This page offers current backcountry conditions and is updated frequently. It is always good practice to check this page regularly leading up to your trip’s start date.
The map offers a quick snapshot of current trail status. Below the map is more detailed information regarding the condition of the trail, further descriptions of trail closures, warnings, and known hazards. Please make sure to review both the backcountry conditions map and the Area Conditions Detail Section of this page
Conditions reports offer specific details about a given trail on a given date. However, Yellowstone's backcountry is vast and some trail status reports may not be updated for several weeks or even months for lesser used trails. For this reason, Backcountry Conditions reports only offer a snapshot of trail conditions and should be used in conjunction with other tools such as weather reports, prior backpacking experience in Yellowstone, and assessment of your own backpacking skill level.
*This map doesn't reflect current campsite availability. Backcountry permits are required to camp in all backcountry campsites. **Trail status for stock use (horse & llama) will not be depicted on this map until trails open for stock use on July 1.
General Information
Expect trees down along the trails due to recent wind event. (6/17/24)
Check out the snowpack map (right side of linked page) to see estimated snow depths.
Some streams are still too high and dangerous to cross. Streams which are crossable in the morning may rise to unsafe levels by afternoon. Don’t get caught on the wrong side of a stream. If you must cross – scout out the safest location, the best crossing may not be in the exact location where the trail meets the stream. Above all use caution and be safe around all streams. Yellowstone’s backcountry does not have many bridges, please evaluate planned travel routes for any potentially hazardous stream crossings.
Fishing season is open. Learn about regulations and guidelines in Fishing in the Park.
The boating season is open. See Backcountry Conditions Map and Area Condition Details below for site-specific information.
All watercraft require Yellowstone AIS inspection and registration. Inspections are available at Bridge Bay, Grant Village, and Lewis Lake. New: A 30-day dry time is required for all sailboats and complex motorized boats (inboard, inboard/outboard, or inboard jet drives). See Boating in Yellowstone for more information.
All trails are currently CLOSED until July 1 for overnight stock use (horse and llama). Trails open for day use: Blacktail, Rescue Creek from the Blacktail trailhead, Hellroaring, Glen Creek, Mt. Holmes, Specimen Ridge (west), Slough Creek, Warm Creek to site 3P2, Bacon Rind, and the first three miles of Big Horn from the Indian Creek trailhead. See below in the Area Conditions Detail section for futher information on stock use along those trails. Day ride permits are required for day riding in the park. Get prepared for the season by reviewing Yellowstone's horse riding pages.
There are no current fire restrictions, however, please note not all campsites allow for fires. Check your backcountry permit to see if your permitted campsite allows for fires or view our backcountry trails and campsite map. In addition, please note that fires are only allowed in designated firepits. If the firepit is under snow visitors will need to dig out the firepit and downed wood.
Fire Danger level in Yellowstone National Park is MODERATE
West Yellowstone Backcountry Office: Open. Hours 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.
Snake River Backcountry Office (South Entrance): Open. Hours 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.
Old Faithful Backcountry Office: Closed for the 2024 season.
Canyon Backcountry Office: Closed for the 2024 season.
Backcountry Offices are closed for lunch.
Area Condition Details
Trails are listed by region as shown on the map below. Scroll down or select a region name to view backcountry conditions for the area: NorthwestNortheastCentralSouthwestSoutheast
A minimum group size of four people is recommended for hiking and camping withing the Gallatin Bear Management Area.
