Bechler canyon as an out-and-back

[montanaclimber]

Has anyone done the Bechler Canyon in Yellowstone as an out and back from the Bechler Ranger Station? I’m planning on doing that as I have a early backcountry permit slot and want to get to Mr Bubbles and turn around. Which campsites are the best? Looking for tips.

 

[Jackson]

Has anyone done the Bechler Canyon in Yellowstone as an out and back from the Bechler Ranger Station? I’m planning on doing that as I have a early backcountry permit slot and want to get to Mr Bubbles and turn around. Which campsites are the best? Looking for tips.

Me! Twice.

9D1 is the closest, 9D2 is also fairly close and allows camp fires, unlike 9D1. Last September, I hiked to 9D2 from the ranger station, set up camp, then went down to Mr. Bubbles and back all in one day. So that's doable but not enjoyable. Haha.

9B7, 8, 9, and 0 would be fine for day hikes. Maybe 9B6 too. I'd need to double check the distance but I can't since I don't have my computer with me.

Mr. Bubbles has gotten pretty popular, so an early morning or sunset visit is the best way to have it to yourself or maybe with only a couple of others. And of course, those are easier the closer you are. Haha. There were seriously probably a dozen or more people there in the late afternoon/early evening last fall.

Here's my trip report: https://backcountrypost.com/threads/a-successful-return-to-the-bechler.10032/

 

[TractorDoc]

Rather than have me try to type out a number of details I'd suggest reading a couple of the trip reports here on BCP.

You'd probably want a minimum of three nights -- try for campsites. . . looks like @Jackson beat me to it.

Here is a link to mine from 2021:

Yellowstone's Shoshone Lake, Ouzel Creek, and Three Rivers Junction -- September 13-16 2021

Well, @scatman posted his version of this trip, now its my turn. :) After our warm up hike to Aster Lake the day before Hugh and I would be meeting @wsp_scott by a deadline of 9AM at Yellowstone's Lone Star Trailhead. We drove over from the Old Faithful area a bit early and found Scott...

backcountrypost.com

@scatman has his version somewhere on BCP as well. You'll may want to stick to the trail on the way down and back though.

 

[scatman]

Rather than have me try to type out a number of details I'd suggest reading a couple of the trip reports here on BCP.

You'd probably want a minimum of three nights -- try for campsites. . . looks like @Jackson beat me to it.

Here is a link to mine from 2021:

Yellowstone's Shoshone Lake, Ouzel Creek, and Three Rivers Junction -- September 13-16 2021

Well, @scatman posted his version of this trip, now its my turn. :) After our warm up hike to Aster Lake the day before Hugh and I would be meeting @wsp_scott by a deadline of 9AM at Yellowstone's Lone Star Trailhead. We drove over from the Old Faithful area a bit early and found Scott...

backcountrypost.com

@scatman has his version somewhere on BCP as well. You'll may want to stick to the trail on the way down and back though.

There is a trail down the Bechler?

 

[CodyL]

I had the same experience and would give the same advice as @Jackson as far as camping close to Mr. Bubbles so you can go early in the morning or at sunset to avoid other people. Definitely a popular place now. Thanks Youtube.. lol! While your in that area you may want to take the cutoff trail over to boundary creek trail and sit in the rock hot tub below dunanda falls- it has a better view with the falls right next to you anyway. Its also very popular right now- so I'd recommend a mid week trip to Dunanda falls, again with a camp close by.

9D1 has a cool thermal feature right next to the camp and the river. If you stay at 9B4 I'd recommend a hike up to Ranger lake or over to Ouzel Falls if you have time. both really cool off trail places. On advice from @scatman, several years ago we hiked up to Ranger lake on a short mile day and saw 4 moose and a black bear. Ranger lake is kind of creepy at dusk. Don't go off trail if your alone though!

By the way, how early did you draw out? I got the 11th.

 

[montanaclimber]

Thanks guys! I’ve already done several trips in the Bechler including Dunanda. I’ve just never done the canyon. Mostly bc of the popularity of it. But I actually wanted to take some friends and make this a social trip so I thought, perfect! My brother really likes waterfalls so I wanted to bring him along on this.

