The map offers a quick snapshot of current trail status. Below the map is more detailed information regarding the condition of the trail, further descriptions of trail closures, warnings, and known hazards. Please make sure to review both the backcountry conditions map and the Area Conditions Detail Section of this page
Conditions reports offer specific details about a given trail on a given date. However, Yellowstone's backcountry is vast and some trail status reports may not be updated for several weeks or even months for lesser used trails. For this reason, Backcountry Conditions reports only offer a snapshot of trail conditions and should be used in conjunction with other tools such as weather reports, prior backpacking experience in Yellowstone, and assessment of your own backpacking skill level.
*This map doesn't reflect current campsite availability. Backcountry permits are required to camp in all backcountry campsites.
Click on segments of trails, colored polygons, or icons for more information.
General Information
All of the park's trails are still snow covered. Please make sure to check out the snowpack map to see how much snow to expect to encounter on the ground. Reference the map located on the right side of the linked page for reference (this map depicts snow depth).
Most streams are likely still crossable, however as temperatures warm streams will soon begin to rise and become too high and dangerous to cross. Run off typically starts around the middle of May. 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.
Due to the flood in 2022 many of the streams within the Northern Section of the park have changed their course. Scout up and down stream for the best place to cross, which is not neccesarily where the trail meets the stream.
The majority of streams are closed for the season. Please reference the Fishing in the Park page to view streams that are open prior to Memorial Day.
The boating season is closed. The boating season opens May 24th, 2025.
A 30-day dry time is required for all sailboats and certain motorized boats(inboard, inboard/outboard, or inboard jet drives). Without a valid AIS inspection receipt and intact seal demonstrating a 30-day day dry time, these boats will be denied launch. Make sure to review the Boating page for further information.
All trails are currently CLOSED for horse use. Overnight horse use is closed until July 1 . Trails for day riding may begin earlier, as conditions allowed. If trails are open to stock prior to July 1 this information will be included below in the Area conditions Detail section. Get prepared for the season by reviewing Yellowstone's horse riding pages.
Trails that are not suitable for Stock Use: Osprey Falls, Bunsen, Lava Creek, Wraith Falls, Sheepeater Trail, Tower Falls, Chittenden Road, Lost Lake, Artist Point/Point Sublime, Storm Point, West Thumb Overlook, Monument Geyser Basin, Harlequin Lake, Beaver Ponds, Upper Terraces, Trout Lake, Seven Mile Hole, North/South Rim Canyon, Avalanche Peak, Clear Lake, Elephant Back, Riverside, Shoshone Geyser Basin, Artist Paint Pots, and any geyser basin or thermal area.
There are no current fire restrictions, however please note not all campsites allow for fires. Check your backcountry permit to see if your permited campsite allows for fires, or view our backcountry trails and campsite map. In addition, please note that fires are only allowed in designated firepits. If the firepit is under snow visitors will need to dig out the firepit and downed wood.(4/9/25)
We are currently in the Non-Peak Season. Local offices are closed for the 2025 season.Reference the Non-Peak Season for instruction on how to get a permit.
Currently there are no locations open for in-person permits. Starting in late May, offices will begin to be staffed .
Mammoth Backcountry Office located in Albright Visitor Center
May 23
Tower Ranger Station
June 6
West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center
May 23
Snake River Ranger Station
May 23
Grant Backcountry Office
May 23
Bridge Bay Ranger Station
May 23
Bechler Ranger Station
To Be Determined
*Offices are open 8-5 (backcountry permits will not be issued after 4:30 pm). Offices are closed for lunch.
If you have a trip reserved please watch the Beyond Roads video and then give our office a call at 307-344-2160 within 5 days of your start date. At the time of your call we will go over the permit and issue you your permit to be printed from home or downloaded to your phone. Please note the Central Backcountry Office is minimall staffed. Permits are only available to be issued Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 4:00pm. Permitting staff is not available on weekends or holidays. Please plan to contact us accordingly.
For last minute trips (within 3 days of your start trip) contact the Central Backcountry Office at 307-344-2160. Please note the Central Backcountry Office is minimally staffed. Permits are only available to be issued Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 4:00pm. Permitting staff is not available on weekends or holidays. Please plan to contact us accordingly.
Area Condition Details
Trails are listed by region as shown on the map below. Scroll down or select a region name to view backcountry conditions for the area: NorthwestNortheastCentralSouthwestSoutheast
Swan Lake is closed to travel, boating and fishing to protect sensitive bird nesting sites.(5/1/25)
Osprey falls - Likely patchy snow (5/1/25)
Bunsen Peak - Mostly snowy (5/1/25)
Swan Lake is CLOSED, no entry and no boating allowed in order to protect nesting birds(4/25/25)
Expect muddy trail conditions in the lower elevations, and snow as you increase in elevation(5/1/25)
All trails in this area are snowy.(5/1/25)
The barricade to Indian Creek is closed, if hiking in the area make sure to not block access so that maintenance vehichles can still access the area.(5/1/25)
Bighorn Pass trail has deep snow and cannot be crossed. (4/9/25)
All trails in this area likely snowy.(5/1/25)
West side of the Gneiss Creek Trail, and campsite WA1 is closed due to Gneiss Creek Bear Management Area. This trail opens on July 1.
