Bechler River Traverse
Yellowstone National Park, WY
5.0 (95 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Breathtaking Waterfalls
- Riverside Hot Springs
- Wildlife Habitat
- Amazing Bechler Valley
- Shoshone Lake & Geyser Basin
- Backcountry Geyser
- Vast Meadow Systems
Description
You will not experience a hike as unique and wonderful as this traverse of the famous Bechler River Valley in Southwestern Yellowstone National Park! It is our most popular Yellowstone hiking tour because of the opportunity to experience the hallmark features of Yellowstone in the backcountry, away from the crowds. Having it all to yourself, you’ll enjoy stunning geysers, serene rivers and streams, crystal-clear lakes, hot springs (yes, you can soak in them!), tumbling waterfalls, succulent wild berries, world-class trout waters, and the classic vast river meadows of Yellowstone, all in a backcountry setting.
Need to Know: March 1st Permits
Due to Yellowstone’s permit system, which issues backcountry hiking and camping permits on March 1st each year, it’s beneficial to register before February 28th of the year you’d like to hike with us. Give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) to learn more!
$2210 Per Person
$2545 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
The climb up and over a mountainous knob on Day 2 is fairly steep. Descending the canyon can be loose and steep in places, and there are three major river crossings, one of which is fairly deep and swift. Other than these factors, it is the longer days of hiking and pack weight that gives this trip a level 3 difficulty.
Hiking Distances:
5-9 mi
Backpack Weight:
35-45 lbs
Terrain:
Moderately Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
800 ft
Heights Exposure:
Light
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 35-45 lb backpack for 6-8 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on lightly rugged terrain
- River crossings that can be relatively deep and swift
SOLITUDE LEVEL 3
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Yellowstone hike a solitude 3. You can expect to hours of solitude at a time on some sections of the trip.
MINIMUM OF 2 GUESTS
If a trip does not reach the minimum number of guests, you may choose to transfer to another trip date or another trip, be refunded your payments in full, or you may have the choice to pay a supplemental fee to run the trip with fewer guests. We make the final determination for these trips 4-6 weeks before the departure date, and notify guests of changes and options immediately.
Private Trips
Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group!
Our sliding scale for private trips is based on the final number of guests in your group. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax, national park fees or guide gratuity. The final rate is based on the actual number of guests on the trip and may adjust based on cancellations or additions.
Please Note: you can also enjoy a private trip at our normal scheduled rates by filling any empty tour to capacity. However, if group members drop from the tour those spots will automatically become available on our website for instant booking. By purchasing a private trip at the rates listed below, your trip will remain exclusive to your group regardless of cancellations.
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2.5
- 3 People: Rate x 1.75
- 4 People: Rate x 1.25
- 5+ People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person
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ITINERARY
Day 1
- Shuttle to Trailhead: 2.5-hour drive
- Hiking Mileage: 6.3 miles + 5-mile optional day hike
- Elevation Gain: 400 feet
- Elevation Loss: 150 feet
This Yellowstone backpacking trip begins with a bang as we hike to the largest backcountry geyser in Yellowstone: Lone Star Geyser. If we’re lucky we’ll see its 30-45 foot eruption of scalding water. From Lone Star we hike along the Firehole River and over the Continental Divide before arriving at our camp, Shoshone Meadows. After setting up camp we will hike without packs to Shoshone Lake, one of the largest wilderness lakes in in the lower 48 states and the backdrop for the Shoshone Geyser Basin. The basin contains an abundance of geysers, each seeming to possess its own personality: there are bubbling pools, frothing potholes, bizarrely shaped mounds spewing fountain-like streams into the air and grumbling crevasses.
Day 2
- Hiking Mileage: 8.5 miles + 1-mile optional day hike
- Elevation Gain: 600 feet
- ELevation Loss: 1,100 feet
The second day’s hike begins with a climb to the high point of the trip, a plateau of lush meadows and thick forests. A long day’s hike brings us to the headwaters of the Bechler River and then a ways into Bechler Canyon. After making camp near the river we’ll explore the valley’s first remarkable feature: “Mr. Bubbles,” a series of hot springs fit for royalty. Bring your bathing suit because we’ll take some time to lounge in the hot water while enjoying the peaceful scenery of Bechler Canyon.
Day 3
- Hiking Mileage: 5.1 miles
- Elevation Loss: 800 feet
Hiking further downstream we’ll encounter two long river crossings which could be as deep as three feet – your guide will carefully assist the group across each one. Our exciting work fording the river will be rewarded with two grand waterfalls: Colonnade Falls, a two-part waterfall – the second of which is the highest on the hike, and Iris Falls. Camp will be a mere five minute hike from Colonnade Falls.
Day 4
- Hiking Mileage: 7.1 miles
- Elevation Loss: 200 feet
- Elevation Gain: 200 feet
We’ll hike the lower part of the canyon which is flanked on the south by berry-laden boulder fields; a popular foraging ground for black bears and hikers alike! Once we exit the canyon we’ll hike through beautiful Bechler Meadows (where we sometimes see moose and bison) and make camp near the luxurious hot springs at the base of Dunanda Falls; where Boundary Creek flows over a large cliff.
