Latest / This Week in Yellowstone National Park / This Week In Yellowstone: March 5th to March 11, 2026

Transcript

This Week In Yellowstone: March 5th to March 11, 2026 · This Week in Yellowstone National Park

0:00
From Yellowstone National Park where the trails
0:03
are already a combination of mud and snow This
0:06
is that Scott guy, you know in love with a brand
0:08
new episode of this week in Yellowstone What's
0:22
up everybody this week in Yellowstone National
0:24
Park from March 5th to March 11th 2026 I try
0:29
to explain this winter's snowpack, let you know
0:31
why March is a great time to visit the park,
0:34
and tell you to walk a closed road to witness
0:36
the power of nature. I'll also give you the complete
0:39
weather forecast, the snowpack update, a trail
0:42
to hike, that's what I just mentioned, the wildlife
0:44
report, and everything else you need to have
0:46
an incredible time this week in Yellowstone.
0:50
Standard disclaimer, might miss a few details
0:52
here and there, so feel free to reach out with
0:54
any questions you may have. I also mention park
0:57
locations casually, so if you're unfamiliar with
1:00
a place I mention, a quick search online can
1:02
help. And also know that this report only covers
1:06
the drivable areas of the park. Now before I
1:09
jump into the podcast itself, I just want you
1:12
to know that this podcast is a passion project.
1:14
If you enjoy it, I'd love a review or a quick
1:16
email. If you want to support my work further,
1:19
you can check out my hiking and wildlife watching
1:21
guidebooks, or join me for a guided hiking tour
1:23
in Yellowstone's backcountry. For more information
1:26
on all of what I just mentioned, visit Outdoor
1:29
-Society .com or contact me directly. You can
1:32
send me an email at theoutdoorsociety .gmail
1:35
.com or send me a text at This week's Yellowstone
1:43
news. There's a time change. If you're heading
1:46
to Yellowstone soon, don't forget about the upcoming
1:48
time change on the second Sunday in March, clock
1:51
spring forward, one hour at 2 a .m., which instantly
1:55
becomes 3 a .m. Hooray! It's a small shift, yet
1:59
it changes the rhythm of the day in noticeable
2:01
ways when you're in Yellowstone. Sunrise and
2:03
sunset will both happen an hour later by the
2:05
clock. Wildlife that seemed active at 630 is
2:09
now going to be active at 730, which is great
2:11
for those of us that don't necessarily like to
2:13
wake up early right now. The evening light also
2:16
stretches longer, which is great news if you
2:18
enjoy lingering. all over the park later in the
2:22
evening. This is one of my favorite times before
2:24
everything catches up. March and April. Really
2:27
great for this time change. So check that out.
2:31
Everything should change. Obviously your clock
2:33
will change too. So on your phone. So other than
2:36
that, the news that I wanted to share is there
2:40
is a geyser that's been erupting at Norris. For
2:42
more information on that, just check out the
2:45
Caldera report. and that are the caldera chronicles
2:49
sorry about that that is a fantastic thing put
2:52
together by the usgs i'll provide a link in the
2:55
show notes for that uh caldera chronicles it
2:58
is one of the best things you can do well one
3:01
of the best things you can read to get to know
3:03
what's going on with the volcano of yellowstone
3:06
itself my experience of the week an emptier northern
3:11
range during shoulder season march in yellowstone
3:15
national park is shoulder season that time between
3:18
winter and spring tourism that many avoid. As
3:21
over snow travel winds down and the interior
3:24
closes for about a month to all but park employees,
3:27
things tend to slow down a bit in Yellowstone.
3:30
Visitor numbers drop sharply compared with winter
3:32
numbers, tour guides take a break, not me though,
3:35
book a tour, and amenities in and out of the
3:38
park can close for a bit. With snow coach tours
3:40
no longer taking place out of Mammoth, visitation
3:43
drops sharply. In another week or so it's snow
3:46
coaches are going to stop out of West as well.
3:49
So we're in this end period. According to visitation
3:52
records from previous years, March averages around
3:55
22 to 23 ,000 visitors in decades past, making
3:59
it one of the least crowded months of the year.
4:01
It's also constantly described as the worst month
4:03
to visit the park by many online, but what do
4:06
they know? Like seriously, what do they know?
