Click on photos for larger images. Sometimes you have to refresh the page to re-activate this feature. Hide Slide Show (you will have to refresh the page to see it again)

Yellowstone National Park

Sunday, August 20, 2023 - Sunday, August 27, 2023 -- $1650 ★★★ SOLD OUT - Put me on the waiting list



Description

When attempting to describe the magnitude of Yellowstone National Park words fall impotently short. Yellowstone is a premier destination you should visit, preferably with us. Just Google it, and you will be overwhelmed by videos, websites and images about the Park, its geysers, grizzly bears, thundering rivers, big skies and ubiquitous bison.


Our past visits to Yellowstone have traversed the Northeast (Lamar), Southeast (Thorofare), Southwest (Bechler) and Northwest (Mammoth) sections of the park. This year for the first time, we will explore the North-Central part of the park near Canyon -- the so-called Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.


Our trek begins in Canyon front country campground. We will day-hike this amazing wonder before picking up full packs and heading West into the wilderness for several days. We will summit Observation Point, camp near a lake or two and then explore the Norris Geyser Basin. After a high-mileage, relatively flat day we'll cap off the trip with a day-hike up to the summit of 10336' Mt. Holmes.



Topographical Map of Proposed Route

See CalTopo map


Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures in the 60s & 70s and nighttime temperatures in the 40s & 50s. While there is typically not much rain, it can happen at any time along with violent thunder and lightning. There was a hailstorm in 2019 on the first night, but the rest of the trip was magnificent. Here is the historical August weather.



Probable Trip Leaders

Steve Silberberg
Beau Devlin
Any Other Guide(s) TBD

Difficulty

The trails through Yellowstone National Park are typically well groomed with good footing and moderate elevation gain and loss (although it may not seem like that while hiking). The mileages are moderate and there will be plenty of daylight which gives us plenty of time to complete our daily mileage and relax in camp.


Please be aware that we will have to ford rivers (some cold and/or deep), so make sure to bring sturdy camp shoes and trekking poles to help you cross these rivers without issue. Crocs can work but are not recommended for this particular trip.



Cost

$1650 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a room with another participant during the hotel night. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Bozeman, personal equipment, restaurant meals eaten off the trail and any gratuities for guides.


Covered expenses include 1 hotel night, 2 front country campsites, backcountry fees, 7 days of trail meals, ground transportation, National Park Permits, National Park entrance fees, backcountry permits and 2 awesome guides.


Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters, we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services, we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides. While tips are not required or expected, if your guides have served you well, please consider a gratuity so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals, sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.



Notes



This trip will NOT visit Old Faithful, sorry. While certainly a popular attraction, it is inconvenient and a bit of a mob scene.


Because of the limited size of campsites along the permitted route, our group will have to split up each night and camp in two different sites nearby each other. On one night, one of the sites is over a half mile from the other site.


If you would like to fish, there may be time at some campsites to do so. However, you must purchase a Yellowstone fishing license from the ranger station (Wyoming / Montana license not necessary). Fitpacking does not have a fishing guide permit so you will be doing so on your own and at your own risk (we have to say this).


Fitpacking prohibits firearms on this (and all) trips. This is not only our requirement but also a requirement of Yellowstone National Park. However, you may bring bear spray (pepper spray) as there are both black bears and grizzly bears in the park. You will not be able to fly with bear spray however. You can buy or rent it in Bozeman


Fitpacking has a commercial permit to operate in Yellowstone National Park.


Back to top
Sign Up For a Trip
Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
Map
 
 

Itinerary


Sunday, August 20, 2023

Drive or fly into Bozeman, MT Airport (BZM). The best time to arrive is between around 9AM-Noon as we head into the park once everyone has arrived. 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. Note: we will attempt to consolidate airport trips.

We will assemble at: TBD, To Be Determined

Equipment shakedown for those who hadn't already done their online shakedown

"Before" measurements taken

Trail mix distribution from our make-your-own Trail Mix Bar

Go to REI Bozeman, Stoneridge Square, 2220 Tschache St, Bozeman, MT 59718, (406) 587-1938 for last minute or forgotten equipment. Open until 6PM. Please note, there should also be other fine options in town to buy or rent gear.

