Hawks Rest, WY backcountry campsite suggestions please!

[Phantom309]

So in about two weeks, my group will be backpacking the Thorofare in Yellowstone. Due to the new Escarpment fire in the park, one of my campsites has been closed at this time. If this stays closed, I was looking for suggestions and information regarding camping in the Hawks Rest area.

I’m very familiar with camping in the park but not so much so in the Hawks Rest area.

Any info, help or tips you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[wsp_scott]

There is a spring at the Patrol Cabin just south of the park border, didn't see anything about no camping in the area.

I'm pretty sure there are lots of campsites in the Bridger Lake area, but I've never been there.

I don't think you will have a problem finding something south of the park border if you look around a bit.

@scatman @TheMountainRabbit can probably provide more info

 

[Phantom309]

Awesome, thanks for the help. I was planning on relying on bear hangs during this trip and believe, most likely, they won’t be available once we leave the park to camp.

 

[Bob]

Just do a proper hang with two trees or get an Ursak

 

[Fungi]

So in about two weeks, my group will be backpacking the Thorofare in Yellowstone. Due to the new Escarpment fire in the park, one of my campsites has been closed at this time. If this stays closed, I was looking for suggestions and information regarding camping in the Hawks Rest area.

I’m very familiar with camping in the park but not so much so in the Hawks Rest area.

Any info, help or tips you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I recommend Bridger Lake. I camped on the south side in 2022. There was another group on the north side, which would be more convenient for you.

 

[TheMountainRabbit]

So in about two weeks, my group will be backpacking the Thorofare in Yellowstone. Due to the new Escarpment fire in the park, one of my campsites has been closed at this time. If this stays closed, I was looking for suggestions and information regarding camping in the Hawks Rest area.

I’m very familiar with camping in the park but not so much so in the Hawks Rest area.

Any info, help or tips you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I stayed at a wonderful spot on the north side of Bridger Lake this year - right between it and the smaller unnamed lake. Nowhere suitable to hang a bear bag, but very little bear sign in that area and I always use an Ursack anyway.

There's some good spots along the western 'arm' as well.

The areas around the Yellowstone River under Hawk's Rest tend to be pretty wet, but there's some good looking options along Thorofare Creek east of Bridger Lake.

Seemed like a number of horse camps around, but I didn't see any w/ a bear hang - I tend to try and avoid them though, so I didn't get a good look.

 

[Patrick GPz]

I had the experience of staying in the Bridger Lake area years ago, I do clearly remember all the outfitters horses that were hobbled there. The outfitters leave the hobbled horses to ramble about, but with large bells around their necks. All night long, I got to enjoy hearing that clanging sound from the bells. I didn't sleep as well as I hoped thanks to that racket. One suggestion would be to check out the area before setting up camp, and not camp there if the outfitters are there with their herds.