All trails in this area are snowy.(5/1/25)
Trail is snowy.(5/1/25)
Trail likely snowy. (5/1/25)
Trail is likely snowy. (5/1/25)
Northeast
Due to the 2022 flood event, many of the rivers in the northern section of the park have changed course. As a result, the locations where trails intersect the rivers may not always be the safest places to cross. Take time to scout upstream and downstream to find the best crossing points.
Rescue Creek Trailhead along the washed out North Entrance Road is inaccessible due to the bridge having washed out in the 2022 Floods. See conditions map above.
Rescue Creek Trail accessed from the Blacktail Trailhead is open. Mostly snow free.(5/1/25)
Lava Creek Trail (from Lava Creek Picnic Area or Blacktail Trailhead) is open. The trail can be hiked to the Gardner river, but you will need to return the same way. The bridge over the Gardner River is out. (5/1/25)
Stock: Closed to stock.
Open
Blacktail Creek likely mostly snow free. (5/1/25)
There is a Bird Nesting closure on Blacktail Ponds. No travel in the area of the closure(boating, fishing, off-trail travel). See map above (5/1/25)
In 2022 a section of the Yellowstone River trail was washed out. All of the campsites within the park are accessible but travel west of the campsites along the trail is no longer possible into the Yellowstone River Trailhead / Eagle Creek Campground.(4/9/25)
Hellroaring Creek Trail mostly snow free.(5/1/25)
Hellroaring may still be crossible on foot, but as warm temperatures increase will likely become uncrossable. At that point visitors will need to head North along Hellroaring Creek to the foot bridge located south of campsite 2H8.
Upper Coyote Creek and Buffalo Plateau likely to be snow free and muddy in the lower elevations, with increasing snow in higher elevations. (5/1/25)
The Bull Mountain Loop is not longer accessible during the early season, due to the fact that a bridge washed out in the 2022 flood above the park in the Forest Service near the Horse Creek Trail. Hikers will not be able to cross that creek during spring run off.
Floating Island Lake is closed to all trafic to protect nesting birds. (5/1/25)
Sections of the Lost Lake Trail are currently CLOSED. See Conditions Map above.(5/1/25)
The Garnett Hill trailhead is subject to closures due to road construction. The Garnett Hill Trail can be accessed from Tower Junction, and then continue to the wagon road and trail.
The Garnett Hill Loop is open to hikers, but a section is closed to stock. See Backcountry Conditions Map above.
Inaccessible due to road closure. Road is scheduled to open May 9th. (4/9/25)
Buffalo Fork trail is inaccessible due to the fact that Slough Creek is not crossable. This creek is typically crossable around the first of July.(5/1/25)
The barricade at the Slough Creek road has been removed. The road is now open. (5/8/25)
Slough Creek likely has patchy snow. (5/1/24)
Pebble Creek is currently crossable.However, as temperatures rise will shortly become unfordable. At that time camspite 3P1 will be the only accessible campsite.(4/29/25)
Bliss Pass is inaccessible due to snow (4/29/25)
Likely patchy snow. (5/1/24)
Specimen Ridge trail snowy.(5/1/25)
As spring run-off increases, the Lamar River located on the east side of the trail will not be crossable. At that point access to Specimen Ridge will only be through the Specimen Ridge Trailhead. Don't be caught on the wrong side of the river as it is a 14 mile backtrack to the trailhead (4/09/25)
Lower Lamar Trail has patchy snow(4/30/25)
Cache Creek which is about 3 miles from the Lamar River trailhead is currently crossable, as temperatures rise the river will soon become uncrossable. Be cautious of streams which are crossable in the morning may rise to unsafe levels by afternoon. Don't get caught on the wrong side of the stream.(4/30/25)
The Pelican Valley Trailhead is closed until July 4th due to the Pelican Valley Bear Management area. No through travel from Lamar River to Pelican Valley.
Miller and Frost Lake likely snowy and will become inaccessible when Cache Creek, and the Lamar River become uncrossable.(5/1/25)
Cache Creek is likley snow free in the lower elevations, and increasingly snowy with increasing elevation(5/1/25).
Cache Creek is crossable currently, but will soon start to rise. Be cautious that streams which are crossable in the morning may rise to unsafe levels by afternoon (5/1/25)
Soda Butte Creek(near the Thunderer trailhead) is currently crossable, but will soon start to rise. Be cautious that streams which are crossable in the morning may rise to unsafe levels by afternoon (5/1/25)
Some of this area is currently inaccessible until the roads open for the season. See Roads Page.
Inaccessible until the roads open for the season. See Roads Page.
