Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Retrace your steps down the canyon to the Bechler Ranger Station via Bechler Meadows
Trail, the most direct route, or the more scenic Bechler River Trail.
Other Overnight Hikes
MAMMOTH COUNTRY
One of northern Yellowstone's most popular backpacking trips is the 18.5-mile Black
Canyon of the Yellowstone from the Hellroaring Trailhead past the fine fishing waters of
the Yellowstone River. There are 18 backcountry sites along the trail (site 1Y7 is a good
halfway spot). Check the status of the trail into Gardiner with park rangers, since permis-
sion to transit through private property was withdrawn in 2011, necessitating a difficult fi-
nal bushwhack up dangerously exposed slopes into forest service lands.
The 19-mile trail to Mount Holmes (10,336ft) begins south of Indian Creek at Willow
Flats Picnic Area and heads west to the summit. It can be a super-long day hike with an
elevation gain of 3000ft but it's much nicer to make camp at 1C4 or 1C5 and tackle the
peak the next morning. Radial hikes to Trilobite Lake look tempting but the trail is un-
maintained, with lots of downed trees in the way.
Three longer east-west backpacking routes begin west of Mammoth and lead to US 191
in Montana: the 19.5-mile Bighorn Pass Trail begins from Indian Creek Campground,
and the 21-mile Fawn Pass Trail and 23-mile Sportsman Lake Trail to its north both
begin at Glen Creek Trailhead south of Mammoth. Link two of them together for a re-
warding loop.
One exciting traverse is the weeklong, 40-mile Gallatin Skyline route that crosses the
Gallatin range from west to east, from Dailey Creek in the far northwest to Mammoth,
sticking to the high ridges via Shelf Lake, High Lake, Sportsman Lake and Electric Peak.
ROOSEVELT COUNTRY
The Bliss Pass trek, which begins 0.5 miles before Slough Creek Campground, is a pleas-
ant overnight hike along a popular fishing stream. Head east up Elk Tongue Creek, cross
Bliss Pass (8 miles from the trailhead) and descend Pebble Creek to the namesake camp-
ground for a total hike of 21 miles. Bliss Pass may be snowbound until mid-July, and
fording Pebble Creek can be tricky early in the season. This is a popular horse trail. The
first part of the hike follows a historic wagon trail still used by the Silver Tip Ranch;
though it lies just outside the north boundary, the trail is only accessible from the park and
enjoys a historic right of access. Backcountry sites along Slough Creek are limited to a
maximum stay of three nights between mid-June and mid-September.
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