Mountain passess and higher elevation trails (above 8500 feet) may still have some snow packs. Travel over the mountain passes with caution. Many trails at lower elevations are wet and muddy. (6/26/24)
Daly Creek Trail is mostly snow free for the first few miles, muddy and wet. (6/6/24)
Black Butte Trail has lingering snow starting about 4 miles along the trail.(6/11/24)
Sky Rim trail may still have lingering snow. There are some exposed areas along the ridge that should be approached with caution. (6/26/24)
Areas of lingering snow still at upper elevations on High Lake/Shelf Lake Trail. (6/26/24)
Site WE1 is CLOSED. Tenting area is flooded. (6/19/24)
Campsite WF1 is inacessible to stock. (5/31/24)
Specimen Creek Trail likely has lingering snow around 8600 feet (about 3/4 mile below Shelf Lake). (6/26/24)
Expect areas of lingering snow on the trail between High Lake and Crescent Lake as well as the trail to Crescent Lake from the Specimen Creek Trail. (6/26/24)
Site WE1 is CLOSED. Tenting area is flooded. (6/19/24)
Beaver Ponds Trail is open and cleared of down trees. (5/30/24)
Snow Pass Trail is snow free. (6/10/24)
Sepulcher Trail is likeley snow free. (6/26/24)
Sportsman's Lake Trail from Glen Creek Trailhead is snow free to Electric Pass. Some lingering snow packs at the top of the pass. (6/25/24)
Electric Peak has snow at upper elevations near the pass. Hiking over Electric Pass is not recommended.(6/19/24)
Gardner River is fordable. Use caution if attempting to cross. (6/10/24)
Fawn Pass Trail west of Gardner River is likely snow free to the pass. Cross with caution. (6/19/24)
Trails leaving from the Glen Creek Trail are open to stock day use. (6/4/24)
STOCK USE: The Bighorn Pass trail from Indian Creek is open to stock for the first three miles (up to the Bear Management Area Boundary) after that there is a dangerous bog that stock will not be able to pass.(6/13/24)
Trails from Mount Holmes Trailhead to the campsites is snow free. (6/10/24)
Trail from Grizzly Lake Trailhead to Grizzly Lake is cleared and snow free. Creek crossing at outlet of Grizzly Lake is deep, but crossable. (6/26/24)
Winter Creek is crossable with caution. (6/26/24)
Upper elevations of Mount Holmes Trail and Trilobite Lake Trail likely to have lingering snow, attempt with caution. (6/26/24)
STOCK USE: Mount Holmes Trail is open to day stock use from the Mount Holmes Trailhead to the patrol cabin (near junction of Trilobite Lake and Mount Holmes trails). Trail not open to stock beyond patrol cabin. Day Ride Permit is required to ride in Yellowstone National Park. (6/26/24)
The west side of Gneiss Creek is CLOSED until June 30th due to the Gneiss Creek Bear Management Area. See conditions map above.
Trail is open.
Trail is open and snow free. (6/10/24)
Trail is open.
Northeast
Ticks are out.(4/29/24)
Rescue Creek Trailhead along the washed out North Entrance Road is inaccessible due to the bridge having washed out in the 2022 Floods. See conditions map above.
Rescue Creek Trail accessed from the Blacktail Trailhead is open.
Lava Creek Trail (from Lava Creek Picnic Area or Blacktail Trailhead) is open with some muddy areas. The trail can be hiked to the Gardner river, but you will need to return the same way. The bridge over the Gardner River is out. (5/30/24)
STOCK USE: Rescue Creek trail is open for stock day use from the Blacktail Trailhead.
Trail is open.
The Yellowstone River Trail is closed west of campsite 1Y1 due to a trail washout. See map above.
The Yellowstone River Trail is snow free. (5/3/24)
Cottonwood Creek (west of campsite 1R1) is running high and swift. Hikers will need to scout for the best place to cross which is not necessarily where the trail meets the creek. Caution advised. (6/10/24)
Blacktail Ponds bird closure is in effect until July1. No travel along the ponds. See map above.
STOCK USE: Blacktail Deer Creek, Rescue Creek, Yellowstone River, and Hellroaring Creek Trails are open for day rides. Day ride permits are required to ride in Yellowstone National Park.
Report of a habituated marmot at campsite 2H1.(6/10/24)
Hellroaring Creek is deep and swift, not crossible on foot. Hikers will need to head north along Hellroaring Creek to the foot bridge located south of campsite 2H8. (6/10/24)
The full Bull Mountain Loop (connecting Hellroaring and Coyote Creek Trails) is not accessible. Bridges across Specimen Creek and Horse Creek (north of the park on the Hellroaring Creek Trail) washed out in 2022. Specimen Creek and Horse Creek are too deep and swift to cross until waters drop in mid-late July. Some people were able to cross Horse Creek on a log jam last year, but there is not a safe crossing across Specimen Creek. (6/14/24)
Site 2H5 is closed for season. Site must be relocated.
STOCK USE: Blacktail Deer Creek, Rescue Creek, Yellowstone River, Hellroaring Creek trails are open to stock for day rides. Day ride permits are required to ride in Yellowstone National Park. (6/3/23)
Floating Island Lake is CLOSED. No Entry or Boating in order to protect nesting birds.
Sections of the Lost Lake Trail near Roosevelt Lodge are CLOSED. See Conditions Map above.
The Garnett Hill trailhead is subject to closures due to road construction. The Garnett Hill Trail can be accessed from Tower Junction, and then continue to the wagon road and trail.
The Garnett Hill Loop is partially CLOSED due to damage from the 2022 Flooding event. See Backcountry Conditions Map above.
Buffalo Fork trail is inaccessible while Slough Creek is too deep and swift to be crossed. (5/24/24)
Slough Creek Trail is open and in good condition. (6/10/24)
Slough Creek is silty and running outside of it's banks. Fishing likely won't be good until the creek clears. (6/10/24)
STOCK USE: Slough Creek is open to stock for day rides. Day ride permits are required to ride in Yellowstone National Park.
