Otter Creek, Violet Springs and Hayden Valley - September 7, 2025

[scatman]

I met up with @TractorDoc , @Bob , @CajunPoncho and Cody for a five day backpacking trip in the Boundary Creek area of Yellowstone, but first, we had plans (minus Bob) for a day hike that would help me check off an item from my bucket list, and get Tractordoc into some thermal areas that he hasn't seen before.

We had reservations at the cabins at Old Faithful the night before and we woke up early to shuttle the Subaru over the Mary Mountain Trailhead in Hayden Valley before heading on to our starting trailhead - the Cygnet Lakes Trailhead. I ate a couple of pop-tarts and an energy bar between the trailheads for my breakfast, looking forward to what lay ahead along out planned route.

Our planned route was to hike down the Cygnet Lakes Trail for approximately 1.5 miles, then head off -trail to the meadows at the headwaters of Otter Creek, which has been on my bucket list for quite some time. We would then head down creek for a short distance before turning south and exploring a chain of thermal areas (Tractordoc's bucket list) that would lead us to Violet Springs. From Violet Springs, we would work our way to Hayden Valley proper and then take the Mary Mountain Trail back to the Subaru.

Weather conditions for our hike were relatively good, though we did have some drizzles at the start of our hike and then again right at the end. The drizzles at the end could have been avoided it only I could have hiked faster.

I believe that Dave logged this hike somewhere between 11 and 12 miles, and if I remember correctly it took us/me about 7.5 hours to complete.

Here are some shots of our hike:


Getting ready to leave the cabins at Old Faithful to shuttle my vehicle to the Mary Mountain Trailhead


At the parking turnout for the Mary Mountain Trailhead. What is that hanging off of @CajunPoncho's belt?


At the Cygnet Lake Trailhead, ready for a full day


I believe this to be the old information sign





Views along the Cygnet Lakes Trail


This is where we began the off-trail part of our hike


Some wet shrubs and taller grass to deal with


The meadows of the headwaters of Otter Creek ahead


Arriving at the meadows, with Tractordoc thinking, "Were are the bears?"


A good view looking west of the meadows


So that is what was hanging on his belt - The @CajunPoncho demonstrating his defense against grizzlies routine.


Headwaters of Otter Creek


We ran into this rather large lid along the creek, but could not figure out what it was for.


Lily pads on Otter Creek


This is the point where we turned south and began exploring the chain of thermal areas that would lead us to Violet Springs


Mudpots in the first thermal area


Some bubblers



And more


Some cool looking pools along our way


A bison skull


And for some scale


Another bubbler


Leaving a thermal area behind


And on to another one. We had to bushwhack between the thermal areas.


Arriving at the next thermal area


Thermal area


A very small mudpot


Every now and then we would be reminded that fall is on its way


Thermal feature


A dark colored thermal feature


Heading towards more bushwhacking


This stretch is where my right knee started complaining


Cody, showing off an elk rack


Some little hills to climb ahead


Taking a snack break in the sticks



The last thermal area before we reached Violet Springs


And of course, one more bushwhack.


Our first view of Hayden Valley


Arriving at the Violet Springs complex


If you look closely you might see a bull elk below










Images of Violet Springs



Dave, admiring the springs


A lunch break on the south end of the springs


Circus Peanuts tossing to be had! You'll have to wait for the video.


Leaving Violet Springs behind and heading towards Hayden Valley


The way home


Small set of falls on Violet Creek


Violet Creek


Many lone bulls in the valley on this day


Some aspen changing colors at the north end of the valley


Alum Creek


I love Hayden Valley! We've still got a ways to go to reach the trailhead.


Must be heading the right way.


Another lone bull. I bet he's thinking, "Nice kilt!"


And yet another bull



Same bull, different perspectives


I think I can see the Yellowstone River in the distance, but not my hiking mates. Slowpoke is moving slowly at this time.


Crossing under the powerlines in Hayden. I think that there is a pot of gold at the end
of these lines @Rockskipper?


Back at the Sube!


These two were contemplating crossing the Yellowstone, but we couldn't wait to watch because the rain was picking up.


The driving rain turned to hail by the time we returned to our cabins at Old Faithful


Dinner consisted of a pulled pork sandwich, some mashed potatoes and some mac-n-cheese, plus a cookie.

Well, that concludes another great day in Yellowstone. I'm sure Dave will have a lot to add when he posts his report at some point. Now time to get ready for Buffalo Lake and Boundary Creek!

As some of you know, at the end of my backpacking season which happens to be this coming weekend this year, I watch Jeremiah Johnson which is one of my favorite movies. My brother, who was never "outdoorsy" took me to see this movie back in 1972 when it came out. I was eight years old at the time, and our mother dropped us off at the Beaucatcher Cinemas on Tunnel Road back in Asheville, North Carolina. I had no idea what the movie was about or even why my brother wanted to see it. I was more interested in the popcorn that I was going to consume. Well, it turned out that that movie had a profound effect on me. I was mesmerized by how the movie portrayed the American West at the time of the Mountain Man, whether it was actually correct or not. It had a profound influence on me loving wilderness and wildlife today. So there is a bit of sadness in Scatman today as I learned of the passing of Robert Redford and just wanted to extend to you all his influence from Jeremiah Johnson on a naive kid whose roots go back to farm country in western North Carolina. RIP


The End.

 

[TractorDoc]

So that is what was hanging on his belt - The @CajunPoncho demonstrating his defense against grizzlies routine.

As I recall, Patrick was not the only one demonstrating his defensive posture is the meadow above Otter Creek.

​

I thoroughly enjoyed this day/hike. New terrain, a variety of weather. . . a lot of interesting things to take in. It will take me a minute to go thru pictures - even longer with the video(s) - but I hope I can post something comparable to this excellent report.

I really enjoyed the lunch break at Violet Springs. I'm glad the peanut toss did not result in any negative GI side effects.

I think we did good on planning the route on this one. It might even be one worth repeating in the future with a little more exploration down Otter Creek.