Northern Yellowstone Autumn Splendor

Montana/Wyoming $2,100 • September 9-14, 2024

Yellowstone CampingThe wilds of Northern Yellowstone  include a great diversity of trails and habitats. Although some of this trip often overlaps with our June Northern Yellowstone trek, it is a different world in the autumn! Our fall route often includes the high, wild and wonderful Buffalo Plateau, a subalpine wonderland with great views, big meadows and verdant forest. The elk rut will be at its peak with bugling bulls, plus there are bears, bison and most other typical species of Yellowstone wildlife. Willows and on some of the routes groves of quaking aspen will be starting to turn glorious gold, and the nearby peaks of the Montana Absaroka Range may be covered with early autumn snow. This is a truly magical season to be in the Yellowstone wilds! We rate this trip fairly strenuous, and its base is Bozeman, Montana.

We vary the route from year to year depending upon conditions. September weather is usually great, with mild days and frosty mornings. However, prepare for cold wet weather just in case, by carefully following our Clothing and Personal Gear List. In the event of a major storm situation, we many decide to move the trip to a lower elevation route in the same general area of the park, though again, September weather is usually great. Some years, a small portion of the trek will be in the million-acre Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, which is contiguous with the northern backcountry of Yellowstone.

TREK BASE: Bozeman, MT. Comfort Inn, 1370 N. 7th Avenue, 59715; (406)587-2322. Motel has airport pickup. Meet in lobby..

Yellowstone Backpacking

MEETING TIME: Pre-trip orientation including food and gear handout plus safety talk at 6 pm at Comfort Inn lobby,  the evening prior to day one of the trip.

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: This trip is fairly strenuous, with some off-trail. The longest backpacking day is about 9 miles, usually with one layover. Total mileage not including day hikes: 30-35 depending upon route options.

ELEVATIONS: 5500-8500 feet with optional layover day hikes. Maximum on day elevation gain with backpack is usually about 1800 feet depending upon which route we choose.

WEATHER: Usually pretty stable with warm sun and frosty nights. Afternoon showers are less common than in the summer. Expect anything possible from snow to 75-degree afternoons. However, the occasional early autumn snowstorm (or cold rain) means that we must be prepared, just in case. Visit the National Weather Service for a forecast of the area.

yellowstone-backpackingFISHING: There is stream fishing on most of our routes, but native cutthroat trout are “catch and release” only. A license can be obtained in the park.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Wide open spaces with great views transitioning into beautiful coniferous forest broken by mountain meadows and scattered stands of autumn gold willow and/or quaking aspen. Autumn snow (many years) on the peaks. Roaring streams and rivers. It is great wildlife habitat and the elk are bugling. The upper valley of Hellroaring Creek is magnificent! So is Cache Creek if we choose that route. And the Buffalo Plateau, another feature that we rarely visit on the June trip, is a really wild and a relatively unknown enclave of the Yellowstone Backcountry. You’ll be in real wilderness as soon as we leave the trailhead.

SPECIAL TIPS: A lightweight set of binoculars will come in handy for wildlife viewing. This is grizzly country so leave behind deodorants and other sweet smelly substances!

STATUS: This land is not fully protected as designated Wilderness, though park protections pertain.

ITINERARY: There is usually one layover, and we’ll do either a loop or “point A to point B”. Campsites are reserved in advance just for our group, and the trailhead is only a half hour drive from Gardiner.

Note: Mileages and vertical foot estimates are approximate because, based upon snowpack, runoff and other dynamic natural factors, we vary the specific itinerary from year to year.

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Have questions? Call (406) 823-0337

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Upper Hellroaring from Buffalo Plateau

Guided Yellowstone Backpacking

Guided Yellowstone Hikes

Yellowstone-wilderness

Annual Trip Calendar

Scheduled Yellowstone National Park Trips

At the links below, we’ve listed details about our Yellowstone hiking and backpacking trips plus other treks in Wyoming & Montana. When backpacking in Yellowstone Park with us, you will be in either Wyoming, Montana or both.

All Yellowstone Trips

 

Broad Creek, in Yellowstone National Park

List prices include our complete gear package and there is a $300 discount if you bring your own (see our Canoeing List, Backpacking List, and/or Questionnaire for details – found here). Also, we offer a $300 discount for the second trip in a calendar year. Scheduled trips are for persons ages 14 and over. Exceptions to the age requirement will be made by us on a case-by-case basis.

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