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Lava Creek Trail is an 8.4-mile both-ways trail considered moderately difficult and very popular, so expect crowds.
The trail runs mostly downhill at a fairly low elevation, so it is free of snow earlier than many other trails, making it a popular early spring hike.
It runs mostly downhill along the Gardner River, passing by Undine Falls, through Lava Creek Canyon, and running mostly through shady, dense pine and spruce forests. It offers fantastic views of the 60-foot Undine Falls, magnificent Lava Creek Canyon and, beyond it, the Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces.
It is common to spot buffalo, white-tailed deer, and even black bears along the way. The trail can also be used by horseback riders. The trailhead is located on the Mammoth to Tower road at the Lava Creek Picnic Area.
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