly memorable given that a significant portion of the trail was lost in the snow and I had to scramble up a steep scree.
cab - Oct 20, 2010 12:42 pm Date Climbed: Oct 18, 2010
Avalanche Peak Trail
Climbed with my wife on our way out of Yellowstone. Incredible 360 degree views were some of the best I have had on any summit. We could see all the way to the Tetons and beyond on a really clear day.
BobSmith - Aug 30, 2010 8:57 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2010
First 10K Peak!
My first "big" western peak.
Cedar - Aug 27, 2010 1:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2010
Windy
Climbed it in the late afternoon on a day with a chance of thunderstorms. Luckily, no thunderstorms rolled in. Just some tiny wildfire on the east side of Hoyt Peak. And massive winds near the top. I estimate the winds to be between 70 and 80 mph on the ridge between the false summit and the real summit. Tons of shaking wildflowers (from the wind) too.
I didn't really find the views that "inspirational" though that could be that the sun had made Yellowstone Lake glaringly bright and difficult to look at.
This is also my most northern 10k peak.
BobSmith - Aug 22, 2010 10:14 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2010
First 10K peak
My first 10K peak. For a Southern fellow this was a real experience for me. Didn't hit Hoyt Peak due to thunder rolling in. But Avalanche was gorgeous!
I hiked up to this summit a couple of times in the nineties. I need to return because it really is an unbelievable view. For a peak with a trail and a very close highway, it is hard to beat. Mt Washburn gets way more hiker traffic and the view from Avalanche is inspirational.
This trail was steep and direct. I really enjoyed the hike. Great views from the summit. We stayed there for quite a while but had to leave since a storm was moving in. It rained during the entire drive home.
I climbed this peak about 5 years ago on a 3 week road trip I took with my significant other. This peak was difficult for me to climb at the time. I remember it being very windy, cold, and ominous. By the time we made it back to the car the sun was shining....a true Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde kind of experience.
musicman82 - Aug 6, 2009 2:10 am Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2009
Great Morning
Hiked to the top from the SE ridge with my wife on a perfect August day (very little wind!) after summitting Hoyt Peak. Saw a grizzly near Lake Overlook after finishing the hike...
Two-hour hike up and down. No bears, very few people, amazing view.
Wiktoria Plawska - Jan 24, 2009 2:55 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2008
Great
Great and not-very-hard hike. I have a trip report about this one. Great views and awesome snow-feilds.
Wiktoria
Tie-Dye Mike - Sep 29, 2008 1:52 pm Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2008
Plan B
My roommate and I were going to hike to several waterfalls in the park but decided to climb Avalanche Peak instead. Great hike, no clouds on that day, and the winds were tolerable. Near the summit they passed 50+mph so the last few hundred feet past the last trees was brisk. Still completed the hike with just t-shirts and a long-sleeve on, never needed the coats we hauled. Very beautiful views from the top, took several panorama shots from the summit. Not sure if I agree its only 2 miles, took us 1.5hrs to get down without stopping and keeping a good pace. Very steep
wyomtman - Aug 18, 2008 9:48 am Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2008
Great View
Great view of the Park for such a short hike. Traversed over to the small peak to the east (between Avalanch and Hoyt) for a nice boot ski back down to the trail.
msihl - Aug 6, 2008 2:34 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2008
normal route
Easy walkup...but the views are definitely worth it. Did it with 5 spanish friends. We saw a giant wildfire to the southeast.
ywardhorner - Oct 28, 2012 1:55 pm
Short Easy HikeThe route description makes it sound steep and heinous but it turned out to be a pleasant hike. Some recent storms had put out all the wildfires so we had superb views.
Tonka - Aug 24, 2012 9:22 am Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2012
Short but fun hikeI was up in an 1 1/2 hours on what I would call just a good steady pace and the whole route was done in 2:20 with a little light jog on the way down. All the fires made the view foggy but still beautiful. The description I had said to be careful on the "ridge" up to the summit. This was funny because that ridge is like 20 feet across and than sloping at that on the edges. There were only 4 or 5 people on the hill when I was there.
Kruck - Jun 12, 2012 8:28 am Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2012
fun in freshnice routefinding fun in a little fresh snow. Dust on crust in the morning ascent, which unfortunately turned to glop on top by descent time.