 

[montanaclimber]

I had the same experience and would give the same advice as @Jackson as far as camping close to Mr. Bubbles so you can go early in the morning or at sunset to avoid other people. Definitely a popular place now. Thanks Youtube.. lol! While your in that area you may want to take the cutoff trail over to boundary creek trail and sit in the rock hot tub below dunanda falls- it has a better view with the falls right next to you anyway. Its also very popular right now- so I'd recommend a mid week trip to Dunanda falls, again with a camp close by.

9D1 has a cool thermal feature right next to the camp and the river. If you stay at 9B4 I'd recommend a hike up to Ranger lake or over to Ouzel Falls if you have time. both really cool off trail places. On advice from @scatman, several years ago we hiked up to Ranger lake on a short mile day and saw 4 moose and a black bear. Ranger lake is kind of creepy at dusk. Don't go off trail if your alone though!

By the way, how early did you draw out? I got the 11th.

I got the 2nd

 

[montanaclimber]

Me! Twice.

9D1 is the closest, 9D2 is also fairly close and allows camp fires, unlike 9D1. Last September, I hiked to 9D2 from the ranger station, set up camp, then went down to Mr. Bubbles and back all in one day. So that's doable but not enjoyable. Haha.

9B7, 8, 9, and 0 would be fine for day hikes. Maybe 9B6 too. I'd need to double check the distance but I can't since I don't have my computer with me.

Mr. Bubbles has gotten pretty popular, so an early morning or sunset visit is the best way to have it to yourself or maybe with only a couple of others. And of course, those are easier the closer you are. Haha. There were seriously probably a dozen or more people there in the late afternoon/early evening last fall.

Here's my trip report: https://backcountrypost.com/threads/a-successful-return-to-the-bechler.10032/

Jackson, I had read your trip report, very nice! Any alluring features of any of the campsites, like I was considering Albright Falls as the description seemed neat. Where in Montana do you live? I’m Butte.

 

[Jackson]

Thanks guys! I’ve already done several trips in the Bechler including Dunanda. I’ve just never done the canyon. Mostly bc of the popularity of it. But I actually wanted to take some friends and make this a social trip so I thought, perfect! My brother really likes waterfalls so I wanted to bring him along on this.

In the canyon's defense, the canyon itself is where I saw the least people on my most recent trip. We'd pass a few here and there, but most were up at Mr. Bubbles or out in the meadow closer to the ranger station.

Jackson, I had read your trip report, very nice! Any alluring features of any of the campsites, like I was considering Albright Falls as the description seemed neat. Where in Montana do you live? I’m Butte.

I've never actually seen Albright Falls since I've always been in a hurry passing by there. Probably an awesome spot!

I live in Belgrade. My boss was born and raised in Butte and adores Butte, so I feel like I know Butte, but I've never spent much time there. Haha.@MikeM is a Butte person too!

 

[Tarp Boy]

Has anyone done the Bechler Canyon in Yellowstone as an out and back from the Bechler Ranger Station? I’m planning on doing that as I have a early backcountry permit slot and want to get to Mr Bubbles and turn around. Which campsites are the best? Looking for tips.

We did the Bechler river trail from the Ranger station last August. An out and back from the Ranger station to Mr Bubbles.
You can find a write up about it here: https://www.patioboys.com/hikes/80-summer-2021-bechler-river-trail-yellowstone-np
It's not a typical trip report and more of a 'read' of another one of the misadventures of the PatioBoys. There are some pictures here: https://www.patioboys.com/photos/category/76-2021-summer-yellowstone-national-park.
We camped at the sites 9B2, 9B8, 9B7, 9B4 in that order. We backtracked to 9b7 because we were only allowed to stay in a site one night. After the day hike to Mr. B some of us went up the canyon as far as Twister Falls before heading back to camp. All of the camp sites we saw or stayed at were good. Highly recommended trip.