Yellowstone Backpacking

Yellowstone Backpacking - Black Canyon Itinerary:

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• Night before

  Since we will meet at 7:00 a.m. on Day 1 of your trip, you may choose to arrive in Bozeman, Montana the night before. Please see the Air Travel and Transfer information below for planning details. Optional hotel night stays are not included in the cost of the trip. We recommend staying at the Holiday Inn Express Bozeman West, since this is the location of our meeting on Day 1 of the trip and your car can be left in this location. Be sure to make reservations at the Holiday Inn Express as far in advance as possible to ensure the availability of rooms. To make reservations call the hotel directly at 877-410-6667.

• Day 1 Bozeman to Hellroaring Creek Trailhead

  Our group meets at 7:00 a.m. in the lobby of the hotel. After a gear check and brief orientation, we load our gear into the support vehicle for the 1-1/2 hour drive to the trailhead. Please plan on adding 5-10 pounds of shared group gear to your pack. Our hike begins at Hellroaring Creek Trailhead where we'll descend 500 feet in elevation to the Yellowstone River, one of the last free-flowing rivers in the continental United States. The Black Canyon offers wonderful views of cascades and waterfalls. Our trail includes a couple of short (less than ½ mile) steep sections and we will cross several un-bridged creeks. Depending on our assigned campsite on the banks of the Yellowstone River, we'll be hiking 6 to 8 miles over maintained trail. Lunch & Dinner included.
  
  Hiking – 6 to 8 miles, 750' elevation gain.

• Day 2 North Shore Yellowstone River

  After breakfast we break camp and continue backpacking down river. This section of the Black Canyon generally offers a chance to observe the abundant wildlife in Yellowstone: elk, bison, coyotes, moose, deer and an occasional bear may be seen. Our hike continues along the north bank of the Yellowstone River on a well maintained trail with a relatively gentle grade; there are a few short creek crossings today. We arrive in camp with time to set up our tents and take an afternoon day hike before enjoying dinner prepared over the camp stove. Depending on our assigned campsite, we'll be hiking between 5 and 7 miles today. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included.
  
  Hiking: 5 to 7 miles, 250' net elevation loss.

• Day 3 Crossing the Yellowstone

  Today is a layover day, providing us with the opportunity to really soak up the surrounding environment however we see fit. We'll have the option to relax in camp, fish, or explore downstream to Knowles Falls and steeper parts of the Black Canyon. There are tremendous views of the Yellowstone River as it thunders downstream; full of spring runoff. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included.
  
  Hiking (optional): 5-7 miles, 700' elevation loss/gain of 500'.

• Day 4 South Bank to Bozeman

  From camp we'll hike upstream along Blacktail Deer Creek to the trailhead. The creek ascends sharply, passing a nice set of cascades, before leveling off in a beautiful valley of huge meadows and isolated stands of trees. Now out of the canyon, views of the surrounding country abound. It is the perfect end to a wonderful backpacking experience. We plan to be back at the hotel by 6:00 p.m. Breakfast & Lunch included.
  
  Mileage: 3.7 miles, 1000’ elevation gain.

Yellowstone Backpacking - Gallatin Mountains Itinerary:

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• Night before

  Since we will meet at 7:00 a.m. on Day 1 of your trip, you may choose to arrive in Bozeman, Montana the night before. Please see the Air Travel and Transfer information below for planning details. Optional hotel night stays are not included in the cost of the trip. We recommend staying at the Holiday Inn Express Bozeman West, since this is the location of our meeting on Day 1 of the trip and your car can be left in this location. Be sure to make reservations at the Holiday Inn Express as far in advance as possible to ensure the availability of rooms. To make reservations call the hotel directly at 877-410-6667.

• Day 1 Bozeman to Specimen Creak

  Our group meets at 7:00 a.m. in the lobby of the hotel. After a gear check and brief orientation, we load our gear into the support vehicle for our drive to the trailhead, about an hour and a half from the hotel. Please plan on adding 5-10 pounds of shared, group gear to your pack. Our hike begins at the Specimen Creek trailhead at 7000ft in the scenic Gallatin River Valley that roughly defines the park's northwestern boundary. The trailhead will be our lowest elevation of the trip as we trek up to the crest in search of stunning mountain vistas. Today's hike is approximately 6 miles following the Specimen Creek to a beautiful camp in the meadows along its shores. Lunch & Dinner included.
  
  Hiking: 6 miles, 1000' elevation gain.

• Day 2 High Lake

  After a casual morning we'll continue following Specimen Creek upstream through beautiful meadows and majestic stands of spruce and fir until finally we arrive at the Gallatin crest. A short distance to the north along the trail is High Lake. The lake is nestled among subalpine meadows and will be our camp for the night. Once camp is made the group will have the option of swimming in the lake (weather permitting!) or strolling up the trail to appreciate the first magnificent views of the Paradise Valley to the east. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included.
  
  Hiking – 4 miles, 800' elevation gain.

• Day 3 Shelf Lake

  Today's route is the most rewarding of the hike. Shortly out of camp we'll have tremendous views of the paradise valley to the east. Further on we'll leave the main trail behind to make use of an obscure trail that sticks to the crest. This old trail is not marked on any map and is known only to a handful of locals. Dramatic views of the western valleys dominate this part of the hike. Our destination is Shelf Lake. Shelf Lake is the Park's highest point at 9,200 feet above sea level, nestled on a bench above the North Fork of Specimen Creek which falls away dramatically to the southeast. Once camp is made we'll have the opportunity to hike up to the most dramatic part of the crest for views of the Madison Range to the west with an opportunity to see bighorn sheep. Sunsets here are a sight to behold. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included.
  
