Wyoming $1,600 • July 2-6, 2012
The upper Lamar River in Yellowstone and its tributaries cut beautiful valleys through the mountains and plateaus of Yellowstone’s northeastern backcountry. This is usually a great trip for viewing wildlife! Bison, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, and bear are abundant, and this is the exact area in which wolves were first re-introduced into Yellowstone back in 1995. It is still not at all unusual to hear them howl or even to catch a lucky glimpse! The landscape is a rich mix of verdant wildflower-strewn meadow and young forest dating back to the 1988 fires, plus areas of deep shady old growth. Big rocky peaks tower above the valleys, and the clear cold streams are loaded with fish. We rate this trip moderate, and its base is Gardiner, Montana.
The upper Lamar River and it’s beautiful tributary, Cache Creek, are the primary valleys that we’ll explore on this Yellowstone guided hike. We usually leave Cache Creek on the trips’ final morning, and hike up and out over a beautiful heavily forested mountain pass which is part of the expansive Absaroka Range.
TRIP BASE: Yellowstone River Motel, Gardiner, MT, 888-797-4837 or 406-848-7303; or Gardiner Guest House B&B, 406-848-7314. Your choice. Gardiner is small and they are just a block apart. If you need a night in Bozeman, we recommend the Comfort Inn at 800-587-3833 or 406-587-2322.
MEETING TIME: Pre-trip orientation plus food and gear handout and safety talk are at 6 PM the evening prior to the first trip day, at the Yellowstone River Motel.TRIP RATING: This Yellowstone backpacking journey is moderate on good trails with gentle gradients. Our longest backpack day is about 7 miles and there’s usually one layover.
WEATHER: Usually lots of sun with warm to hot afternoons and wonderfully cool nights. Afternoon thunderstorms are common, but prolonged rain is not. Nonetheless, Yellowstone weather can change quickly and radically, and depending upon elevation, it could snow or even approach 90 degrees! Click here for a National Weather Service forecast.
FISHING: There’s good trout fishing in the streams, depending upon early summer water levels, and it’s mostly “catch and release”. A Yellowstone fishing permit can be obtained when we enter the park.
SPECIAL FEATURES: Early summer wildflowers, big open grassy expanses, young forest dating back to the famous 1988 wildfires, shady old growth and rugged snow-capped peaks. Lots of wildlife: bison, pronghorn antelope, deer, elk, bear and of course the iconic gray wolf, re-introduced right here in the Lamar Valley back in 1995. With a bit of luck we may catch a glimpse or hear them howl.
SPECIAL TIPS: A lightweight set of binoculars will be handy for wildlife viewing. This is grizzly country, so eschew deodorants and other good-smelling substances!
STATUS: The Yellowstone backcountry has yet to be fully protected as a Wilderness Area under the Wilderness Act of 1964, only because of local/regional politics. But it is wonderfully wild.
ITINERARY: The trailheads are an hour or so from Gardiner and it’s a “point A to point B” route. All campsites in Yellowstone are reserved in advance exclusively for our group.
Return our homepage to restart your Yellowstone guided hikes trip research and also read about other guided tours.
Note: The exact route varies depending upon conditions, so mileages and elevations are approximate, not exact.