Warm Creek to Pebble Creek is mostly snow free with a muddy patches and a few remaining areas of snow.(6/20/24)
Pebble Creek Fords are running about 1.5 feet in depth, crossable.(6/20/24)
Bliss pass conditions unknown. Likely some areas of snow and mud. (6/20/24)
STOCK USE: Warm Creek side of Pebble Creek Trail (east end) open to stock up to campsite 3P2.
Trout Lake Trail is open.
The bridge over the outlet stream is being replaced. During bridge construction the entire loop hike may not be possible. (6/13/24)
Yellowstone River Picnic Area trail is open. (5/30/24)
Specimen Ridge Trail is likely snow free. (6/26/24)
The Lamar River, located on the east end of the Specimen Ridge Trail is not crossable. The Specimen Ridge Trail can only be accessed from the Specimen Ridge Trailhead. Do not expect to hike from the Specimen Ridge Trailhead to the Lamar River Trailhead as you won't be able to cross the river and will then have a 14 mile backtrack to the Specimen Ridge Trailhead. (5/30/24)
Specimen Ridge-Agate Creek trails have been cleared from Specimen Ridge trailhead to campsite 2Y1. (6/6/24)
STOCK USE: West side of Specimen Ridge Trail is open to stock. Can not cross the Lamar River. Day Ride Permits are required to ride in Yellowstone National Park. (6/6/2024)
Bear Frequenting Area warning in effect for the Lamar River Trail and Cache Creek Trail. Make sure to Be Bear Aware- make lots of noise, be alert, never leave you food unattended.(5/20/24)
Cache Creek is deep and swift, not crossable. Streams which are crossable in the morning may rise to unsafe levels by afternoon. Don't get caught on the wrong side of the stream. Trails south of Cache Creek will be inaccessible until water levels drop. (6/12/24)
The Pelican Valley Trailhead is closed until July 4 due to the Pelican Valley Bear Management area. No through travel from Lamar River to Pelican Valley.
Cache Creek is snow free but may be lingering snow on Republic Pass. (6/26/24)
Thunderer Trail may have lingering snow at the pass. Soda Butte is crossable with caution for experienced hikers. (6/26/24)
Trail from Dunraven Pass Trailhead may have some lingering snow. (6/26/24)
Chittenden Trailhead is open. The trail to Mount Washburn from Chittenden Trailhead is snow free. (6/13/24)
Trail from summit to campsite 4E1 may have areas of snow. (6/8/24)
Trail is open with a few areas of running water on the trail. (6/8/24)
Sulphur Creek just past campsite 4C2 is passable; there is an easy rock jump to cross (6/16/24)
Trail to campsite 4E1 is fairly wet in places. (6/8/24)
Trail between 4E1 and Mount Washburn has areas of snow. (6/8/24)
Due to Norris Campground being closed for the 2024 season, there is a barricade which will prevent visitors from parking at the trailhead. Visitors will need to park in the large pullout on the main road to the south of the barricade and walk through the campground to the trailhead.
Trail is open. Trails across open meadows are quite wet. (6/8/24)
Cascade Lake Trail between Cascade and Grebe is very wet with standing water and running water in trail.(6/3/24)
Gibbon River fords near Ice Lake and Wolf Lake are ~2 feet deep. (6/3/24)
Cascade Creek Trail has patchy snow, melting quickly. (6/3/24)
There are several closures in effect to protect nesting birds (see map above for exact locations):
No boating,and fishing along Ice Lake
No boating, fishing and off trail travel along Wolf Lake
No Boating, Fishing or off trail travel along the Western half of Grebe Lake.
Trails are open.
Wapiti Lake Trailhead to trail to Ribbon Lake has been cleared of downfall (6/5/24)
Sour Creek if headed to Wrangler Lake, should be passable. (6/8/24)
Trail to Wapiti Lake likely clear of snow. (6/26/24)
Pelican Creek and Astringent Creek Trails south of Fern Lake are closed until July 4 as part of the Pelican Bear Management Area.
Trail is open.
Trail is extremely muddy and wet in some areas. (6/8/24)
Hiker report seeing lots of bear tracks. (6/5/24)
Southwest
Most rivers are at peak runoff and not crossable (6/10/24)
Most of the trails in the Bechler area are wet and/or flooded. Streams are deep and uncrossable. Mosquitoes are out in force. (6/14/24)
Boating season is open.
Cave Falls Road is open and in good condition with washboarded areas.
