Yellowstone National Park, WY

Drive or fly into Jackson Hole Airport (JAC). The best time to arrive is between around Noon-3PM. However, flights are limited so do the best you can.

Text or call us and we will pick you up at the airport and bring you to our local hotel Antler Inn, 43 W Pearl Ave, Jackson, WY 83001, (307) 733-2535. Note: we will attempt to consolidate trips.

Equipment shakedown

Trail mix distribution

"Before" measurements taken

Go to Teton Mountaineering, 170 N Cache Dr, Jackson, WY 83001, (307) 733-3595 for last minute or forgotten equipment. Please note, there are several other fine options in town to buy or rent gear.

Go out for a group dinner (not included in trip cost)

Second set of "before" measurements taken

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage.

Free Hotel Breakfast or we will provide a continental breakfast

Shuttle to Yellowstone National Park (about 1.5 hours)

Pickup backcountry permits at Ranger Station and watch a park video required for backcountry travel

Shuttle to Fountain Flat Drive, Trailhead OK6, elevation 7150'.

Begin Hiking, elevation 7150'.

Hike 0.4 miles on the Fairy Falls Trail, elevation 7150'

Turn right and hike 3.0 miles on the Sentinal Meadows Trail and Imperial Meadows Trails, elevation 7150'

Turn right and hike 1.5 miles on the Fairy Falls Trail to campsite OD4, elevation 7200'

Camp at campsite OD4 (Imperial Meadows), elevation 7200'

Miles today: 4.9. Total miles: 4.9

Possible Bailout: Grand Loop Rd.

Hike 0.6 flat miles on the Fairy Falls Trail, elevation 7200'

Hike 2.8 flat miles on the Fairy Falls Trail, past Fairy Falls (we'll stop there of course) to the Fairy Falls Trailhead, OK5, elevation 7250'

Along the way to the Fairy Falls Trailhead, hike 0.2 miles to the Grand Prismatic Viewpoint

At the Fairy Falls Trailhead, you can dip in the water where a thermal feature empties into the Firehole River

Hike 5.2 mostly uphill miles via Mallard Creek Trailhead OK5 to Mallard Lake, elevation 8100'

Camp at 2 campsites OB2 & OB3 (Mallard Lake), elevation 8100'.

Miles today: 8.8. Total miles: 13.7

Possible bailout: Grand Loop Road

Hike 3.1 miles on the Mallard Lake Trail, to Old Faithful, elevation 7400'.

Wait around until Old Faithful does its thing. Eat lunch while waiting or afterwards depending upon the timing of the geyser.

Old Faithful will be packed with people. There are numerous frontcountry distractions including flush toilets, visitor's center, gift shop, restaurants and throngs of people so we will spend an hour here.

Somehow assemble and hike 0.5 miles through the Old Faithful complex to the Howard Eaton Trailhead OK2, elevation 7400'. This will be one the trip's greatest logistical challenges.

Hike 2.9 miles on the Howard Eaton Trail, campsite OA1, elevation 7650'.

Camp at Campsite OA1 (Lone Star), elevation 7650'

Day-Hike 1.0 miles to Lone Star Geyser. Lone Star Geyser erupts about every 3 hours. In 2019, we timed it perfectly but who knows if we will be so lucky this year.

Miles today: 7.5. Total miles: 21.2

Possible bailout: Old Faithful.

Hike 3.8 miles on the Shoshone Lake Trail to the Bechler River trail, elevation 7900'.

Hike 4.0 miles on the Bechler River trail to campsite 9D3, elevation 8150'.

Camp at Campsite 9D3 (Douglas Knob Meadow), elevation 8150'

Miles today: 7.8. Total miles: 29.0

Possible bailout: Old Faithful

Hike 3.1 miles (stop to see Twister Falls along the way) on the Bechler River Trail to a spur trail, elevation 7300'

Drop packs near a hitching post and day-hike 1.0 round trip miles to Mr. Bubbles, an amazing thermal area and natural hot tub big enough for the entire group to soak, elevation 7500'. Do not miss this!

Have lunch at Mr. Bubbles

Shortly after putting packs back on, view Ragged Falls. Then cross the Bechler River on a precarious log bridge

Hike 1.0 downhill miles on the Bechler River Trail to Campsite 9B9.

Drop packs and day-hike 0.3 round trip miles to see the Batchelder Column (although the waterfall behind it is more spectacular)

Hike 2.7 downhill miles on the Bechler River Trail to Campsite 9B6, elevation 6600'

Camp at campsite 9B6 (Lower Ford), elevation 6600'

Miles today: 8.1. Total miles: 37.1

Possible bailout: 2 days away.

Hike 1.0 miles on the Bechler River Trail to Iris Falls

Hike 0.3 miles on the Bechler River Trail to a spur trail to Colonnade Falls

Hike 0.3 round trip miles on the Spur Trail to Colonnade Falls

Hike 3.1 miles on the Bechler River Trail to the Bechler Meadows Trail, elevation 6400'

Ford the Bechler River

Hike 0.6 miles on the Bechler Meadows Trail to the Bechler Meadows Cutoff Trail, elevation 6400'

Hike 1.9 miles on the Bechler Meadows Cutoff Trail to the Boundary Creek Trail, elevation 6400'

Hike 1.6 miles on the Boundary Creek Trail to campsite 9A3, elevation 6650'

There are hot springs nearby! (Less than half a mile)

Camp at campsite 9A3 (Dunanda Falls), elevation 6650'

At 308', Dunanda Falls is the highest waterfall in Yellowstone National Park. There is supposedly a hot spring / thermal feature at its base where you can soak in relatively warm water and have a 300' cascade falling on you. In order to get there, you must go downhill from the campsite to the river (which you'll have to do to get water anyway). Cross the river and walk about 0.2 miles on a social trail to get to the base of Dunanda Falls. The pool is somewhere at the base of the falls.

Miles today: 9.2. Total miles: 46.3

Possible bailout: Two days distant from here

Hike 3.0 miles on the Boundary Creek Trail, elevation 6400'

Ford Boundary Creek

Hike 3.4 miles on the Boundary Creek Trail to the Bechler Meadows Trail, elevation 6400'

Hike 1.7 miles on the Bechler Meadows Trail to the Bechler River Trail, elevation 6400'

Hike 0.8 miles on the Bechler River Trail to campsite 9C1

Camp at Campsite 9C1 (Rocky Ford), elevation 6400'

Miles today: 8.9. Total miles: 55.2

Possible bailout: Bechler Ranger Station

About a quarter mile from camp we Ford the Bechler River

Hike 1.0 miles on the Bechler River Trail to the Mountain Ash Creek Trail, elevation 6400'

Hike 2.8 miles on the Mountain Ash Creek Trail to Campsite 9U1, elevation 6450'

Hike 2.8 miles on the Mountain Ash Creek Trail to Campsite 9U4, elevation 6600'

Day-Hike 5.0 round-trip miles to Union Falls, elevation 6750'

Camp at Campsite 9U4 (Union Falls), elevation 6600'

Miles today: 11.6. Total miles: 66.8

Possible bailout: Fish Lake Trailhead

Today is a short day. Plenty of time in camp to rest-up / wash up in anticipation of a long day tomorrow

Hike 4.5 miles on the Mountain Ash Creek Trail to campsite 9F2, elevation 7100'

Camp at campsite 9F2 (Upper Falls River) elevation 7100'

Miles today: 4.5. Total miles: 71.3

Possible bailout: Cascade Creek Trailhead

Hike 11.1 miles on the Pitchstone Plateau Trail to campsites 8P1 & 8P2, elevation 8450'.

This seldom-used trail is marked by cairns and is very difficult to find in places where fires have burned through leaving blowdowns. With good route finding skills, perseverance and possibly a GPS the trail is eminently navigable, if frustrating at times.

Camp at campsites 8P1 & 8P2 (Phantom Campsite) elevation 8450'

Miles today: 11.1. Total miles: 82.4

Possible bailout: Cascade Creek Trailhead

Hike 5.5 mostly downhill miles on the Pitchstone Plateau Trail to Phantom / Pitchstone Trailhead 8K4, elevation 7700'

Miles today: 5.5. Total miles: 87.9

End of hiking

Shuttle back to Jackson Hole. Check back into local hotel Antler Inn, 43 W Pearl Ave, Jackson, WY 83001, (307) 733-2535

Your stuff will either be here or be transported here shortly after we arrive

After measurements taken

Dinner (not included in trip cost) and awards Ceremony

Our shuttle will make one trip to the airport early in the morning around 5:00AM or 5:30AM. If you have a later flight and don't want to wake up early in the morning, please make your own arrangements to get to the airport.