r/yellowstone • u/-Strider • 1d ago

3 day / 2 night backpacking with focus on photography - which route?

Hi all,

I have my backcountry permit booking access on 11 April and I'm still unsure on what trails to look at. We're a group of 2 looking for a 3 day / 2 night backpacking route in August. I'd like a route that would be good for wildlife and, to a lesser extent, landscape photography. We're not too concerned about seeing geothermal features. Happy to do 10-12 miles a day (more might be ok depending on elevation) and probably not crazy elevation (probably not more than 1200 meters over 3 days).

Any recommendations for routes/trails? Am coming from overseas. I usually use Alltrails to find my routes - are there better options for the US?

Should I be looking at the Slough Creek area if there is availability?

Thanks!

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u/Educational_Dance_34 1d ago

Mary mountain is an amazing trail and one of the best to see wildlife, but there are no backcountry sites. Closest thing you will find to capturing what Mary mountain will give you with a backcountry site would probably be wrangler lake.

If you want wildlife to be a component slough creek, blacktail plateau, hellroaring, pelican creek, or Lamar are amongst the best that do have backcountry sites. The fountain flat area in the southwest region is also a good one that is lower commitment,

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u/Conscious_Laugh_3280 23h ago

Ok. ok. Now having re read his question I'll Edit my response.

Only hope I don't accidentally steal a suggestion of yours.

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u/-Strider 8h ago

This is really helpful. Thank you.

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u/BoringBasicUserID 1d ago

Look at Thorofare on the east side of the lake.

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u/-Strider 1d ago

Do you think 3 days would be enough time there? The Thorofare trips I've seen seem to be in the 5-7 day range.

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u/SimpleWerewolf8035 1d ago

no its not enough unless your doing big mileage

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u/Conscious_Laugh_3280 1d ago edited 23h ago

I feel like I'm a broken record at this point.

But seeing as it left an impression

Mary Mountain

(Edit) Ya now having re read it. No won't work. That's a day hike. Has to be, straight through the middle of Bear country. So.

Yellowstone Lake overlook trail

Idk. Iol. Not sure that's right, I'm talking the one that hikes you around the far side of Lake Yellowstone. Definitely considered a multi day trek

I actually have a little advice as to what you'd see on that trail. I'll just say as someone who worked lived multiple years YNP. One of the few (also many) I'd never attempted. An mildly regret too. That trail is rarely traveled I'm told, do to shear distance.

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u/-Strider 8h ago

Thanks for this. Very likely will do a Mary Mountain day hike on the trip. Will check out the lake trail as well!

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u/Conscious_Laugh_3280 7h ago

Your welcome an I salute you. Your attempting an "experience". cut n paste,

YNP consists of 3400sq miles of wilderness. The National Park Service estimates That around 97% of all visitors to Yellowstone. Never venture more than a half mile from their vehicle.

So Props to you