The Thorofare
Guided Backpacking Trips
7 Days, 6 Nights 44MI / 70KM
Trip Highlights
Do you want to have an unforgettable adventure this summer? If so, the Thorofare backpacking trip is for you! This trip is a 7 day/6 night hiking adventure into the headwater basin of the Yellowstone River, arguably the most pristine and remote area in the Continental United States. Rich with wildlife, mountain views, vast meadow systems, roaring rivers, crystal clear creeks, and feeling of wildness, this trip is truly spectacular!
We catch a boat shuttle from Bridge Bay Marina to the beginning of our hike along the eastern edge of Yellowstone Lake. From here we hike to the South end of the lake, where the mouth of the Yellowstone River marks the beginning of the Thorofare Country. For 3 more days we hike up the Yellowstone River into some of the most remote wilderness in the continental United States. The chances of seeing wildlife are very good (although never guaranteed of course), as this area is the Eden of Yellowstone’s animal habitat. Bring your fly rod along if you’re a fisherman, and you’ll have the opportunity to catch 20 inch native cutthroat trout. Bring your camera along if you’re a photographer, and you’ll be shooting pictures of the most pristine area in Yellowstone. On day 5 we begin our hike back to Yellowstone Lake, exploring and scouting for wildlife along the way.
-
Pristine Wildernesses
-
USA's Longest Undammed River
-
Vibrant Wildlife Habitat
-
Layover Day to Explore
-
Scenic Boat Shuttle
-
Yellowstone Meadows & River Valleys
-
Dramatic Night Skies
Book This Trip
View Dates
Trip Details
-
Trip Type
Guided Backpacking Trips -
Trip Length
7 Days, 6 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
6-10 mi -
Group Size
2-5 Guests
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
"*" indicates required fields
Is This Trip Right For me?
The difficulty of this trip comes mostly from pack weight and remoteness. Although the hiking is fairly moderate, there is elevation change most days and some sections of the trail can be loose from horse traffic. This area is said to be the most remote section of land in the contiguous US.
Difficulty Level
Learn More
Solitude Level
Learn More
Trip Itinerary
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
Day 1
Shuttle to Trailhead: 2.5-hour drive
Hiking Mileage: 8.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 100 feet
This unforgettable Yellowstone backpacking adventure starts from Bridge Bay Marina on the north end of Yellowstone Lake, where we catch a boat shuttle that will drop us off 9 miles away along the the Southeast Arm of the lake. During the boat ride, and also once we’re hiking, we’ll have fantastic views of Mt. Doane and Mt. Stevenson. Dot and Frank Islands meanwhile aid in grasping the size of Yellowstone Lake. It is over 20 miles long, 14 miles wide and 300 feet deep. Scientists believe it is part of the ancient caldera of Yellowstone’s supervolcano. Once on shore, we’ll hike 8 miles to our camp at Beaverdam Creek, which marks the beginning of the valley of the Upper Yellowstone River. Camp for the evening is atop a bluff overlooking the creek and the expanse of the Thorofare!
Day 2
Hiking Mileage: 7.3 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: marginal
After crossing Beaverdam Creek we hike through thick willows and enter the broad meadows of the upper valley. Moose are sometimes encountered lounging among the willows. Another mile of hiking brings us to burned forests from the fires of 1988. Now over a quarter century old, the cleansing, regenerative effects of the fire are clearly evident. We’ll make camp this evening in the vicinity of Trapper Creek, with spectacular views of the Trident (a series of rocky escarpments) to the south and Turret and Table Mountain to the east. Occasionally wolves can be heard howling from this part of the valley in the late evening and early morning.
Day 3
Hiking Mileage: 7.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 450 feet
The next morning we’ll hike deeper into the Thorofare, as our trip continues south, paralleling the Yellowstone River. Often following grizzly or wolf tracks on the trail, we continue to scout for wildlife as we hike. We’ll hike a short distance downstream from camp to a large tributary of the Yellowstone River named Mountain Creek. We’ll depart the valley here and hike upstream along Mountain Creek to its junction with Howell Creek. We’ll then hike a few miles up Howell Creek to camp near the park boundary. We’ll have the opportunity to sleep in one of the most remote areas of the Continental United States.
Day 4
Hiking Mileage: 4-10 miles (optional day hike)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1250 feet
Day 4 is exciting for two reasons. The first is that we’re not moving camp! We’ll sleep in and enjoy a delicious breakfast before embarking on a spectacular day hike to Eagle Pass, the second exciting part of the day. Several miles up Howell Creek the trail steepens and ascends through classic Yellowstone subalpine terrain to Eagle Pass. This will place us just below Eagle Peak, the highest peak in Yellowstone at 11,358 feet. Here we will have brilliant views of the wild and beautiful Absaroka Mountains to the east.
Day 5
Hiking Mileage: 6.5 miles
Elevation Loss: 350 feet
On day 5 we’ll begin our hike back toward Yellowstone Lake, enjoying the wildlife, wildness and views as we go. The views hiking back north are very different than they were on the way in. As we hike we’re watching the Yellowstone River flow into Yellowstone Lake and the Gallatin Mountains in the distance. Our camp will be near the Yellowstone if not right on its shores.
