Last Updated: July 4, 2022NOTICE
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Backcountry Permits:Backcountry Permits are required for all overnight stays in the Backcountry. Please visit our Camp in the backcountry page for information on how to obtain a backcountry permit. Backcountry Office Hours:Albright Visitor Center (Mammoth Backcountry office): Closed. General Conditions:Snow Levels:Higher elevation passes and trails still have snow. Please make sure to check out current snow and river conditions before heading into the backcountry. High Water Caution:Most streams are just starting to come off peak runoff levels. Streams which are crossable in the morning may rise to unsafe levels by afternoon. Don't get caught on the wrong side of a stream. If you must cross - scout out the safest location, the best crossing may not be in the exact location where the trail meets the stream. Above all use caution and be safe around all streams. Yellowstone's backcountry does not have many bridges, please evaluate planned travel routes for any potentially hazardous stream crossings. View river levels of the surrounding rivers. Fires:Before deciding to have a campfire, check that your campsite allows for fires, and consider the current weather conditions. Campfires are only allowed in the designated fire ring. Ticks:Ticks are out. After your hike check your body for ticks. Visit the CDC website for further information on tick prevention. Fishing Season:The fishing season is currently open. Please visit the Catch a fish page for further information. Boating Season:Boat permits and inspections for aquatic invasive species are required before launching any watercraft in park waters. Prepare for your boating trip by Cleaning, Draining, and Drying your boats now. Horse Use:Trails are open to horse use. A free day ride permit is required for all day rides. Overnight backountry permits are required for overnight stock use. Check individual trails in the sections below to view their status. Make sure to review our Ride a Horse page for further information regarding horse riding permit requirements and information. Pets:Other than qualified service animals, pets are not allowed in the backcountry. Bear Management Areas:In order to reduce human related impacts on bears in high density grizzly bear habitat the park has established several bear management areas. Listed below are the current Bear Management Areas (BMAs) in effect. Some Bear Management Areas are full closures, others are no off trail travel restrictions. Please reference the Bear Management page for further details and locations of closure area. Richards Pond (BMA B) Several restrictions in place. See Bear Management Area pages. Gallatin (BMA D) No off-trail travel May 1 through November 10. Washburn (BMA F) Open only by special permit (through July 31) Antelope (BMA G) Closed through November 10. Mirror Plateau (BMA H) Closed. Day use only May 15 through November 12. Pelican Valley (BMA I) Closed through July 3. Clear Creek (BMA J1) No off trail travel through August 10. See Bear Management Area pages for further details Clear Creek (BMA J2) No off trail travel through July 14. See Bear Management Area pages for further details Lake Spawn (BMA K) From May 15 through July 14 No off trail travel . Two Ocean (BMA L) From May 15 through July 14 and August 22 through November 10 no-off trail travel. From July 15 through August 21 permits are required for off-trail travel. Riddle / Solution (BMA M) Closed April 30 through July 14. Heart Lake (BMA O) Closed through June 30. Backcountry AccessReview the park roads page, to see which of the park's roads are open. Backcountry MapClick on a region of the map for current backcountry conditions in that area. ![]() Northwest Region
Old Yellowstone Railroad Bed- Gardiner
Beaver Ponds/Sepulcher/Snow Pass area
Glen Creek Trailhead – Fawn Pass & Electric Pass
Bunsen Peak/Osprey Falls
Bighorn Pass trail (Indian Creek)
Mount Holmes / Grizzly Lake area
Purple Mountain
Monument Trail
Trailheads along Hwy 191 (from north to south)Daly Creek/Black Butte/Sky Rim Trail/Shelf Lake
Specimen Creek/High Lake/Crescent Lake/Sportsman Lake
Bacon Rind
Fawn Pass/Fan Creek
Bighorn Pass (Hwy 191)
Gneiss Creek/Cougar Creek
Harlequin Lake Trail
Back to Map Northeast RegionBlacktail Deer Creek Trail/Yellowstone River Trail/Black Canyon
Wraith Falls
Lava Creek Trail/Rescue Creek Trail
Hellroaring Creek/Coyote Creek/Buffalo Plateau
Buffalo Fork
Garnet Hill
Tower Fall Trail
Slough Creek
Pebble Creek
Bliss Pass (between Slough Creek and Pebble Creek)
Trout Lake
Back to Map Central RegionDue to extensive damage to the road and the backcountry in the Lamar River Corridor much of the area is closed to backcountry use. See map. Specimen Ridge/Agate Creek/Yellowstone Picnic Area trailhead
Lamar River Trail - Soda Butte to Mist Creek Pass
Cache Creek/Thunderer
Miller Creek
Frost Lake
Avalanche Peak
Wapiti Lake trail/ Wrangler Lake/ Broad Creek/ Howard Eaton trail
Pelican Valley/Turbid Lake
Canyon RegionSouth Rim and North Rim
Mount Washburn
Wrangler Lake/ Ribbon Lake
7-Mile Hole
Cascade, Grebe, Wolf & Ice Lake
Mary Mountain/Hayden Valley & Cygnet Lakes
Solfatara
Old Faithful RegionFairy Falls/Mystic Falls/Fountain Flats
Mallard Lake
Mary Mountain
Summit Lake
Southeastern RegionElephant Back, Natural Bridge, Storm Point, Pelican Creek Natural Trail Nine Mile Trailhead: Thorofare Trail / Mountain Creek Yellowstone Lake Heart Lake South Boundary Area/Snake River/Two Ocean Plateau Riddle Lake Back to MapSouthwestShoshone Lake/Lewis Lake
Lone Star Trail & Howard Eaton Trail
Bechler Area
Bechler Meadows and Falls River area
Bechler Canyon/Bechler River trail
Boundary Creek/Dunanda Falls
Robinson Creek
Union Falls/Mountain Ash Creek
Pitchstone Plateau
Beula Lake/South Boundary Trail west
Contact UsPlease email the Central Backcountry Office if you have any questions about specific areas. More Information
|
Last updated: July 4, 2022