SummitWolvesYNP - Jun 10, 2012 4:12 pm Date Climbed: Jun 5, 2012
5 times... still going strongWe've done avalanche multiple times, at all different times in the season, and in both the light and dark. Its one of the easiest big summits to reach inside of the park. A lot of great views, and a lot of great practice for the mountains across the street.
chicagosky - Aug 11, 2011 12:42 am Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2011
My first summitMy first summit - truly memorable given that a significant portion of the trail was lost in the snow and I had to scramble up a steep scree.
WoollytheMammoth - Aug 8, 2011 1:58 am
Nice viewSteep trail and great view from the top.
cab - Oct 20, 2010 12:42 pm Date Climbed: Oct 18, 2010
Avalanche Peak TrailClimbed with my wife on our way out of Yellowstone. Incredible 360 degree views were some of the best I have had on any summit. We could see all the way to the Tetons and beyond on a really clear day.
BobSmith - Aug 30, 2010 8:57 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2010
First 10K Peak!My first "big" western peak.
Cedar - Aug 27, 2010 1:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2010
WindyClimbed it in the late afternoon on a day with a chance of thunderstorms. Luckily, no thunderstorms rolled in. Just some tiny wildfire on the east side of Hoyt Peak. And massive winds near the top. I estimate the winds to be between 70 and 80 mph on the ridge between the false summit and the real summit. Tons of shaking wildflowers (from the wind) too.
I didn't really find the views that "inspirational" though that could be that the sun had made Yellowstone Lake glaringly bright and difficult to look at.
This is also my most northern 10k peak.
BobSmith - Aug 22, 2010 10:14 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2010
First 10K peakMy first 10K peak. For a Southern fellow this was a real experience for me. Didn't hit Hoyt Peak due to thunder rolling in. But Avalanche was gorgeous!
wyopeakMike - Dec 13, 2009 8:23 pm
best easy Yellowstone peakI hiked up to this summit a couple of times in the nineties. I need to return because it really is an unbelievable view. For a peak with a trail and a very close highway, it is hard to beat. Mt Washburn gets way more hiker traffic and the view from Avalanche is inspirational.
mountaingazelle - Sep 15, 2009 9:06 pm Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2009
Avalanche PeakThis trail was steep and direct. I really enjoyed the hike. Great views from the summit. We stayed there for quite a while but had to leave since a storm was moving in. It rained during the entire drive home.
missymtngirl - Aug 20, 2009 4:25 am
First 10,000 foot Peak Ever ClimbedI climbed this peak about 5 years ago on a 3 week road trip I took with my significant other. This peak was difficult for me to climb at the time. I remember it being very windy, cold, and ominous. By the time we made it back to the car the sun was shining....a true Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde kind of experience.
musicman82 - Aug 6, 2009 2:10 am Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2009
Great MorningHiked to the top from the SE ridge with my wife on a perfect August day (very little wind!) after summitting Hoyt Peak. Saw a grizzly near Lake Overlook after finishing the hike...
Koonsy - Jul 30, 2009 6:13 pm
StandardNice little hike with great views of the surrounding peaks. Worth doing again.
geeman - Jul 16, 2009 10:38 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2009
Quick ascentTwo-hour hike up and down. No bears, very few people, amazing view.
Wiktoria Plawska - Jan 24, 2009 2:55 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2008
GreatGreat and not-very-hard hike. I have a trip report about this one. Great views and awesome snow-feilds.
Wiktoria
Tie-Dye Mike - Sep 29, 2008 1:52 pm Date Climbed: Sep 28, 2008
Plan BMy roommate and I were going to hike to several waterfalls in the park but decided to climb Avalanche Peak instead. Great hike, no clouds on that day, and the winds were tolerable. Near the summit they passed 50+mph so the last few hundred feet past the last trees was brisk. Still completed the hike with just t-shirts and a long-sleeve on, never needed the coats we hauled. Very beautiful views from the top, took several panorama shots from the summit. Not sure if I agree its only 2 miles, took us 1.5hrs to get down without stopping and keeping a good pace. Very steep
wyomtman - Aug 18, 2008 9:48 am Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2008
Great ViewGreat view of the Park for such a short hike. Traversed over to the small peak to the east (between Avalanch and Hoyt) for a nice boot ski back down to the trail.
msihl - Aug 6, 2008 2:34 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2008
normal routeEasy walkup...but the views are definitely worth it. Did it with 5 spanish friends. We saw a giant wildfire to the southeast.