  Hiking: 7.0 miles, 400' net elevation gain.

• Day 4 North Fork to Bozeman

  Our final day is a long descent of the North Fork of Specimen Creek to its junction with the main fork of Specimen Creek. The trail descends sharply from Shelf Lake into thick and beautiful stands of spruce and fir. Specimen Creek grows rapidly as we descend and soon we are in the beautiful lower meadows that we hike through on the first day. A final, mostly level two miles will bring us to the trailhead. We plan to be back at the hotel by 6:00 p.m. Breakfast & Lunch included.
  
  Hiking – 8 miles, 2,200’ elevation loss.

Yellowstone Backpacking - Bechler River Itinerary:

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• Night before

  Since we will meet at 7:00 a.m. on Day 1 of your trip, you may choose to arrive in Bozeman, Montana the night before. Please see the Air Travel and Transfer information below for planning details. Optional hotel night stays are not included in the cost of the trip. We recommend staying at the Holiday Inn Express Bozeman West, since this is the location of our meeting on Day 1 of the trip and your car can be left in this location. Be sure to make reservations at the Holiday Inn Express as far in advance as possible to ensure the availability of rooms. To make reservations call the hotel directly at 877-410-6667.

• Day 1 Bozeman to Geyser Basin

  Our group meets at 7:00 a.m. in the lobby of the hotel. After a gear check and brief orientation, we load our gear into the support vehicle for our drive to the trailhead. Please plan on adding 5-10 pounds of shared, group gear to your pack. Our hike starts out with one of the most impressive geysers in the region, the Lonestar Geyser. We hope to have the opportunity to see Lonestar's occasional 70 foot eruption before continuing down the trail. We will follow the Firehole River and cross the Continental Divide before arriving at Shoshone Lake. Shoshone Lake is one of the largest wilderness lakes in North America and home to the enormous Shoshone Geyser Basin where we will explore the abundance of geysers, bubbling pools and potholes.Lunch & Dinner included.
  
  Hiking – 6.5 miles, 500’ elevation gain.

• Day 2 Mr. Bubbles

  After a sound night's sleep we will enjoy a hearty breakfast together before heading back out on the trail, eventually reaching the high point of elevation on a lush mountain meadow plateau. Today's hike will lead us to the headwaters of the Bechler River and into the heart of Bechler Canyon. After setting up camp near the riverside, we will explore the valley's first remarkable geothermal feature, "Mr. Bubbles," a gorgeous series of hot springs. Bring your bathing suit as we will have the opportunity to lounge in the natural hot baths.Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included.
  
  Hiking – 7.5 miles, 700' elevation gain and 1100' loss

• Day 3 Colondale & Iris Falls

  Waking up to another hearty breakfast in the base of Bechler Canyon, we will prepare for a big day along the river, with two long and exciting river crossings. Be sure to bring along water shoes for this section if you would prefer to change out of your boots. We will work together in carefully fording these two river beds before we can enjoy the remarkable reward of two magnificent waterfalls, Colonnade Falls and Iris Falls. We will set up camp only 5 minutes hike away from these spectacular sights. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included.
  
  Hiking: 5 miles, 500' elevation loss.

• Day 4 Bechler Canyon to Bozeman

  Our final day is a long, yet flat section of trail leading through the lower sections of the canyon. This section is characterized by massive boulder fields and acres of berry bushes where we will stop to forage. We will expect to see an abundance of wildlife along our journey. Hiking through the beautiful meadows and forests of southwestern Yellowstone is a truly unforgettable backcountry experience. Once we have returned to civilization at the Bechler Ranger station, we will return to the hotel around 6pm where we will say our goodbyes. We plan to be back in Bozeman by 6:00 p.m. Breakfast & Lunch included.
  
  Hiking: 9 miles, 250' elevation loss.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. This trip is operated rain or shine.

Contact REI Adventures prior to purchasing your airline tickets to confirm that the trip has the minimum number of participants required to operate.

Professional instruction and guiding; meals as noted in the daily itinerary; 2-person tents; group cooking gear; group first aid kit, water filter; campsite and permit fees; park entrance fees where required; round-trip shuttle between meeting point and trailheads.

Transportation from your hometown to group meeting point; any hotel reservations; insurance of any kind; alcoholic beverages; soft drinks; guide gratuities and items of a personal nature.

This trip is rated Moderate Plus (3-4). Participants will be carrying their own backpacks with weights of 35-40 lbs. over varied terrain and at altitude. Please make sure your backpack is fitted to your body before the trip. Trip members need to be in good physical condition. To maximize your enjoyment of the trip, we strongly encourage you to take up a training regimen beforehand.  Day hiking with a pack and making sure your hiking boots are broken in before your trip is key. Cycling, running, walking and weight training are also good conditioners for this type of outing. The better shape you are in, the more you’ll enjoy all that Yellowstone National Park has to offer.

Depending on the date of departure, daytime temperatures usually range between 50o - 80o F with evening temperatures dropping into the 30s-40s. On early and late season departures are prepared to encounter lows of 30 degrees or colder. You may encounter freezing temperatures at some of the higher elevations. Afternoon thunderstorms are a distinct possibility, so adequate raingear is important.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Weekend Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and detailed pre-trip information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff.

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