Day 5
- Hiking Mileage: 8.1 miles
- Elevation Loss: 200 feet
- Shuttle: 2.5-hour drive
After our final breakfast in the backcountry, we pack our gear and hike 8 miles through the lush meadows and stands of lodgepole pine where we arrive at the Bechler Ranger Station. Once in the vehicle and heading back to town, we sit in quiet contemplation of the wonderful memories of our Yellowstone adventure.
Variations
This hike is often done in four or six days. For a 4-day itinerary we’ll skip Dunanda Falls and hike on to the trailhead. For the 6-day itinerary a layover day is added either on day 2 at Shoshone Geyser Basin or day 5 at Dunanda Falls.
Important: this trip is operated as either a 5-day or 6-day itinerary, and is confirmed as such in advance. Variation of trip length does not mean guests can choose to leave a trip or early or extend it a day.
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.
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
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) – or bring your own.
- 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 (InReach Explorer or satellite phone)
- Mandatory 5% national park fee that passes through directly to Yellowstone
What's Not Included
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (see recommendations)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.
Meals: What To Expect
All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, couscous, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.
For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried). In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
Gear We Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Sierra Designs, Kelty or Big Agnes tents
- Sierra Designs, Big Agnes and Mountain Hardware synthetic-fill sleeping bags (or bring your own)
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Leki trekking poles
- Cooking stoves and cookware
- Bear spray cannisters and food-hanging gear
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
Guest Packing List
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with a detailed packing list specific to this trip (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, a recommended clothing system, a headlamp or flashlight, a hydration system (water bottles and/or bladder) and other items specific to each trip.
Additionally, some guests choose to bring their own sleeping bag. We supply high quality, synthetic fill bags that are professionally laundered after every trip. Synthetic fill is non-allergenic, insulates when damp and stands up well to repeated washings, but is heavier and bulkier than down. If you’re able to bring your own down sleeping bag, there are multiple benefits. If not, we’ve got you covered!
Trip Logistics
How do I Register?
Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
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.
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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 5 and 7 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.
Essential Eligibility Criteria
Essential Eligibility Criteria (“EEC”) have been specifically identified to help you understand the skills and abilities necessary to participate on each Wildland trip, and they apply uniformly to all potential trip participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability.
Once you identify a trip in which you may be interested, please carefully review the EEC and itinerary details. If after reviewing the EEC that apply to your desired trip, you determine you need an accommodation in order to meet the EEC, please contact us prior to registering to discuss your requested accommodation.
The EEC exist for your own safety and the safety and enjoyment of all participants. If you are unable to meet the EEC for the trip, with or without an accommodation, you are not eligible for that trip. If you register and arrive for a trip for which you do not meet the EEC, you will be disqualified from participation on the trip and will be dismissed or evacuated from the trip without a refund.
Guide Working Parameters
Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time…etc. In addition, as part of the 8 hours off they must sleep/rest or be in their tents/rooms uninterrupted for a minimum of 5 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides’ off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency.
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 and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Weather in Yellowstone
Being a Northern mountain environment, Yellowstone is prone to sudden temperature and weather shifts. This is an exciting aspect of being in Yellowstone. On the Spring/Fall Trekking Adventure in June, snow is a slight possibility, and the rest of the summer you’re likely to get rained on at least once during your trip. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). See below for average summer temperatures in Yellowstone:
Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit)
| Month | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| June | 70° | 42° |
| July | 80° | 47° |
| August | 78° | 45° |
| September | 68° | 37° |
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 Reviews
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Shaylene L
I loved every moment.
I really enjoyed the Bechler Trail hike! The waterfalls and natural hot springs were amazing! Mr. Bubbles was pretty awesome, but I think the Dunanda Falls with the hot spring beat even Mr. Bubbles. I have never been so amazed with nature at it's best! I loved every moment.
Sara O.
Challenging Trip, Amazing Guides
This trip was a challenge from the start. We understand that pulling permits can be a challenge, but the change in agenda was not communicated until the pre trip meeting. This did not allow for us to mentally prepare for the more intensive trip. The guides were champs, they did the best they could with a hard situation and rocked it! Not having an accurate mileage was a difficulty mental challenge and made for some crappy hikers. The guides took things in stride and supported us as best as they could. I can not say enough about the guides and how they shined through this trip. My only suggestion would be to have the group hit the trail earlier in the day to allow for more breaks when hiking and to prevent needing to hike in the heat of the day. Traci and Lauren were great, like I said they rocked a hard trip and I am proud to say the Bechler may have broken me at times, but I always knew that traci and Lauren would help put me back together. I have returned home with a renewed love of the outdoors and wildland!
Bernard P.
Good Trip
Our guide kept it interesting and fun. The food was better than I expected. The equipment was first rate.
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