Best Backcountry Trails in Yellowstone National Park
To see the true heart of the parks, load up a backpack and spend a night or more in the wilderness. These remote areas make for unforgettable backpacking destinations, whether you’re up for an overnight or a real multiday epic.
- Thorofare Trail: This hike will take you deeper into road-free wilderness than you can get anywhere else in the lower 48 states. You’ll spend a few nights on the trail, climbing up to the park’s southern border and beyond to the Yellowstone River’s headwaters, a high valley bursting with wildlife. Early in the summer, if the snow has melted, the cutthroat spawning run attracts grizzlies and coyotes. It’s not for the faint of heart.
- Bechler Area: The park’s remote “Cascade Corner” features plentiful waterfalls, soakable hot springs, and riverside hiking. Several different out-and-back or loop options are possible, and you can even plan a long-haul hike from Bechler all the way to Old Faithful.