Wyoming: $2,300 ($1,000 deposit required) • September 15-21, 2024
Just outside the southeast corner of Yellowstone National Park, near the headwaters of the Yellowstone River, lies the most distant point from a road in the lower 48 states. This wild location, known as Hawks Rest, will be one of the beautiful highlights we come near on our journey into the Remote Corner of Yellowstone. Our odyssey begins at the Yellowstone Lake Lodge where we will take a boat across the lake to our beginning trailhead. We will work our way up the Yellowstone River Valley and towards the Absaroka Mountain Range while taking in the beauty of the wide open meadows along the River. After enjoying the River Valley and exploring as far up the Thorofare as we can, we will hike over Eagle Pass and into the Washakie Wilderness where we will spend our last night before ending the trip near Cody, WY. This trip has it all: vistas galore, verdant woods and wildflower meadows, huge mountain river valleys, blue lakes and sky-scraping peaks plus virtually all of Yellowstone’s native wildlife. However, the best part of the route will be the company provided by Big Wild Adventures founders Marilyn Olsen and Howie Wolke. Come spend some backcountry time with Marilyn and Howie and soak up their endless knowledge of Yellowstone and the surrounding ecosystems. Be prepared for any kind of weather, and though most of the terrain is fairly gentle, we rate this trip fairly strenuous because of mileage and remoteness. Its base is Bozeman, Montana.
TREK BASE: Bozeman, MT. Comfort Inn, 1370 N. 7th Avenue, 59715; (406)587-2322. Motel has airport pickup. Meet in lobby.
MEETING TIME: Pre-trip orientation/food and gear handout/safety talk at 6 pm the evening prior to day one of the trip at the Comfort Inn lobby.
TRANSPORTATION: Air service to Bozeman; All clients are responsible for getting themselves to and from the airport to the hotel. We suggest Uber or any local cab company. Making those arrangements in advance is suggested.
TREK RATING: Fairly strenuous due to distances covered. Most of the terrain is gently rolling on good trails, but the remoteness of the trip requires a higher rating.
ELEVATIONS: 7,000-10,000 feet. Max one-day elevation gain with pack: 2,000’.
WEATHER: Early September has great weather, with warm days and chilly nights. Afternoon thunderstorms are common, but usually short-lived. But Yellowstone weather can suddenly change, so be prepared for anything from the 80’s to cold rain or even snow! Click here for the National Weather Service forecast.
FISHING: A Yellowstone fishing permit can be purchased when we enter the park. There are some good trout fishing opportunities if time permits; please inform us in advance if you plan to fish.
SPECIAL FEATURES: We will pass the most distant location from a road in the lower 48 states (21 air miles) near the confluence of the Yellowstone and Thorofare Rivers. The landscape is highly varied, with spectacular open valleys, expansive forests, high peaks, rivers, lakes and plenty of wildlife. This is an ultimate wilderness adventure, a true oddessey!
SPECIAL TIPS: Because we’ll be covering many miles, it is essential to travel light! Eschew surplus! Bring what’s on the list and nothing more. This is griz country, so leave all deodorants, soaps and other sweet smelly things behind!
STATUS: Believe it or not, Congress has yet to designate a single acre of Yellowstone as Wilderness under the Wilderness Act of 1964. The final third of the trip will be in protected national forest Wilderness.
ITINERARY: We’ll begin in southern Yellowstone and hike to the Thorofare country in the park’s southeast corner via the south arm of Yellowstone Lake. Then we’ll hike northeast over the Absarokas, through the Shoshone National Forest’s Washakie Wilderness, terminating a few miles from the park’s east entrance. The trailheads are about 2.5 to 3 hours from Bozeman.
Please Note: Mileages and elevations are approximate and subject to change due to various factors.
Book Your Trip!
Space is limited!
Have questions? Call (406) 848-7000