Day 6
Hiking Mileage: 9.9 miles
Elevation Loss: 150 feet
Day 6 we’ll continue hiking back through the Yellowstone River valley to a camp right on the shores of Yellowstone Lake.
Day 7
Hiking Mileage: 4.6 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: marginal
Shuttle: 2.5-hour drive
On day 7 we’ll hike along the eastern edge of Yellowstone Lake and catch the boat shuttle back to Bridge Bay Marina. A comfortable drive through Yellowstone National Park back to our hotels ends this amazing backpacking trip.
Trip Dates
Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.
Scroll horizontally to view all dates
What's Included
-
Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
-
High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use)
-
Use of trekking poles
-
All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
-
Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
-
Roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Jackson Hole, WY; Victor, ID or Driggs, ID
-
Entrance fees and national park permits
-
Bear safety equipment including bear spray cannisters and food-hanging gear
-
Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
-
Mandatory 5% national park fee that passes through directly to Yellowstone
What's Not Included
-
Clothes, raingear, and footwear -
Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
-
Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
-
Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Accommodations
BACKCOUNTRY SLEEPING
Tent Camping
Sleeping on backpacking trips is in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents. Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued single tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and synthetic-fill sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
BACKCOUNTRY CUISINE
Fresh & Delicious
Meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch the last day are fully included and prepared by your guide. We never use dehydrated backpacking meals, instead serving freshly prepared, delicious backcountry cuisine made with a variety of common and specialty ingredients that travel well in the wilderness.
AMAZING CAMPSITES
In the Action
Campsites vary by destination, trip and even by the individual day of a trip. However, you can expect to camp in beautiful areas that put you right in the action to make the most of your trekking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
At 5:00 PM the evening before Day 1, your guide will conduct a virtual orientation meeting (via conference call) at 5:00 PM to review the packing list, communicate the first day’s logistics and answer any last minute questions you have. Your guide will give you the phone number for this call during the pre-trip contact, approximately 10 days before your trip start date.
Early on the morning of Day 1 your guide will pick you up from your accommodations in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Driggs, Idaho; or Victor, Idaho.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel Details
This trip begins and ends in Jackson, WY, with pick-up also available in Driggs and Victor, ID.
You can fly into:
- Jackson Hole – some hotels and several transportation companies provide airport shuttles.
- Idaho Falls – small, more affordable airport; Salt Lake Express (208-656-8824) offers 2 daily shuttles between Idaho Falls and Jackson.
- Salt Lake City – Salt Lake Express (208-656-8824) and Alltrans (800-652-9510) offer daily shuttles (4.5 hours). Advance reservations required.
Pre and Post-trip On Request Lodging
We secure limited amounts of pre and post trip lodging in Jackson, Wyoming as an optional add-on for guests of this trip. This lodging is on request, and is available on a first come, first serve basis. If interested, please reach out directly to our team to check availability.
Start/End Times
You can expect the first day’s pick-up time to be between 4 and 6 am, although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will drop you off at your hotel on the final day no later than 7 PM.
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval on a case by case basis
Reviews
- SORT BY:
- Most recent
- LOW - HIGH
- HIGH - LOW
William S
1 year agoWonderful 7 days in backcountry!!
Sam continues the tradition of excellence in guides at Wildland Trekking! Beautiful country! Fun group of people! Wonderful 7 days in backcountry!!
Dustin G
2 years agoUnique and untouched part of America.
Awesome experience! Incredibly beautiful in the thorofare. It just felt wild out there and is extremely remote. We saw elk, bison, bobcat, mountain lion, wolf, and grizzly tracks. We heard a pack of wolves 2nd day in the evening howling. We heard elk almost every night. Guide was able to point out interesting facts about what we saw from wildlife tracks to rock formations. Food was incredible tasting and there was enough to feel satisfied after hiking 8 miles with a heavy backpack. Highly recommend seeing such a unique and untouched part of America.
Sam P
2 years agoHad an amazing trip
Dani went above and beyond. She was patient with my wife and my dad who were slower hikers, and she tolerated my crude sense of humor. My wife and I are big on leave no trace and she definitely surpassed our standards. The menu she made was excellent there was not a bad meal once and there was always more than enough food. I think I can speak for the group when I say we were all very impressed with her cooking ability, and we were not expecting to eat that good in the back country. The trip was amazing we didn't see anyone outside of our group for 6 days! The area was one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. Dani was very strict with the bear awareness and we did not have a single incident, eventhough we had bears all over the place. On trips like this I feel like a guide can really make or break a trip and I feel like Dani really made this trip for us. She was knowledgeable about the local flowers and plants that were in full bloom. Pointed out various animal foot prints, and even knew detailed history of the park. We had an amazing trip and I can't brag enough.
You Might Also Like...
"*" indicates required fields
Leave a Reply