4:08
Anybody that says never visit the park in March,
4:11
don't listen to them. Anybody that says never
4:13
visit the park in the summer, also don't listen
4:15
to them. There's guides that will tell you to
4:17
avoid Yellowstone in July. If that's the time
4:19
you can go to the park, great. It's amazing.
4:23
The emptier conditions are what makes Yellowstone
4:25
in March so great. The only road that's open
4:29
is that northern range route that I talk about
4:31
all the time which runs through the valleys like
4:34
Lamar Valley, Slough Creek, Blacktail Plateau,
4:37
all of these amazing places, even Hell Roaring,
4:40
right? Those who say March is a bad time to visit
4:43
must not know that these areas that are famous
4:45
for winter wildlife continue to be that way in
4:48
March. The result is a sense of solitude that
4:51
few visitors experience during the busy summer
4:53
season or the busier winter season. Because the
4:56
park is quieter, visitors often describe a deeper
4:58
connection with the land. There's empty pullouts
5:01
and overlooks, and that means you can just stop
5:03
and watch without crowds that build in the summer.
5:06
Silence feels heavier on cool mornings when the
5:08
air hangs still above the snowy fields out in
5:11
the distance. Long daylight hours return after
5:14
winter, allowing for extended observation windows
5:17
from early morning until late evening. The slower
5:20
pace encourages contemplation, whether you're
5:23
watching bison grays or scanning distant hills
5:25
for wolves. For many visitors, an early March
5:28
trip feels like seeing Yellowstone before most
5:31
people knew it existed. March is how the park
5:34
used to be in the winter, visitation -wise. The
5:37
emptier roads, the wildlife activity that's pretty
5:40
great, and longer days create a unique experience
5:44
that rewards patience and attention. Whether
5:47
you're traveling for nature observation or simply
5:49
seeking a quieter moment, in one of America's
5:52
great wild places, the northern range of Yellowstone
5:55
in March offers a rare blend of solitude and
5:57
activity that feels both peaceful and alive,
6:01
while also feeling like you kind of have it to
6:03
yourself. So I was just in the park today that
6:06
I'm recording this, Wednesday, March 4th, and
6:10
yeah, it's a Wednesday in March. But aside from
6:14
the one area where people were looking at wolves,
6:17
like three miles in the distance, there were
6:19
very few people in the park today. It was kind
6:21
of amazing, and that's what you can expect in
6:24
March. If you go during the weekday especially,
6:27
you're gonna have the park to yourself. I went
6:30
on a hike today, I didn't see another soul. That
6:33
leads me to my tip of the week, which is kind
6:36
of the tip of the month, and it's what to expect
6:38
when visiting Yellowstone National Park in March.
6:41
That's as a continuation of last topic, but I
6:43
wanted to dive into a few more details because
6:46
Yellowstone in March is a season of contrast.
6:48
Usually in March, a lot of the country is beginning
6:50
to feel like real spring, but Yellowstone can
6:54
still feel very much like winter or some sort
6:57
of winter hybrid. Despite the lack of real winter
7:00
here in Yellowstone this year, snowstorms remain
7:02
possible in March. It's supposed to snow, I'll
7:04
tell you about that in the weather forecast,
7:06
but we're going to get more snow in March than
7:08
we probably did in January and February, so expect
7:11
that. Nighttime temperatures often hover around
7:14
or below freezing, and winter weather persists
7:16
well into the month, even into April, and sometimes
7:20
it snows in May or June or July. I don't think
7:23
it's snowed in August in the last decade or so,
7:27
but it's not unusual for the park to see some
7:31
snowfall every month of the year. Obviously March
7:34
is a very snowy, potentially snowy time, talk
7:38
about that in just a little bit too, but for
7:40
right now you can count on a few things with
7:44
a visit to Yellowstone in March, and that's peace
7:46
and solitude. March is the third least visited
7:50
month in Yellowstone, making a great time to
7:52
experience the big landscapes and wildlife of
7:54
the Northern Range without the busy crowds. As
7:57
you know, the only road that's open to personal
7:59
vehicle travel is the corridor from Gardner through
8:02
Mammoth to Cook City. Some people get really
8:06
bummed out that there's only one road open in
8:08
the park, but this road goes through Lamar Valley,
8:12
goes through Little America, goes by hell roaring
8:14
out to Slough Creek. It goes to some of the best
8:17
wildlife watching areas in America, if not the
8:21
world. Now the road, as I mentioned with the
8:24
weather, could be snowy. Park staff will still
8:28
plow, they'll still keep the road as clear as
8:30
they can, but just know that if storms are rolling
8:33
in, not to expect pristine pavement. There could
8:36
be patches of snow or ice or slush, and those
8:39
are all common throughout the month. In March,
8:43
as I mentioned before, Yellowstone transitions
8:45
from full winter access to spring reopening,
8:47
so guided snow coaches and snowmobile routes
8:49
are phased out through the early and middle part
8:52
of the month. For example, the route from Mammoth
8:54
to Norris closed already and that's followed
8:57
by other segments So like Norris is gonna be
8:59
closed from west same with Canyon from west all
9:02
of those areas are winding down until around
9:05
mid -march when all over snow travel routes are
9:08
shut down for the season so as I mentioned before
9:11
wildlife watching is great right now and March
9:15
is not really the obvious choice for winter wildlife
9:17
viewing But honestly, some of my most memorable
9:20
wildlife experiences have come during March.
