Sentinel Meadows to Queen’s Laundry Hiking Trail

Route Description for Sentinel Meadows to Queen’s Laundry Hiking Trail

The Sentinel Meadows Trail to Queen’s Laundry is a beautiful hiking route in Yellowstone National Park. This trail can be wet and mucky, especially in the springtime. We recommend wearing a pair of waterproof shoes and bringing along a spare pair of socks for the trip home. The Sentinel Meadows Trail is not long, but it can be done as an overnight backpacking trip by camping at the Sentinel Meadows East Campground. This route features a series of lovely geothermal features and, of course, the Queen’s Laundry. The Queen’s Laundry is a historic half-building that was constructed in 1881 by Philetus Norris, Yellowstone’s second superintendent. This building was to serve as a bathhouse and laundry room but was never completed.

To hike the Sentinel Meadows and Queen’s Laundry Trail. Begin at the Fountain Flats Drive Trailhead and follow the path south to a divide. Take the path on your right to hike the circuit counterclockwise at this divide. Look for the Queen’s Laundry on your right-hand side, just past the campground. As you hike the loop, stick to the path on your left to make your way back to the start.

When you find yourself in familiar territory, simply retrace your steps back to the Fountain Flats Drive Trailhead, where you began.