Spring/Fall Trekking Adventure
Yellowstone National Park, WY
5.0 (16 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Rich Spring Wildlife Habitat
- Beautiful Meadows
- Traverse the Yellowstone River
- Point to Point Thru-hike
- Wild & Scenic Yellowstone River
- Mountain Solitude
- Spectacular Night Skies
Description
Our Yellowstone Spring/Fall Trekking Adventure is the earliest and latest backpacking trip we have in Yellowstone because of high mountain snow melt and chilly fall temperatures. What this means for you is that the tourist season isn’t active and the wildlife will be far more active and visible than in the middle of summer. Starting our point to point hike at the junction of Helloroaring Creek and the Yellowstone River, you’ll traverse the Black Canyon, which runs along the drier and warmer northern boundary of the park. Cascading waterfalls, world-class trout waters, majestic hiking and camping, and abundant wildlife are just some of the hallmarks of this tour!
Every camp has a view of the Yellowstone River’s impressive waters, and in many cases we’re camped right along its banks. If you’re interested in an early season Yellowstone hike and a great adventure, this tour is for you. Don’t miss the unique opportunity to hike Yellowstone before the crowds!
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!
$1005 Per Person
$1215 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult
- Backpack Weight:
- 25-35 pounds
- Daily Hiking Distances:
- 4-6 miles
- Most Elevation Loss:
- 750 feet
- Most Elevation Gain:
- 1000 feet
- Quality of Trails:
- Well maintained
- Additional:
- These trails are in excellent condition
Participants should:
- be active and healthy
- exercise several times per week
- be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles per day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 25-pound backpack
SOLITUDE LEVEL 4
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Yellowstone backpacking trip a solitude 4. You can expect to see a couple of other groups per day.
Learn More about our Rating System2021 TRAVEL LOGISTICS
The standard departure location for this trip is Jackson Hole, Wyoming (or alternatively the nearby towns of Victor and Driggs, Idaho). Most of the travel information on this page is geared toward these locations.
However, in 2021 some trip dates will originate from Bozeman, Montana. Please click here to see a list of trips originating from Bozeman. If your trip date is on the list, please see the Bozeman Meeting, Travel and Logistics Page to plan your travels.
Montana and Wyoming do not charge sales tax on services, so there is no sales tax for this trip.
All trips in Yellowstone National Park have a 5% fee required by the National Park Service. This fee is applied when your reservation is made and is passed through directly to the national park.
There are no other taxes or fees associated with this trip. Feel free to give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) with any questions!
Private Trips
Traveling in perfect company is a wonderful thing! With our private trip offerings you can book a trip exclusively for your group. Whether it’s with family, friends or colleagues, private trips are a fun and enriching way to explore the outdoors.
Private trip pricing is based on a sliding scale, depending on the number of people in your party. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax and national park fees (where applicable) or guide gratuity. Give us a call at 800-715-HIKE to get the ball rolling!
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2
- 3 People: Rate x 1.3
- 4 People: Rate x 1.1
- 5+ People: Rate x 1
*all rates are per person
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsITINERARY
Day 1
- Shuttle to Trailhead: 4-hour drive
- Hiking Mileage: 6.6 miles
- Elevation Loss: 600 feet
This Yellowstone backpacking trip starts with a 600′ drop in elevation to a suspension bridge across the Yellowstone River. Following a 3-mile detour up the scenic Hellroaring Creek valley to access a bridge we’ll continue our hike to camp on the banks of the Yellowstone River and the mouth of the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Day 2
- Hiking Mileage: 8.7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 350 feet
- Elevation Loss: 600 feet
Our hiking trip proceeds downstream over a beautiful knoll about 400 feet above the Yellowstone River. Views down to the river are spectacular. From here we hike on to Crevice Lake and make camp near the lake on the shores of the Yellowstone River. This day’s hike offers fantastic opportunities to see bison, elk, deer, wolves, coyotes, black bears, and grizzly bears. If the live animals elude us, the evidence of their ancestors won’t – the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone is a prime wintering ground for Yellowstone’s wildlife. As such, bison, elk and deer bones are strewn across many of the meadows and forests.