The Grassy Lake Road is snow free. Road conditions still rough. Recommended vehicles have high clearance. Link to road conditions at Grand Teton National Park: GRTE Park Roads. (6/22/24)
Trails around Fairy Falls, Sentinel Meadows, and the Freight Road are snow free. (6/26/24)
Conditions unknown. Expect areas of snow and multiple downed trees across the trail. (6/10/24)
Snow free. (6/26/24)
Trail to Lone Star Geyser is snow free. (6/26/24)
Trail south of Lone Star Geyser is reported to be extremely wet and muddy. (6/10/24)
Campsite OA3 reported as very wet. (6/10/24)
All watercraft require Yellowstone AIS inspection and registration. Inspection stations are at Bridge Bay, Grant, and Lewis Lake. New: A thirty-day dry time is required for all sailboats, boats with inboard motors, and boats with inboard/outboard motors. See Boating in Yellowstone for more information.
Motorized boats are prohibited on Shoshone Lake and Lewis River.
There is a bird closure in effect at the mouth of the Lewis River Channel. No boating, fishing, or off trail travel in the closure area. See map above for closure area details.
Doghead Trail has been cleared up to 3.5 miles in from trailhead. Dogshead Creek is running -- use caution when crossing. (6/8/24)
DeLacy trail is in good condition. (6/16/24)
Lewis River Channel Trail is reported extremely wet and muddy. (6/16/24)
The trails around Shoshone Lake are likely snow free. Possibly still lingering snow on Grant's Pass. (6/26/24)
Inaccessible. Trails are snow covered and rivers are deep and swift. (6/10/24)
Trails across Bechler Meadows are wet and flooded. Hikers report ankle to knee deep water on trail and lots of "bugs". Hiking not recommended. (6/22/24)
Campsites 9B1 and 9C1 are open and accessible. (6/14/24)
Mosquitoes are plentiful! (6/14/24)
Trails are wet and/or flooded. Streams are deep and swift. Hiking north of Bartlett Slough is not recommended. (6/14/24)
Very wet conditions. Conditions of campsites unknown. (6/14/24)
Conditions unknown. Likely inaccessible due to road conditions, snow, and rivers too deep and swift to cross. (6/14/24)
Fish Lake Trailhead is closed until July 16 per Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
Most of the trail has deep snow, not recommended. (6/10/24)
Campsites 8P1 and 8P2 are likely to still be snow covered. (6/10/24)
Wet conditions with some patchy snow. (6/10/24)
There is a bird closure in effect for the northwestern part of the Buela Lake No boating, fishing or off-trail travel in the bird closure. See map above for closure area details.
There is a bird closure for Tanager Lake. No fishing, boating, or off trail travel around the entire lake.
East side of Grassy Lake Road is closed to motorized travel; expected to open June 17.
Southeast
Boating season is open.
Storm Point Trail is CLOSED due to bear activity. (6/22/24)
Elephant Back is cleared and snow free. (6/17/24)
Natural Bridge Trail has reopened. (6/17/24)
Hikers report patches of snow at tree line and larger patches of snow that require some trail searching near the summit. Snow melt water on trail in places. (6/22/24)
All watercraft require Yellowstone AIS inspection and registration. Inspection stations are at Bridge Bay and Grant Village, Lewis Lake. New: A thirty-day dry time is required for all sailboats, boats with inboard motors, inboard/outboard motors, or jet drives. See Boating in Yellowstone for more information.
Docks and hazard bouys are in place.(6/12/24)
Use caution and be alert for floating debris and unmarked hazards.
There are several closures in effect to protect nesting birds. There are closures in place near Frank Island, Stevenson Island, Molly Islands, Peale Island, campsite 7N2, and campsite 7L7. No travel permitted on, or near the closures. See map above for specific location of closures.
Yellowstone River and Thororfare Creek are running at high runoff levels and fords are not recommended for foot traffic or stock crossing at this time. Can be 4 - 6' deep depending on particular waterway. Meadows are wet in places -- caution advised. (6/25/24)
Streams are at peak runoff levels and many are uncrossable. (6/14/24)
Areas of standing water in trail. Clear Creek ford is 2.5 - 3 feet deep. Cub Creek ford is 2 feet deep. (5/21/24)
Meadow Creek ford can be crossed with caution. (6/5/24)
Columbine Creek (south of 5E6) and Beaverdam Creek (south of 5E1) are running deep and swift, likely uncrossable. (6/14/24)
No off-trail travel is permitted along the east shore of Yellowstone Lake until July 14 or later. Refer to the above map for more information on the Clear Creek Bear Management Area.
Trails in the area are generally not accessible until the Snake River is crossable. The Snake River at the South Entrance is estimated to be crossable beginning July 10.
The Heart Lake area is closed until July 1 due to Heart Lake Bear Management Area restrictions. See map above.
The Riddle Lake Trail is closed until at least July 15 due to Riddle/Solution Bear Management Area restrictions. See map above.
Submit Trail Conditions
Have you hiked the trails lately and want to submit trail conditions? Please email the Central Backcountry Office with the trails and date you hiked the trails and as much details as you can provide.
