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- Dec 11, 2015
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My brother drew a pretty early lottery opportunity so in late July, I met up with my brother and a
couple of old friends from the Ft Collins college days for a 5-night trek in Yellowstone. After camping in
one of the commercial campsites in the Park, we headed to our trailhead and took off.
I've hiked a short stretch of this trail before but wanted to hike it to at least this location.
From the overlook we continued on a short way until this creek to water up.
After crossing the creek, we left the trail system for the rest of the day and some. As always,
heading off trail presented some challenges but for the most part, the traveling was good. The
forest presented plenty of opportunity for sitting comfortably on a log or the ground.
After the break we continued up toward camp.
We passed a few bear trees and other signs of bear activity.
As we neared the ridge here we spotted a couple of cow elk.
We had some good stretches of hiking through the lodgepole and spruce.
We reached our campsite with plenty of time for dinner and relaxing.
The next morning started with a brief hike over a low ridge and then a drop down to a meadow
adjacent to a creek.
The water at camp was not the best so we watered up at the creek.
Some irises and wood sorrel.
We found a game trail that we followed for a short while.
After battling through some pretty gnarly forest, we popped out onto this little wet meadow,
surprising a small band of elk.
We hit a few more stretches of dense forest.
As we approached the lake, the forest opened up nicely.
We took a long break here. The weather was awesome. The were plenty of pelicans
and ducks/geese on the lake.
Traveling along the lake was pleasant.
Eventually, we hit the creek that we would follow downstream to our campsite.
As we set up camp, this guy and a partner ambled by.
They certainly weren't bothered by us but didn't stay long.
The next morning we crossed the creek and followed the same route as the bison pair from the
evening before.
I was surprised there wasn't any wildlife in this meadow. From here we headed east and picked up a trail.
Looking downstream.
The trail took us past this cabin which was a great place to take a break.
We then continued on upstream.
Eventually, we hit the bend in the creek that will take us up to our campsite. We left the established
trail here, but the bison trails were excellent. I did not remember seeing a beaver pond here on the
satellite imagery. Checking the Google Earth imagery when I returned home show that it developed
since 2020. The latest GE imagery that shows the pond is from August 2025 (after our trip).
Following the bison trail up this creek was nice.
One of my college mates followed by my brother.
Further upstream, we passed this beaver pond which was also non-existent in 2020. A part of the
dam has broken, resulting in the recently lowered water level.
As we approached camp, the bison sign increased, including this wallow.
As we entered the huge meadow adjacent to camp, we spotted this bull and he led us up to camp.
The view from camp.
The usual decorations.
As we departed in the morning, I stopped for a photo of our route into camp.
Soon enough we were hiking along a bison trail.
More wildflowers, yarrow, lupines, geraniums, and more. I usually am not in the area mid-summer so
it's nice to see the variety of blooming flowers.
As we hiked up this valley, I kept hoping to see some wildlife. But nothing...
...until we were near the top and I saw 3 heads with ears sticking up. My first thought was mule deer
because of the prominent ears but I and the others quickly realized it was 3 wolves. I didn't even think
of taking a picture as I just wanted to watch them as they moved downslope to our right. Luckily,
one of us had the presence of mind to grab a few pictures.
Soon after passing over the low ridge, we left the bison trail. More wildflowers.
As we approached our next break at a lake, the bison trails came together.
Breaktime.
A panoramic of the lake.
A herd of damselflies.
After the break, we headed north through meadows and stretches of forest. Eventually reaching this meadow.
It seemed like a great place for another break, the weather is hot for the Park and we're gulping down water.
We continue on through some awesome country.
Upon reaching this creek, we stopped to refill the water supplies.
Hiking down through an old burn.
Elk remains.
Our camp is on the backside of the ridge ahead of us, then down the creek almost another mile. There's a
group of bison on the slope up near the trees.
A chunk of chalcedony, I think.
Along the trail.
The clouds have been awesome for most of the trip. We experienced a few drops of rain through this stretch.
A whitebark pine.
After topping the low ridge and heading down toward camp we came upon these 2 bulls. The one in the rear
had a badly damaged hind leg. I assume it was injured during the rut, which is winding down at this point.
He was moving really slow.
The view from camp. I was surprised how much bison activity occurred within this campsite. Trails, wallows,
scat. I ended up using some stout downed branches to block a trail that was adjacent to my tent as I did not
want a bison coming through and stepping on my tent on catching a leg on a tent pole.
