fbpx

Hiking and Backpacking Yellowstone’s Bechler River Traverse

Hiking and Backpacking Yellowstone’s Bechler River Traverse

From $ 3,145 AUD

Description

Hike the famous Bechler River Valley Traverse in Southwestern Yellowstone National Park and experience the hallmark features of Yellowstone in the backcountry, away from the crowds. See stunning geysers, serene rivers and streams, crystal-clear lakes, hot springs (yes, you can soak in them), tumbling waterfalls, wild berries, world-class trout waters, and the vast river meadows of Yellowstone with an expert leader who knows all the best spots. Multiple geysers with bubbling pools and frothing potholes add yet more reasons to visit. Sleep under the stars on a backpacking small group Intrepid adventure.

Trip Name
Hiking and Backpacking Yellowstone's Bechler River Traverse
Last Updated
2024-04-29
Days
5
Capacity
10
Highlights
  • Experience the hallmark features of Yellowstone in the backcountry, away from the crowds, with an expert leader to show you all the best spots.
  • Hike the lower part of Bechler Canyon which is flanked on the south by berry-laden boulder fields, a popular foraging ground for black bears and hikers alike.
  • Marvel at multiple geysers with bubbling pools, frothing potholes, and mounds spewing fountain-like streams into the air at the spectacular Shoshone Geyser Basin.
  • Bring your bathing suit and sit back and relax for free with Mr Bubbles, a series of natural hot springs with a quirky name and blissfully soothing waters.
  • See beautiful Iris Falls and Colonnade Falls, a two-part waterfall that is the highest on the hike and an easy 5 minute walk from our camp.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk. In order to travel on this trip, you: 1. Must be able to understand and recognize the risks and hazards inherent in the activities of the trip, must be able to decide to assume those risks and hazards and must actually and voluntarily assume those risks and hazards. 2. Must be able to withstand exposure to the outdoors including exposure to diverse climactic conditions during the trip, including temperatures ranging from below freezing to +100 degrees F, potentially rapidly changing precipitative conditions from dry conditions to precipitation including monsoons and flash floods, for the duration of the Program. 3. Must be able to monitor and evaluate changes in personal health condition including the onset of dehydration, hyponatremia, heat illness or stroke or hypothermia and must be able to communicate any changes in personal health condition or safety concerns to the guide(s). 4. Must be able to participate in all activities at the time scheduled for each activity; e.g. to beat the heat, guest pick-up and hike start times during summer months may range between 3-6 a.m. 5. Must be able to manage all personal care and mobility during extended periods of exertion of 10-plus hours per day, either independently or with the assistance of a companion or an approved assistive device. 6. Must be able to enter and exit a multi-passenger vehicle either independently or with the assistance of a companion or approved assistive device. 7. Must be able to withstand up to eight hours as a passenger in a multi-passenger vehicle, transporting up to 14 passengers at a time, either independently or with the assistance of a companion or an approved assistive device. 8. Must be able to immediately comprehend and follow verbal instructions either independently or with the assistance of a companion or approved assistive device. 9. Must be able to traverse wet and dry, sandy, rocky, uneven and/or unstable ground over a distance of 10-plus miles per day including elevation differential (gain and/or loss) of +3,000 feet per day, for a period of up to 10 hours per day, while carrying: a) BACKPACKING/BACKCOUNTRY TRIPS- a backpack weighing 25-50 pounds, b) FRONTCOUNTRY/LODGE, BASECAMP AND INN-BASED TRIPS - a fully loaded backpack weighing 10-15 pounds, either independently or with an assistance companion or an approved assistive device. 10. Must be able to self-manage and self-navigate unsupervised while in the designated camp area either independently or with the assistance of a companion or approved assistive device. 11. Must be able to perform basic camping activities including sleeping on the ground, consuming water from back country sources, consuming food prepared in a backcountry setting and maintaining personal health and hygiene in accordance with guide directives either independently or with the assistance of a companion or approved assistive device. The use of an assistive device to meet any element of the essential eligibility criteria must be approved in advance by Intrepid Travel.

Day 1 - Yellowstone National Park
Get picked up at Jackson Hole and kick off your Yellowstone hiking adventure with the largest backcountry geyser in Yellowstone: Lone Star Geyser. From Lone Star, we will hike along the Firehole River and over the Continental Divide before arriving at our camp, Shoshone Meadows. After setting up camp, hike without packs to Shoshone Lake, one of the largest wilderness lakes in in the lower 48 states and the backdrop for the Shoshone Geyser Basin. The basin contains an abundance of geysers with bubbling pools, frothing potholes, and mounds spewing fountain-like streams into the air. It’s a truly spectacular sight.
Day 2 - Yellowstone National Park
After breakfast, today’s hike begins with a climb to the highest point of the trip, a plateau of lush meadows and thick forests. Enjoy the views then continue on the long but rewarding hike that brings us to the headwaters of the Bechler River and into Bechler Canyon. We will make camp near the river here and explore one of the valley’s most remarkable features - Mr. Bubbles - a series of hot springs fit for royalty. Bring your bathing suit because we’ll have some time to lounge in the hot water while enjoying the peaceful Bechler Canyon and soaking up the beauty of our surroundings.
Day 3 - Yellowstone National Park
After breakfast, we’ll hike further downstream and take on two long river crossings which could be as deep as one metre (3 feet). Your expert leader will be on hand to carefully assist the group across each one. Our exciting work fording the river will be rewarded with two grand waterfalls: Colonnade Falls, a two-part waterfall which is the highest on the hike, and beautiful Iris Falls. Camp will be a mere five minute hike from Colonnade Falls if you can’t resist going back to see it again.
Day 4 - Yellowstone National Park
Today we’ll hike the lower part of the canyon which is flanked on the south by berry-laden boulder fields, a popular foraging ground for black bears and hikers alike. Once we exit the canyon, we’ll hike through beautiful Bechler Meadows, where moose and bison sightings are common, and make camp near the relaxing hot springs at the base of Dunanda Falls where Boundary Creek flows over a large cliff. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxing soak at the end of the day.
Day 5 - Yellowstone National Park
After our final breakfast in the backcountry, we will pack up our gear and hike through lush meadows and stands of lodgepole pine until we arrive at the Bechler Ranger Station. From here, we will load up the vehicle and drop everyone back in Jackson Hole at approximately 7 pm.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
15-07-202419-07-2024AUD $ 3,145-
19-07-202423-07-2024AUD $ 3,145-
24-07-202428-07-2024AUD $ 3,145-
30-07-202403-08-2024AUD $ 3,145-
07-08-202411-08-2024AUD $ 3,145-
15-08-202419-08-2024AUD $ 3,145-
22-08-202426-08-2024AUD $ 3,145-
27-08-202431-08-2024AUD $ 3,145-
04-09-202408-09-2024AUD $ 3,145-
09-09-202413-09-2024AUD $ 3,145-

Accommodation

Backcountry camping (4 nights)

Transport

Private vehicle

Map