New to Yellowstone

[Mater 703]

I was hoping to find some help planning a trip to Yellowstone. My wife and I have explored most of the Great Smoky Mountains NP back country and are looking to change our hiking area. We are certainly not professionals but love the outdoors and do NOT wanna get in over our heads. I have my eye on the Bechler area of the park. We have around two weeks to spend including our travel time from Georgia any time after July. I know you guys get this a lot and wanna offer my thanks and appreciation in advance.

 

[Absarokanaut]

The Bechler is wonderful but I rarely go there before August for several very good reasons.

With two weeks you will be able to see some of the best of the region, much of which is *NOT* in the National Parks. I live in Jackson and although I love the Tetons and Yellowstone they are not my favorite areas on earth, the South Absaroka Wall is; from Mt. Sublette to Castle Rock, great dayhikes starting just an hour from Jackson. If you need suggestions let me know. Until then here's the best of the Bechler Area IMO, Dunanada Falls on Boundary Creek.

 

[Tater Head]

I too love the Bechler area. So many waterfalls in the Southwest corner of the park and the best part is there are no roads! I made it to Union Falls a couple summers ago and it's pretty spectacular. A couple of campsites just before the falls and there is a hot spring in the river about a mile away. It's really more of a warm spring but still a lot of fun to hang out in. I read online before I went that I should expect to see scouts from a near by scout camp but we didn't see a soul all day. Oh, and the huckleberries along the trail were a nice treat...

 

[Mater 703]

Thank you both for responding...!!!!! I am certainly open to ANY ideas on location(s). I just want to experience the beauty of that area. My wife and I are not the people that have to rush and have the best trail time.... I want to absorb all we can back country hiking and camping, we would only be able too travel to that area only every two or three years so.... I want to make the best of it. We have struggled to find anyone or a group that is willing to point us in that direction. We are both in our late 40's and in descent shape and can handle most of the difficult trails in the Smoky Mountains Nation Park. The disappointing thing there is that is almost 95% straight up and straight down and not a lot of views.

We have never traveled there at all so any help you send is most appreciated.

 

[Outdoor_Fool]

The Bechler region is a fine area of the park. It is well-known for being extremely buggy until mid-late August so take that into consideration. Hiking from Bechler Meadow upstream along the Bechler River is scenic, to say the least. A stop at the Bubble Hot Spring is a must.

There are other more-scenic areas of the park to explore and plenty outside the park, but for those who strive to visit Cascade Corner, very few are disappointed. Many backpacking trips to that area are 4-6 days, depending on your route, pace, etc., so with about a week to explore other areas (if you are flying out), you will have plenty of time to see the region.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[blueeyes]

I too recommend Bechler area. Dunananda Falls was my first and so far only backpack trip in Yellowstone. Loved it. Hopefully will be going back this September.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[Absarokanaut]

@blueeyes had a great trip report, some non-techno-moron-man find it, please.

Oh yeah. although the Bechler is relatively low elevation for our area it is still as high as the heights of your sensational Smokies. It is also considerably drier. HYDRATE..........

To revisit your notation of Views: The Bechler is more like the Carolinas than anywhere else in Greater Yellowstone. Views are not the highlight of the Bechler, the country more at hand is.

I encourage you to think about dayhiking [short day for many] Avalanche Peak in Yellowstone and/or a classic Teton hike. There are some incredible views around here, and if you think the Tetons are too steep look at the Absaroka, or Gros Ventre. TheTrails in Grand Teton are however well graded and constructed/maintained.

Whatever you do, have an amazing trip.

This is Avalanche Peak, steep but short.



This is easily accessible Greater Yellowstone Dayhike. Tell you where if you're interested. On either end of a Bechler Trip get some great views wherever you go.

 

[blueeyes]

https://backcountrypost.com/index.php?threads/5476/ at your request @Absarokanaut2

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk