Yellowstone National Park: Blacktail Deer Plateau Snowshoe
Take advantage of the park's quieter winter season on this 9.4-mile snowshoe trek through wooded hills to an expansive plateau with endless snowy views.
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-Mapped by Trung Q. Le
Trail Facts
- Distance: 7.5
Waypoints
BTP001
Location: 44.9577217102051, -110.541496276855
Follow unplowed Blacktail Plateau Dr. as it winds to the SE between snowy hillsides spotted with trees
BTP002
Location: 44.9561004638672, -110.540603637695
Bear L @ Y through spruce, lodgepole pine, and pockets of bare aspen. Share the trail with X-country skiers
BTP003
Location: 44.9531402587891, -110.532402038574
Trail veers to the N, then curves SE along rolling hills
BTP004
Location: 44.9496002197266, -110.524803161621
Continue gentle SE ascent through snow-covered terrain
BTP005
Location: 44.9457588195801, -110.505096435547
Spacious plateau replaces hilly landscape; valley views stretch endlessly to the N (winter range for elk and bison); distant Gallatin Range forms a rugged backdrop to the NW
BTP006
Location: 44.9442291259766, -110.497901916504
Traverse E towards The Cut, a small, forested ravine near the edge of the plateau
BTP007
Location: 44.9423599243164, -110.482696533203
Trail swings S; leave snowy plateau and carefully drop down between the wooded hills of The Cut
BTP008
Location: 44.9401016235352, -110.481796264648
Bear L @ Y; slight uphill climb followed by a fl atter, less sweaty stretch. In .5 mi., begin descent out of ravine
BTP009
Location: 44.929271697998, -110.475601196289
Turn around @ small clearing before steep downhill; retrace steps back to trailhead. Optional: Continue following trail for 2.5-mi. steep descent to Tower Canyon Rd. (7.5-mi. shuttle back to trailhead)
Blacktail Deer Plateau
Location: 44.9507713317871, -110.525413513184
The view of surrounding landscape to the north from the trail.
Trail Views
Location: 44.9501800537109, -110.525077819824
The view of surrounding landscape to the north from the trail.
Blacktail Deer Plateau
Location: 44.9494285583496, -110.524375915527
The view of surrounding landscape from the trail.
Snowy Hillside
Location: 44.9442863464356, -110.497665405273
View of the hillside to the south as you travel towards The Cut.
End of the Cut
Location: 44.9293975830078, -110.475692749023
The view from the end of The Cut.