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

At around 3PM, shuttle to campsite: Canyon Campground, Yellowstone National Park, 27 Andesite Ln, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, (307) 344-7311. Site(s): Assigned upon arrival Elevation: 7900'

Shuttling will take about 2 hours

Guides prepare dinner in camp. On some trips with longer shuttle times, we may opt to go out for an opening dinner at a local restaurant. (Cost of restaurant dinner not included in trip price)

Camp at Canyon Campground, Yellowstone National Park, 27 Andesite Ln, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, (307) 344-7311. Site(s): Assigned upon arrival Elevation: 7900'


Monday, August 21, 2023

Second set of "before" body composition measurements taken

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

Leave tents set up. We will break them down when we return from day-hikig

Begin Day-Hiking (no full pack), elevation 7900'.

Day-Hike 2.3 miles to Inspiration Point, elevation 7800'

Day-Hike 1.8 miles to Canyon Falls, elevation 7500'

Day-Hike 1.6 miles back to camp, elevation 7900'

Pack up camp and have lunch

Hike (full pack) 0.7 road miles to Cascade Creek Trailhead (4K4), elevation 7900'

Hike (full pack) 2.6 miles to Cascade Lake Campsites (4E4/4E3), elevation 8000'

Camp at Cascade Lake Campsite (4E4/4E3), elevation 8000'

Miles today: 9.0. Total miles: 9.0

Possible Bailout: Canyon


Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Leave tents set up. We will break them down when we return from day-hikig

Day-Hike 5.8 miles round trip to thw summit of Observation Peak, elevation 9405'

Pack up camp and have lunch if we haven't already eaten lunch

Hike (full pack) 2.5 miles to Grebe Lake (4G3/4G2), elevation 8023'

Camp at Grebe Lake (4G3/4G2), elevation 8023'

Miles today: 8.3. Total miles: 17.3

Possible bailout: Cascade Lake Trailhead


Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Hike 4.3 miles on the Wolf Lake Trail to the Howard Eaton Trail, elevation 8000'.

Hike about 1.0 miles on the Howard Eaton Trail to Ice Lake (4D1/4D2), elevation 7732'.

Set up camp

*Pending*

Day-Hike 0.8 miles to Ice Lake Trailhead (4K2), elevation 7800'

Shuttle by vehicle to Norris Geyser Basin, elevation 7600'

Day-Hike about 1.0 miles through Norris Geyser Basin, elevation 7600'

Shuttle by vehicle back to Ice Lake Trailhead (4K2), elevation 7800'

Day-Hike 0.8 miles to Ice Lake Campsites (4D1/4D2), elevation 7732'

*End of Pending portion*

Camp at Campsites 4D1/4D2 (Ice Lake), elevation 7732'

Miles today: 7.9. Total miles: 25.2

Possible bailout: Ice Lake Trailhead 4K2.


Thursday, August 24, 2023

Day-Hike 0.8 miles to Ice Lake Trailhead (4K2), elevation 7800'

Shuttle about 8 miles to Grizzly Lake Trailhead (1K8), elevation 7425'. This may possibly involve some hitchhiking but we're working on changing that.

Hike 3.7 miles on the Grizzly Creek Trail to the Mt. Holmes Trail, elevation 7600'.

Hike 3.1 miles on the Mt. Holmes Winter Creek Trail to Winter Creek campsites 1C4/1C5, elevation 7650'.

Camp at Campsites 1C4/1C5 (Winter Creek), elevation 7650'

Miles today: 7.6. Total miles: 32.8

Possible bailout: Norris Campground


Friday, August 25, 2023

We have 2 options today and can do either or even split the group

Option A

Day-Hike 10.8 round-trip miles to the summit of Mt. Holmes, elevation 10336'

 

Option B

Day-Hike 4.6 round-trip miles on the Trilobite Lake Trail to Trilobite Lake, elevation 8355'

 

Camp at Campsites 1C4/1C5 (Winter Creek), elevation 7650'

Miles today: 10.8/4.6. Total miles: 43.6/37.4

Possible bailout: Mt. Holmes trailhead.


Saturday, August 26, 2023

Hike 5.4 miles on the Mt. Holmes Winter Creek Trail to the Mt. Holmes Trailhead, elevation 7350'

End of Hike

Miles today: 5.4. Total miles: 48.7/42.8

Possible bailout: Park Road

Shuttle back to Bozeman. Check back into local hotel

Shuttle back to local hotel: Days Inn by Wyndham Bozeman, 1321 N 7th Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715, (406) 587-5251.

Gather your off-trail items from storage

After body composition measurements taken

Dinner and awards ceremony at a local restaurant (Dinner cost not included in trip price)

Stay in our local hotel (included in trip cost)

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Sunday, August 27, 2023

There will either be a free airport shuttle, we may drop you at the airport or we may order a shared cab/Uber to get you there.


Back to top