Yellowstone Bechler River Trail

Greetings all,

Recently returned from a six-day backpacking trip to the cascade corner of Yellowstone National Park: The Bechler River Trail.  This was my second hike of both the Bechler River Trail and the thermal geyser basin along the shores of Shoshone Lake (the first time was seventeen years ago). This time we also added a spur hike to Union Falls. Wonderful. We hiked over 40 miles carrying backpacks and another ten or so without. This is generally a challenging trail due to length and two crossings of the Continnental Divide (one being Grant’s Pass at 8,500’); in August, you also encounter numerous fords of fast flowing rivers and annoying biting flies and mosquitoes. But, the weather was great and our hikers fit. My Top Ten Takeaways are: 1) everyone from our group completing the hike; 2) finally seeing Union Falls; 3. viewing Colonnade Falls early evening after a brief thunder storm; 4. covered with midst and spray, experiencing Iris Falls shortly after sunrise; 5. revisiting the lovely Geyser Basin along the shoreline of Shoshone Lake; 6. finding and swimming in the warm springs of the North Folk near Union Falls; 7) gaining a new respect for fording the powerful Bechler River; 8) having lovely camp sites (especially our final two camps); 9) finding box toilets at each camp; and 10) each evening celebrating a successful day backpacking with 1/3 portions of red wine. Ummm!  Below are a few photos from the trip.

Bechler River Trail 6-day Backpack (August 13-18, 2019) – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Shoshone Geyser Basin – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Shoshone Geyser Basin – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Lone Star Geyser – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Camp 9D1 Ferris Fork – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Ferris Fork – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Cascade, Ferris Fork – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Bechler River – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Iris Falls – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Colonnade Falls – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Fording Bechler River – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Camp 9C1 Rocky Ford – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Sunrise, Camp 9U2 Mountaun Ash Creek – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Camp 9U2 Mountaun Ash Creek – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Union Falls – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Warm Spring, North Folk – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Warm Spring, North Folk – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Backpacking Companions, Bechler River Trail – Yellowstone National Park, Wyomin