Hiking the Bighorn Pass trail in YellowstoneNP
This is a hike that I had on my to-do list and it did not disappoint at all.
Bighorn Pass trail is an end to end hike that me being a solo hiker can’t do, so I cut in in two pieces. This is the first piece. So, the hike connects a trailhead in route 191 to a trailhead in the Indian Creek campground. I decided to do an exploration hike in the east side segment. This is one of the trails that enter the Bear Management Area at some point and you are required to stay on the trail, so I had to be careful how far I was going to hike solo in this trail.
The campground was closed when I hiked it in September, so you just park in the “cul de sac” entrance, as long as you are not blocking the entrance road (maintenance people use that road). The trail starts immediately before the campground but in reality you are hiking in the first 1/3 of a mile around the campsites. Now, this is a campground and it is not in an open area so you need to be mindful that critters will smell things and decide to investigate, specially if the campground was recently closed and there are no people in it.
Ok, you leave the campground area part of the trail and there is still a bit of forest before the fun begins. This is a trail where I have to walk slow and look around:
Slowly but surely, the trail is going to open up.
I love meadows …………..
At about the first mile, I ran into a lady that was leaving her backpacking campsite. At the same time there was an elk bull calling for his ladies. She heard him last night too, but no other critters (which is good). I also look down on the trail for tracks, and looking down makes you notice cool stuff, like this mushroom.
Then the trail opens and you arrive at Indian Creek, with Antler and Bannock peaks in the background.
The creek is pretty easy to cross, in September is was less than knee high so I just used my water shoes. There is no need to find a path, just follow the markings. Early in the season the creek is higher and has more flow.
Once you are past the creek, it really opens up:
This view is looking north, so that large peak could be Sepulcher or Electric, not sure.
No matter, the views are impressive and I was constantly looking forth and back.
I could see some bison at a distance, but nothing close. The nice things is that you are so enamored with the views that you keep turning around and that has the side effect to look behind you …………. remember, critters are curious and sometimes will get closer to you.
The final creek of the day is Panther Creek; it is a bit wider than Indian Creek but the same ease of crossing it.
And it is time to leave the wide open spaces and enter the Gallatin Bear Management and stop leaving the trail.
I then entered the forested area for about half a mile and decided to turn around. Maybe next time I will try to reach Panther Lake, but it felt so spooky and I tend to follow my feelings and not ignore them when they tell me its time to get out of Dodge.
Of course, what is a hike without a bison sitting low on the grass so you can run into him ? I saws him on the way in and made a mental note to look for him on the way back and the asshole this time was sitting down and I almost ran into him.
Enjoy more from the way back ……………….
Final thoughts: this was an amazing 6 miles in and out hike. The creek crossings are lovely in the fall with the foliage colors and that just makes it worth it. But the view, OMFG, these views are amazing !!!! But remember that this is prime grizzly country and past mile 5, shits gets so real that you are not allowed to leave the trail. This doesn’t happen that often in the park.