Expect significant snow. (5/1/25)
Expect area to be snowy. (5/1/25)
Expect deep snow in the area.(5/1/25)
Grebe Lake - West side of Grebe lake is CLOSED to use (fishing, off-trail, and boating) in order to protect sensitive nesting areas. See map above. (5/1/25)
Wolf Lake is CLOSED to all traffic in order to protect sensitive nesting areas. See map above. The trail is open to travel from Ice lake to Grebe lake. (5/1/25)
The majority of Ice Lake is CLOSED to all use (fishing, off-trail, and boating) in order to protect sensitive nesting areas. See map above. (5/1/25)
A portion of the Canyon Rim Trails are closed due to dangerous condtions. See map above. (5/1/25)
Expect any open Canyon Rim Trails to have significant snow(5/1/25)
Expect significant snow on these trails. (5/1/25)
Expect significant snow on the trails. (4/21/25)
The Pelican Valley Trailhead is closed until July 4th due to the Pelican Valley Bear Management area. No through travel from Broad Creek, Pelican Creek, or Astringent Creek to Pelican Valley.
Expect significant snow on this trail. (4/21/25)
The Mary Mountain trail from the Nez Perce trailhead to Mary Lake is closed through June 16 due to Bear Management area restrictions. See map above. Through travel from the Canyon side is not allowed.Streamside use is allowed from the point where Nez Perce Creek Crosses the main road to a point one mile upstream along Nez Perce Creek.
Likely patchy snow. (5/1/25)
Southwest
Some of this area is currently inaccessible until the roads open for the season. See Roads Page.
Expect significant snow in the area.
Grand Prismatic Overlook trail is closed to all travel, due to dangerous conditions. (4/21/25)
Expect significant amounts of snow on the trail.(4/21/25)
Expect significant amounts of snow on the trail.(4/21/25)
This area is currently inaccessible until the roads open for the season. See Roads Page.
Some of this area is currently inaccessible until the roads open for the season. See Roads Page.
No entry into the back bay of the Lewis Lewis Channel in order to protect sensitive nesting areas. See map.(5/1/25)
Access in this area is by skiing and has several river crossing. Open for late season ski trips.(4/09/25)
The Cave Falls road into the Bechler River Rangers station is not plowed. Trips into the Bechler area will need to either snowmobile or ski the 12 miles into the trailhead.
Access in this area is by skiing and has several river crossing. Open for late season ski trips.(4/09/25)
The Cave Falls road into the Bechler River Rangers station is not plowed. Trips into the Bechler area will need to either snowmobile or ski the 12 miles into the trailhead.
Access in this area is by skiing and has several river crossing. Open for late season ski trips.(4/09/25)
The Cave Falls road into the Bechler River Rangers station is not plowed. Trips into the Bechler area will need to either snowmobile or ski the 12 miles into the trailhead.
Access in this area is by skiing and has several river crossing. Open for late season ski trips.(4/09/25)
The Cave Falls road into the Bechler River Rangers station is not plowed. Trips into the Bechler area will need to either snowmobile or ski the 12 miles into the trailhead.
Inaccessible. Grassy Lake road doesn't typically open until June 1.
This area is currently inaccessible until the roads open for the season. See Roads Page.
Sections of Beula lake are closed to traffic to protect sensitive bird nesting sites.(5/1/25)
All of Tanager Lake is closed to traffic to protect sensitive bird nesting sites. (5/1/25)
Southeast
This area is currently inaccessible until the roads open for the season. See Roads Page.
Snow covered.(5/1/25)
The Lake is currently frozen and the boating season is currently closed.
West Thumb landing restrictions -It is prohibited to be within 25 fee of any geothermal, as well as landing is along the shoreline of Yellowstone Lake between Little Thumb Creek and the south end of West Thumb geothermal area. See map above .
There are several closures in place to protect sensitive bird nesting areas.
Near campsite 7L7, there is no entry into the back bay. See map above. (5/1/25)
Between campsite 7N2 and 7N4 there is no entry into the channel. See map above.(5/1/25)
Frank Island - the entire island, except for the immediate dock area (southestern finger), is closed to public use from May 15 until August 15 to protect nesting birds.
Stevenson Island- the southern end of the island is closed to use from May 15 until August 15.
Molly Islands - no travel on Molly Islands, and to minimize disturbance to the resident birds, boaters must travel no closer than 1/2 mile from the islands or no futher than 100 yeards from shore between campsites 6A1 and 6A2. Year round closure.
Peale Island - closed to travel between May 14th and July 15th.
Mostly snow covered. (5/2/25)
Mostly snow covered. (5/2/25)
Heart Lake is closed until July 1 due to the Heart Lake BMA. (5/1/25)
A section of Heart Lake is closed to protect sensitive bird habitat. No fishing from shore, boating or off trail travel. See map for closure boundaries.
Area has wildlife closure in effect through July 14. (5/2/25)
Submit Trail Conditions
Have you hiked the trails lately and want to submit trail conditions? Please email the Central Backcountry Office with the trails and date you hiked the trails and as much details as you can provide.