9:24
That's partially because there's less people
9:26
and also because it's just a time when animals
9:31
are not necessarily going to be making it through
9:33
the spring. So some bison are going to be much
9:36
weaker, some elk are going to be much weaker,
9:38
which means the wolves are going to pick them
9:39
off a little easier and often closer to the road.
9:43
With the snow still in the mountains right now,
9:46
but clearing up in the valleys all of those ungulates
9:49
that are looking for grass to eat are going to
9:52
be roaming in those snow -free areas, which means
9:54
predators are also going to be hunting in those
9:57
snow -free areas. That's why I love this time
9:59
of the year for wildlife watching. If watching
10:01
wolves wasn't enough, March also is really the
10:04
beginning of the grizzly bear emergence from
10:06
Torpor. The snow begins to soften and days are
10:09
longer, so the bears are going to be seen more
10:12
frequently, especially mid to late month. Birds
10:16
also like sandhill cranes, western meadowlarks,
10:19
rocky mountain bluebirds, some ducks, all sorts
10:22
of things are gonna be returning and that adds
10:25
to the sense of seasonal shift. There is an energy
10:27
that picks up in March that if you're attuned
10:31
to what's going on, it's really cool. It's not
10:33
as big as April or May, but it's that start,
10:37
right? If you go hike, you're gonna start seeing
10:40
the first green shoots here and there. You're
10:42
gonna start seeing these signs that make everything
10:46
just a little more exciting. Now if you are visiting
10:51
the park in March and you want to go hiking expect
10:54
sloppy snow on most hiking routes in March. Trails
10:58
are either snow covered and like it's garbage
11:01
snow so you're going to be postholing a lot of
11:03
places or it's going to be muddy as the snow
11:05
melts and patches. I'm going to be talking about
11:07
this a lot more when I get to the trail report
11:09
but just know that during March You may need
11:13
boots, you might just need trail runners, you
11:16
may need snowshoes. It's kind of a crapshoot,
11:19
so be prepared. In the park today, I'm gonna
11:24
talk about this more in the trail report, but
11:25
in the park today, the snowshoeing is not good
11:28
right now, so just know that even with some incoming
11:32
snow, we're not gonna get enough potentially
11:35
to really change things. I could be wrong about
11:38
that, I hope I am, but by the end of the month,
11:42
Snowshoes probably won't be too needed unless
11:44
you're going really high up and even then you'll
11:46
carry them and it's gonna be more hiking than
11:49
snowshoeing which when it opens up like that
11:52
really cool. Now camping and amenities in March
11:55
is a little bit of luck. So Mammoth Hot Springs
12:00
Campground is the only front country campground
12:03
open inside Yellowstone in March. Backcountry
12:05
camping is possible. You could do it this year
12:08
probably and it wouldn't be too bad, but just
12:11
know that there are some areas that might be
12:13
closed for safety or wildlife management reasons,
12:15
so always check with the park before you do anything
12:18
in the backcountry. Outside of the park, most
12:21
of the campgrounds are still closed until later
12:24
in the spring or early summer. Roads leading
12:26
to primitive camping areas and the surrounding
12:28
national forests may still be blocked by snow
12:31
or just closed because they typically don't open
12:33
this time of the year. March is also slower for
12:36
the gateway communities as well. Restaurants,
12:39
shops, and hotels surrounding the park may have
12:41
limited hours or closures. Locals often outnumber
12:45
tourists on quiet weekdays, creating a calm,
12:47
almost reflective atmosphere before the summer
12:49
rush. So again, like I said before, if you're
12:52
visiting, this is the time to visit. You can
12:55
still have good wildlife experiences. You can
12:57
still go on good activities. There's still a
12:59
lot to do. You just won't be able to get into
13:02
the interior as easy. So if that's fine with
13:05
you visit in March, it's one of my favorite months
13:08
It's one of my 12 favorite months to visit Yellowstone.