One of the locals.
A bison below and a grizzly upper left. We spotted the grizzly when it was nearly a half mile down the drainage
and kept eyes on it as it moved in our general direction. It never had any interest in us and moved away out
of sight as darkness approached. The next morning it was back out there. I would love to have been able to
discern what vegetation it was eating. Whatever it was, it kept him busy. Some of it seemed to be wild onion
or wild carrot as it was digging slightly before feeding on it.
A slightly better picture of the grizzly.
Another awesome cloud.
The next morning we took off for a high spot near camp. The views were fantastic.
After taking a break at the top, we headed on. A gnarled old whitebark snag.
Grizzly scat.
On the ridge.
As we stopped for another break, these 2 stepped out for several minutes.
Hiking along a high ridge gave us great views nearly all day.
Another high spot, this one is well-marked.
More scenery.
The sunset at camp. I could not edit the colors well enough, but this was pretty close to what it was.
This evening and night were quite eventful. A little after this photo was taken, several wolves started howling
not too far away. We never saw them but it was a great ending to a great day.
In the middle of the night, I was awakened from a deep(!) sleep by 2 grizzles having a quarrel. It lasted for
20-30 seconds after I woke up and was fairly close to camp. From past experience, it reminded me of a male
trying to mate with a female and she wasn't having it. But I'm not %100 on that. The next morning I woke
up thinking maybe I dreamed it all but my brother said he remembered hearing something like what I
described.
Another beautiful morning. A group of bison at the top of the sidehill.
Seems like these guys are everywhere. After a few seconds, he ambled off to the right where the rest of the
herd was.
And a little later, we saw this group below us.
Soon after this guy ambled by.
We continued on down the ridge.
I love the trail markers up here.
At this point there is a marked human trail but I decided to follow the bison trail. Soon after this I caught my
boot on a branch that stuck against my other foot and I went ass over teakettle downhill through the sagebrush. No
injuries aside from a scrape on the arm. Luckily my phone came to rest against the base of a sagebrush facing
me.
Some pronghorns enjoying the shade.
A badger den.
Almost to the vehicle. We saw no one from the time we left the trailhead until about a half-hour before
reaching the car, a group of 4-5 younger adults hiking on an adjacent trail.
couple of old friends from the Ft Collins college days for a 5-night trek in Yellowstone. After camping in
one of the commercial campsites in the Park, we headed to our trailhead and took off.
I've hiked a short stretch of this trail before but wanted to hike it to at least this location.
From the overlook we continued on a short way until this creek to water up.
After crossing the creek, we left the trail system for the rest of the day and some. As always,
heading off trail presented some challenges but for the most part, the traveling was good. The
forest presented plenty of opportunity for sitting comfortably on a log or the ground.
After the break we continued up toward camp.
We passed a few bear trees and other signs of bear activity.
As we neared the ridge here we spotted a couple of cow elk.
We had some good stretches of hiking through the lodgepole and spruce.
We reached our campsite with plenty of time for dinner and relaxing.
The next morning started with a brief hike over a low ridge and then a drop down to a meadow
adjacent to a creek.
The water at camp was not the best so we watered up at the creek.
Some irises and wood sorrel.
We found a game trail that we followed for a short while.
After battling through some pretty gnarly forest, we popped out onto this little wet meadow,
surprising a small band of elk.
We hit a few more stretches of dense forest.
As we approached the lake, the forest opened up nicely.
We took a long break here. The weather was awesome. The were plenty of pelicans
and ducks/geese on the lake.
Traveling along the lake was pleasant.
Eventually, we hit the creek that we would follow downstream to our campsite.
As we set up camp, this guy and a partner ambled by.
They certainly weren't bothered by us but didn't stay long.
The next morning we crossed the creek and followed the same route as the bison pair from the
evening before.
I was surprised there wasn't any wildlife in this meadow. From here we headed east and picked up a trail.
Looking downstream.
The trail took us past this cabin which was a great place to take a break.
We then continued on upstream.
Eventually, we hit the bend in the creek that will take us up to our campsite. We left the established
trail here, but the bison trails were excellent. I did not remember seeing a beaver pond here on the
satellite imagery. Checking the Google Earth imagery when I returned home show that it developed
since 2020. The latest GE imagery that shows the pond is from August 2025 (after our trip).
Following the bison trail up this creek was nice.
One of my college mates followed by my brother.
