Yellowstone National Park: Hellroaring Creek to Black Canyon of the Yellowstone
See bears, elk, and the remote terrain of the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone on this 44-mile trip.
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This six-day trek begins with a gentle mile-long descent from Hellroaring Creek trailhead to the Yellowstone River. Cross the suspension bridge and join the Buffalo Plateau Trail at mile 1.5; head northeast to begin climbing up the wind-scoured plateau. Keep an eye out at mile two—the Buffalo Plateau Trail becomes faint and bears right at the fork with the Coyote Creek Trail. Cross into Montana on a 2,300-foot climb over 5.4 miles to a three-way intersection. Turn left and switchback another mile uphill to a natural spring and your first campsite (labeled 2B1).
In the morning, hike 2.1 off-trail miles, heading northwest through open meadows. Sweep east around an unnamed 8,716-foot peak to hit the Poacher’s Trail, just outside the park boundary. The trail doglegs west, plummeting a quick 900 feet to Coyote Creek. The next 2.7 miles follow the drainage north, round Bull Mountain (8,272 feet), and descend to Hellroaring Creek. Cross the bridge and go .7 mile to the Hellroaring Patrol Cabin. Camp here, in a vast creekside meadow where the author saw a black bear and cub.
On the third day, the route is flat and fast, hugging the river as it re-enters the park (do lunch at an unnamed creek .4 mile south of the posted boundary line). Finish this seven-mile day at the campsite marked 2H7 next to Hellroaring Creek. This is grizzly territory, so be extra cautious and pack all smelly items in a bear canister.
Day four’s route crosses high meadows–with a good chance to see elk–then joins the Yellowstone River. The next 4.6 miles flank the river, where there are plenty of shady waterfront rest stops to cool down.
Spend nights four and five downriver at Crevice Lake (1Y1) (11) and use the layover to dayhike the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone. Lunch and swim at a 100-yard-long, black-sand beach located 3.2 miles from Crevice Lake.
On the final day, double back upriver to the Blacktail Deer Creek Trail and hike the final 4.6-mile leg, climbing 1,000 feet from the Yellowstone River to the trailhead on Grand Loop Road.
WHEN TO GO: Relatively low elevations make this hike best from late April through late June (great for wildflowers) and early fall. Avoid the summer’s heat.
PERMITS: Reserve in advance ($20 per trip) by mail beginning April 1. Some permits are also assigned on a first come basis, 48 hours prior to departure.
MORE INFO: Yellowstone National Park, (307) 344-2160; nps.gov/yell
–mapped by Michael Behar
Trail Facts
- Distance: 71.1
Waypoints
WPT001
Location: 44.948966, -110.450838
Hellroaring Creek trailhead
WPT002
Location: 44.951705, -110.446838
First view of Yellowstone River
WPT003
Location: 44.956266, -110.445629
Junction with Garnet Hill Trail; continue straight
WPT004
Location: 44.959653, -110.446843
Suspension Bridge across Yellowstone River
WPT005
Location: 44.9654, -110.449819
Turn right to join Buffalo Plateau Trail
WPT006
Location: 44.970243, -110.44304
Buffalo Plateau and Coyote Creek Trails intersect; stay on Buffalo Plateau Trail
WPT007
Location: 44.978023, -110.421917
Panoramic viewpoint of Buffalo Plateau
WPT008
Location: 44.985194, -110.40449
Water stop
WPT009
Location: 45.008436, -110.375489
Turn left to Camp 2B1
WPT010
Location: 45.016306, -110.377768
Camp one – 2B1
WPT011
Location: 45.017594, -110.380441
Natural spring
WPT012
Location: 45.022568, -110.385031
Off-trail section continues north
WPT013
Location: 45.033642, -110.380023
Lunch on highpoint overlook
WPT014
Location: 45.034979, -110.371111
Rejoin Poachers Trail; head north
WPT015
Location: 45.0440279, -110.3713123
Confusing area: Poachers Trail turns west; ignore trail going north
WPT016
Location: 45.039317, -110.400222
Poachers Trail joins Forest Trail 97
WPT017
Location: 45.049084, -110.404426
Junction with Forest Trail 97 and 288
WPT018
Location: 45.0662778, -110.4029644
Bog
WPT019
Location: 45.074049, -110.407017
Junction with Hellroaring River and Forest Trail 36; turn southwest toward patrol cabin
WPT020
Location: 45.072102, -110.413028
Bridge over Hellroaring Creek
WPT021
Location: 45.068006, -110.423488
Camp Two near patrol station at Hellroaring Creek
WPT022
Location: 45.029851, -110.440322
Yellowstone Park boundary
WPT023
Location: 45.024406, -110.439789
Lunch spot on Hellroaring Creek
WPT024
Location: 44.983036, -110.432884
Camp three (labeled 2H7)
WPT025
Location: 44.97278, -110.455924
Intersect Yellowstone River Trail; swing northwest
WPT026
Location: 44.991145, -110.488347
First view of Yellowstone River after re-entering park
WPT027
Location: 44.995699, -110.523829
Lunch spot on Yellowstone River
WPT028
Location: 45.004855, -110.580819
Campsite 1Y4 north of Crevice Lake
WPT029
Location: 45.010869, -110.586049
First view of 15-foot Knowles Falls
WPT030
Location: 45.012638, -110.620138
Viewpoint into Black Canyon of Yellowstone
WPT031
Location: 45.013865, -110.626806
Black sand beach
WPT032
Location: 44.997205, -110.578687
Suspension bridge over Yellowstone River
WPT033
Location: 44.955779, -110.593923
Endpoint at Blacktail Creek trailhead