13:11
So, you know, that's it. Do you know that's real?
13:15
All right enough rambling about March. I'm gonna
13:18
now talk about my random Yellowstone fact of
13:20
the week How does this winter snowpack stack
13:23
up to the last decade? So winter in Yellowstone
13:27
often looks calm on the surface It snows, the
13:31
snow is peaceful and settles and everything turns
13:35
draped with a white blanket of snow and it settles
13:39
into the forest and across the high plateaus
13:41
and the landscape feels very still. Beneath that
13:46
calm, that's when the park's most important water
13:49
supply is being built. Snowpack is not simply
13:52
frozen precipitation, it's stored water measured
13:55
as Snow Water Equivalent, or SWE, as it determines
13:59
how rivers, wildlife, and communities will fare
14:01
in the months ahead. SWE tells us how much liquid
14:05
water is contained within the snow. That number
14:08
matters far more than depth alone. A deep but
14:12
dry snowpack can hold less water than a denser,
14:15
more compact one. Across the Yellowstone River
14:18
basin, in early March of 2026, the snow water
14:22
equivalent is approximately 90 % of the 1991
14:26
to 2020 median. That puts this winter just under
14:30
average at this point in the season. While that's
14:32
not ideal, the upper level snowpack is much better
14:36
than most people assume. To understand how that
14:39
compares, it helps to look at the last few years.
14:42
In early March of 2025, the basin measured about
14:46
96 % of the median. In 2024, the figure was slightly
14:50
lower, at roughly 80 % of the median. 2023 was
14:54
106 % of normal, 2022 was 82 % of normal, 2021
14:59
was around 98 % of normal, and 2020 was 105 %
15:04
of normal. 2019, 2018, and 2017 were all way
15:09
above normal, and 2016 was about 90 % of normal
15:13
at the start of March. This year's snowpack reflects
15:16
heavy December storms and solid accumulation
15:19
at higher elevation snow tell sites. Snow tell
15:22
sites are where the sensors are that tell us
15:25
what that water equivalent is. Many upper elevation
15:30
monitoring stations entered January with snow
15:32
waters that were already near or above the median.
15:36
Continued winter storms helped maintain that
15:38
margin and then the high basins acted as a natural
15:42
storage area and that preserved that SWE into
15:46
where we are right now, which is why our snowpack
15:49
is better than most people assume. It was a very
15:52
wet dense snow. It's holding a lot of moisture
15:55
and that's very good. Now, since SNOTEL sites
15:58
are at upper elevations only, they tell part
16:01
of the snow story. Montana's statewide data adds
16:05
important context. As of March 1, 2026, most
16:09
major river basins across Montana range between
16:12
66 and 101 percent of the median. The Upper Yellowstone
16:16
Basin in Montana has tracked close to normal
16:19
for much of the winter, while other basins, particularly
16:22
at the mid and lower elevations, have fallen
16:24
behind. Some lower elevation sites reported their
16:28
SWE deficits were one to five inches compared
16:32
with median values in February. Now I'm not sure
16:35
if those numbers are going to improve in March,
16:38
but they should. They should improve a little,
16:42
but March is also a very snowy, very wet time.
16:45
So is April. And if we don't get the same amount
16:49
as previous years, right, this is all based on
16:52
1991 to 2020 numbers, so if we don't keep track
16:56
with that then we're going to watch our numbers
16:58
dip. Warm and dry conditions during January and
17:01
February, slowed accumulation across much of
17:03
the state of Montana, higher elevations as I
17:06
said remain in better shape, but those mid -elevation
17:09
snowpack, those are way below normal in several
17:13
basins. Thankfully, the Yellowstone region has
17:15
not reached peak snowpack, which typically occurs
17:18
in late March or early April. This is really
17:20
what's going to make or break this snowpack.