Day 3 (excluded on 3-day itinerary)
- Hiking Mileage: 6 miles (optional day hike)
- Elevation Loss/Gain: 500 feet
This is a layover day to enjoy our spectacular surroundings. You’ll have your choice of relaxing in camp, fishing, or hiking and exploring downstream to Knowles Falls (a broad waterfall on the Yellowstone River) and steeper parts of the Black Canyon. There are tremendous views of the Yellowstone as it thunders downstream, full of spring runoff.
Day 4
- Hiking Mileage: 4.6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet
- Shuttle: 4-hour drive
From camp we’ll hike upstream along Blacktail Deer Creek to the trailhead. The creek ascends sharply, passing a nice set of cascades, before leveling off in a beautiful valley of huge meadows and isolated stands of trees. Now out of the canyon, views of the surrounding country abound. It is the perfect end to this wonderful spring Yellowstone backpacking trip.
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.
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, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and technical backpack
- Use of trekking poles
- All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
- A professional, knowledgeable, certified Yellowstone hiking guide
- Roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Jackson Hole (some trips in 2021 are originating from Bozemant, MT) to Yellowstone and back
- 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 satellite phone
- You will receive a Lifetime Hiking Membership entitling you, your spouse and kids to a lifetime discount of 10% off any Wildland Trekking hiking trip after your first one!
What's Not Included
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (Oboz hiking shoes and boots recommended)
- 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, Kelty, Big Agnes and Mountain Hardware sleeping bags
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Leki or Black Diamond trekking poles
- Cooking stoves and cookware
- Bear spray cannisters and food-hanging gear
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
What Gear To Bring
We ask that you supply a couple of gear items on your hiking tour. These items are two 1-liter water bottles per person and either a headlamp or flashlight per person. Basic items like sunscreen, bug repellent (where and when applicable), lip balm, and toiletries are also important. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters.
What Clothes to Bring
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with detailed guidance about what clothes to pack (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, and our recommended clothing system. A minimum of three pairs of wool or synthetic hiking socks are also required. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters.
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?
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*. Your guide will be in contact approximately 2 weeks before your trip to coordinate the rendezvous, review the packing list and answer any last minute questions you have. For Private Yellowstone Tours, you also have the option to originate your trip in West Yellowstone.
*Select trip dates in 2021 are originating from Bozeman, Montana. Please click here to see the list of trip dates starting from Bozeman. These trips will have a pre-trip orientation meeting at 5:00 PM the evening before the trip begins. Your guide will designate the exact location of this meeting during the pre-trip contact.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
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 Considerations
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. We’ve developed comprehensive risk management protocols that our guides adhere to in case of an emergency, and most tours carry a satellite phone. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Guides
Your tour will be led by a trained, experienced professional with a solid guiding background, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
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.
Group Size and Age Restrictions
The standard group size on backpacking trips is 6 guests and 1 guide, with a maximum of 10 guests and 2 guides. If you have more questions about group size, please give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) and we’ll answer all your questions.
Age restrictions 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 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
Of course campsites vary tremendously 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 backpacking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
Trip Reviews
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- Most recent
- LOW - HIGH
- HIGH - LOW
Julie S.
Very Enjoyable Backpacking Experience
I appreciated our guide's calm and reliable presence during the trip. I felt he did an excellent job of navigating the group's dynamics. He was helpful, knowledgeable and diligent in his efforts to create an enjoyable backpacking experience.
Anthony L.
Smooth and Enjoyable B/C of Great Guides
My guides Scott Moore and Chris Rapich were excellent. Would definitely go on another Wildland trek with them! They were super knowledgeable of the area, cooked delicious food each day, and we're just generally very on top of everything that made the hike so smooth and enjoyable. Request these guides if you can!
Tory W.
Would Definitely Recommend
Wildland was great from the start. Booking the trip, getting the information needed for the trip, and connecting us with a great guide was easy and efficient. We backpacked in Yellowstone for the Spring Trekk and it was an adventure. It was challenging and filled with beauty. The food was great, the camping location was excellent, and the equipment was good and provided everything we needed. I would recommend going with Wildland for you next adventure you will enjoy it!
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