Yellowstone Backpacking - The Thorofare

Our adventure begins today in Bozeman, Montana. Meet your guides and fellow backpackers this afternoon at our host hotel for introductions and a full gear check. Our guides are prepared to answer any questions and offer some great advice on how to minimize pack weight. The guide team will also distribute our group gear, food and bear canisters to each participant. After orientation, we drive 2.5 hours to Yellowstone National Park, settle into our camp for the evening and continue to discuss the grand adventure that awaits us. Dinner included.

We start the day early with a hearty breakfast and camp breakdown. After packing up camp, we set off for Bridge Bay Marina to board our boat shuttle to one of the most remote parts of Yellowstone Lake, the southeastern arm. On our 9-mile voyage across the lake, we enjoy views of Frank, Dot and Molly Island, the most important nesting grounds in the region for American white pelicans. Yellowstone Lake is the largest lake in North America above 7,000 ft and we appreciate its vastness as we make our way to the far shore. After disembarking and bidding farewell to our boat captain, we start our hike towards Beaver Dam Creek. Hiking south, we dip into willow forest with views of Yellowstone Lake framed by distant summits of the Northern Rockies. After a wonderfully full day, we pitch our tents and enjoy dinner together—our first night in the Yellowstone wilderness. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Backpacking: 8-9 miles, Elevation gain/loss: +250'; Van transfer: 15-90 minutes; Boat Shuttle: 30-45 min (1-2 shuttles, based on group size)

We begin the day with a piping hot cup of coffee in hand, watching the surrounding landscape turn golden as the sun peeks over the horizon. After breaking camp, our trail leads us past Beaver Dam Creek and into the upper valley. We pass wide-open meadows and travel through a burn area still recovering from a wildfire more than three decades ago. Our guides take this opportunity to share insights on fire ecology as we hike through the rich understory of saplings, trees and grasses in various shades of verdant greens and golden hues. Backpacking deeper into the wilderness, the Trident massif gradually comes into view. The massif itself is rugged—its peaks and summits creating a dramatic skyline that extends eastward all the way into Bridger-Teton National Forest. Its name derived from the three prominent thousand-foot ridges on its western face that terminate just above the Yellowstone River. Tonight, we settle into our second camp and enjoy our view of the prominent features of the Turret and Table Mountain. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Backpacking: 7-10 miles, Elevation gain/loss: +350'

After a good night's rest under a blanket of stars, we continue our hike into the heart of Thorofare country. Connecting with the Mountain Creek Trail, we head towards Eagle Pass and the park boundary. The Yellowstone headwaters are protected as a designated wilderness pursuant to the Wilderness Act of 1964. The act succinctly describes a wilderness as "lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition" and "an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man". After a full day' s appreciation for this unique ecosystem and its diverse inhabitants, we enjoy another relaxed evening with our backpacking companions before turning in for the night. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Backpacking: 7.5-11 miles, Elevation gain/loss: +800'

What an amazing day it is! Today we enjoy a break from moving camp and can choose our own adventure. After a leisurely breakfast, we can set out on a day hike up to Eagle Pass or opt for some exploration and relaxation time around our campsite. Those choosing to hike to the pass are rewarded with sprawling vistas of the surrounding landscape and mountain peaks including Pinnacle Mountain and the Trident. We peer into expanses of the Washakie Wilderness across the park boundary line and savor views of Yellowstone's tallest peak, Eagle Peak (11,358'). Those choosing to stay near camp can take a dip in a swimming hole, wander in the nearby meadows and smell the wildflowers, or just lie back and gaze out at distant Rocky Mountain summits. We spend a second night tonight in our now familiar campsite. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Hiking (optional): 4-10 mile day hike, Elevation gain/loss: +1,350'/-1,350'

Rested after our layover day and with our hearts filled with the spirit of the backcountry, we begin the return journey, retracing our route to the trailhead. As we hike, we look for signs of feathered or furry wildlife, hoping to catch a glimpse of some of the creatures that make Yellowstone their home. With the abundance of grassy meadows and water sources, elk migrate from far and wide to take advantage of this perfect, life-sustaining habitat. We can never guarantee wildlife sightings but keep a constant eye out for grizzly, wolf, moose, elk and smaller species that inhabit the park, focused on viewing animals from an appropriate distance. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Backpacking: 6.5-11 miles, Elevation gain/loss: +430'

After breakfast and some hot drinks to kick us into gear, we load our packs and continue onward to the glimmering shoreline of Yellowstone Lake. Arriving at our final camp on the shores of the lake, we drop our packs and jump into the water for a celebratory swim, drying off on sun-baked rocks and appreciating the beautiful surroundings. As our time in the wilderness grows short, we share our last backcountry dinner with our fellow adventurers and reflect on all we've accomplished and learned over the last six days. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Backpacking: 8-11.5 miles, Elevation gain/loss: -350'

It's our final day on the Thorofare and, after an early wake up, we cherish our last backpacking miles as we hug the eastern edge of Yellowstone Lake. If time allows, we brew up some hot beverages as we wait to be picked up by our boat shuttle for the return to Bridge Bay Marina. Reaching our adventure's end, our van awaits to take us on a scenic drive along Yellowstone Lake and through some of the park's geothermal areas before beginning the return drive to Bozeman. We plan to arrive back in Bozeman between approximately 6-7pm this evening. Departing flights out of Bozeman should not be scheduled before 8:30pm tonight. Breakfast and lunch included.

Backpacking: 3-5 miles, Elevation gain/loss: -150'