17:23
Late winter storms could still narrow existing
17:25
deficits or strengthen the surpluses. These differences
17:29
in SWE matter on the ground. A basin sitting
17:32
at 110 % of the median in early February generally
17:35
points toward healthy spring runoff, assuming
17:38
gradual melt conditions. By contrast, basins
17:41
hovering near 65 -75 % of median may face tighter
17:45
water supplies if late winter storms fail to
17:48
materialize. Snowpack shapes everything that
17:51
follows. Strong SWE supports steady spring flows
17:55
groundwater recharge, and sustained soil moisture
17:58
in meadows and other areas that depend on that
18:02
water. Lower SWE can compress runoff into a shorter
18:06
window, stressing ecosystems and water users
18:09
alike. This winter's numbers suggest a relatively
18:12
healthy start. I know it doesn't feel that way,
18:15
but we're okay right now. And You know, especially
18:20
compared with 2024 to 2025, we're in the same
18:22
ballpark. And if we can get a decent or average
18:26
March and April, we're going to be fine. Montana's
18:30
broader landscape remains mixed. The higher elevations.
18:34
are carrying way more promise than the lower
18:36
ones. The final outcome is gonna depend on what
18:39
the remainder of the snow season delivers. Right
18:41
now in early March, the data already tells a
18:44
story of a healthy snowpack up high and not great
18:47
below. And that is really the takeaway from this.
18:52
I have been kind of fighting online about like,
18:55
is this a good snowpack or not? Up above? Great.
18:59
Down below? Terrible. So... What that means and
19:04
whether it'll change is anyone's guess. Only
19:07
time will tell. Now, the weather report. As always,
19:13
this is the best forecast for the week at the
19:14
time of the recording. Forecasts can change numerous
19:17
times in a week, but this should be within the
19:20
ballpark of what you'll experience when visiting
19:21
the park. So let's start with Lamar Valley. On
19:26
Thursday, March 5th, high of 34, low of 20, 50
19:31
% chance of an inch of snow. On Friday, cloudy,
19:35
high of 36, low of 16, 24 % chance of precipitation.
19:40
Saturday, high of 38, low of 30, cloudy, 19 %
19:45
chance of precipitation. Sunday, partly sunny,
19:48
high of 43, low of 37, 40ish percent chance of
19:54
about three hundredths of an inch of rain. Monday,
19:58
high of 44, low of 18, 53 % chance of 1 inch
20:02
of snow. Tuesday, high of 25, low of 10, 45 %
20:07
chance of about 3 quarters of an inch of snow.
20:10
And Wednesday, high of 30, low of 24, 50 % chance
20:14
of 1 inch of snow. Gardner, Montana. Thursday,
20:21
high of 38, low of 24, 64 % chance of maybe half
20:27
inch of snow could come down as rain. Friday
20:30
41 and 20 partly sunny Saturday 43 and 32 partly
20:36
sunny Sunday 48 and 39 partly sunny Monday 50
20:41
and 22 with a 42 % chance about a third of an
20:45
inch of rain or snow Tuesday high of 30 low of
20:49
13 24 % chance of maybe some rain or snow showers
20:52
Wednesday 36 and 30 with a 14 % chance of some
20:57
sort of precipitation Cook City, Montana Thursday
21:02
high of 31 low of 18 66 percent chance of 2 inches
21:06
of snow Friday high of 31 low of 16 24 percent
21:12
chance of snow Saturday 35 and 28 mostly cloudy
21:16
with a 24 percent chance of snow Sunday kind
21:20
of foggy maybe high of 41 low of 34 59 percent
21:25
chance of rain Monday, high of 41, low of 16,
21:30
66 % chance of 1 inch of snow. Tuesday, high
21:34
of 21, low of 8, 50 % chance of 1 inch of snow.