Further upstream, we passed this beaver pond which was also non-existent in 2020. A part of the
dam has broken, resulting in the recently lowered water level.
As we approached camp, the bison sign increased, including this wallow.
As we entered the huge meadow adjacent to camp, we spotted this bull and he led us up to camp.
The view from camp.
The usual decorations.
As we departed in the morning, I stopped for a photo of our route into camp.
Soon enough we were hiking along a bison trail.
More wildflowers, yarrow, lupines, geraniums, and more. I usually am not in the area mid-summer so
it's nice to see the variety of blooming flowers.
As we hiked up this valley, I kept hoping to see some wildlife. But nothing...
...until we were near the top and I saw 3 heads with ears sticking up. My first thought was mule deer
because of the prominent ears but I and the others quickly realized it was 3 wolves. I didn't even think
of taking a picture as I just wanted to watch them as they moved downslope to our right. Luckily,
one of us had the presence of mind to grab a few pictures.
Soon after passing over the low ridge, we left the bison trail. More wildflowers.
As we approached our next break at a lake, the bison trails came together.
Breaktime.
A panoramic of the lake.
A herd of damselflies.
After the break, we headed north through meadows and stretches of forest. Eventually reaching this meadow.
It seemed like a great place for another break, the weather is hot for the Park and we're gulping down water.
We continue on through some awesome country.
Upon reaching this creek, we stopped to refill the water supplies.
Hiking down through an old burn.
Elk remains.
Our camp is on the backside of the ridge ahead of us, then down the creek almost another mile. There's a
group of bison on the slope up near the trees.
A chunk of chalcedony, I think.
Along the trail.
The clouds have been awesome for most of the trip. We experienced a few drops of rain through this stretch.
A whitebark pine.
After topping the low ridge and heading down toward camp we came upon these 2 bulls. The one in the rear
had a badly damaged hind leg. I assume it was injured during the rut, which is winding down at this point.
He was moving really slow.
The view from camp. I was surprised how much bison activity occurred within this campsite. Trails, wallows,
scat. I ended up using some stout downed branches to block a trail that was adjacent to my tent as I did not
want a bison coming through and stepping on my tent on catching a leg on a tent pole.
One of the locals.
A bison below and a grizzly upper left. We spotted the grizzly when it was nearly a half mile down the drainage
and kept eyes on it as it moved in our general direction. It never had any interest in us and moved away out
of sight as darkness approached. The next morning it was back out there. I would love to have been able to
discern what vegetation it was eating. Whatever it was, it kept him busy. Some of it seemed to be wild onion
or wild carrot as it was digging slightly before feeding on it.
A slightly better picture of the grizzly.
Another awesome cloud.
The next morning we took off for a high spot near camp. The views were fantastic.
After taking a break at the top, we headed on. A gnarled old whitebark snag.
Grizzly scat.
On the ridge.
As we stopped for another break, these 2 stepped out for several minutes.
Hiking along a high ridge gave us great views nearly all day.
Another high spot, this one is well-marked.
More scenery.
The sunset at camp. I could not edit the colors well enough, but this was pretty close to what it was.
This evening and night were quite eventful. A little after this photo was taken, several wolves started howling
not too far away. We never saw them but it was a great ending to a great day.
In the middle of the night, I was awakened from a deep(!) sleep by 2 grizzles having a quarrel. It lasted for
20-30 seconds after I woke up and was fairly close to camp. From past experience, it reminded me of a male
trying to mate with a female and she wasn't having it. But I'm not %100 on that. The next morning I woke
up thinking maybe I dreamed it all but my brother said he remembered hearing something like what I
described.
Another beautiful morning. A group of bison at the top of the sidehill.
Seems like these guys are everywhere. After a few seconds, he ambled off to the right where the rest of the
herd was.
And a little later, we saw this group below us.
Soon after this guy ambled by.
We continued on down the ridge.
I love the trail markers up here.
At this point there is a marked human trail but I decided to follow the bison trail. Soon after this I caught my
boot on a branch that stuck against my other foot and I went ass over teakettle downhill through the sagebrush. No
injuries aside from a scrape on the arm. Luckily my phone came to rest against the base of a sagebrush facing
me.
Some pronghorns enjoying the shade.
A badger den.
Almost to the vehicle. We saw no one from the time we left the trailhead until about a half-hour before
reaching the car, a group of 4-5 younger adults hiking on an adjacent trail.
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