21:39
And Wednesday, high of 27, low of 21, 60 % chance
21:43
of 3 inches of snow. So as you see the snow totals
21:47
get better the higher up you go And so the mountains
21:51
where all the snow tell sites that I was just
21:52
talking about Could be getting six inches eight
21:56
inches maybe more of snow while the lowlands
21:59
might see an inch So we're just gonna see how
22:02
this week plans out or pans out. I guess I'm
22:05
not gonna rerecord that but you know, this could
22:08
be a Decent storm. It's not gonna be like the
22:12
change to save winter here, but All of this is
22:16
needed. All of this is good. If you're visiting
22:18
the park, the snowfall isn't going to be too
22:21
bad. It's going to be wet snow, so the roads
22:24
might be a little slick. And that leads me to
22:27
road conditions. The only road open right now
22:31
is between Gardner and Cook City, Montana. That's
22:33
the northern range I've been talking about the
22:35
whole time. Please be aware that this road can
22:38
close at any time due to inclement weather. It
22:40
might close for just a few minutes. It might
22:42
close for hours. For up -to -date information,
22:45
you can call 307 -344 -2117. That's for the recorded
22:50
information. Or you can sign up to receive Yellowstone
22:53
Road Alerts on your cell phone by texting 82190
22:57
to the number 888777. Camping information. There's
23:03
only one campground open in the park right now,
23:05
and that's the Mammoth Campground, which is open
23:07
year round. Drove down there today. No one was
23:10
camping there. So, if you're planning on camping,
23:13
great. do it the wildlife watching update so
23:18
today was a good day this last week has been
23:21
off and on just kind of luck of the draw the
23:25
biggest thing today that i saw was huge bison
23:29
herd moving from little america back toward lamar
23:32
they were probably a thousand bison in little
23:35
america today I went on an off -trail hike out
23:37
there, and there were bison scattered all over
23:41
the place. There was a bunch of coyotes running
23:42
around as well. And really today, Wednesday,
23:46
March 4th, Little America was the busiest place
23:49
in the park. Driving out to Lamar, not a lot
23:52
of action. A couple bison here and there. Spotted
23:56
some bighorn sheep way off in the distance, kind
23:59
of by the confluence area. there are some good
24:02
ducks out by the confluence and then going out
24:06
toward pebble creek and round prairie not really
24:10
a lot out there rumors of moose didn't see anything
24:12
myself but if you want moose just keep heading
24:15
out towards cook city heard good things about
24:17
that also some foxes out by cook city as well
24:21
closer to mammoth and all of that there were
24:25
two big bull elk hanging along the entrance road
24:28
from gardener to mammoth they're just like giant
24:31
racks still on them absolutely gorgeous off on
24:34
the hillside across the gardener river way off
24:38
in the distance on that same road big herd of
24:41
bighorn sheep also a lot of pronghorn hanging
24:45
out right near the entrance the north entrance
24:48
and along the old yellowstone trail south road
24:52
really right now uh the other main action that
24:56
i saw Was there's a wolf pack out in the distance.
24:59
They were about two to three miles away They
25:02
were small specs in a spotting scope still cool
25:05
to see really far out there There were some scouting
25:09
planes doing some counts today. I'm pretty sure
25:12
that they kind of impacted the movement They
25:14
tend to do that a little more than I think people
25:18
admit, but that's a whole other story I expect
25:22
with that big bison herd moving around wolf sightings
25:26
around Slough Creek, Little America or Lamar
25:28
Valley are gonna pick up in this next week. That's
25:31
a hunch I could be wrong on this, but with everything
25:34
moving around really looking for food, this is
25:38
kind of that time, like I said earlier, when
25:40
the hunt kind of happens. So there's some stragglers.
25:44
I saw a couple limping bison. There are some
25:47
things that could happen. Then the one final
25:53
thing I want to mention is that if you are in
25:56
the park Do yourself a favor and stop by blacktail
26:01
ponds. There's that pullout before blacktail
26:04
ponds trailhead Take that pullout look down at
26:07
the ponds in the close pond if you're at that
26:10
pullout Look down and to the left at the first
26:14
pond that's melted out and there's a bison carcass
26:16
in there it's been picked apart by some i think
26:19
birds eagles crows things ravens magpies things
26:23
like that that bison will potentially attract
26:28
other critters so keep an eye on that historically
26:33
That area is the first area that people have
26:36
dependable grizzly sightings because that is
26:39
easy food. It is a dead bison in cold water or
26:43
ice with the temperatures. It's going to refreeze
26:45
and thaw, refreeze and thaw. That thing is going
26:47
to rot and smell and it's going to attract potentially
26:51
a grizzly bear. Definitely some birds, maybe
26:54
some coyotes. You never know. So definitely stop
26:58
for that. That's really my tip this week. Check
27:01
that out. Also chat with people. There have been
27:04
carcasses for the last week here and there. They're
27:07
picked apart pretty quick because they're out
27:09
in the open fields. This one at Blacktail is
27:12
in the water and it's a lot more effort to get
27:15
to. So with the freezing temperatures coming
27:18
up, this could be the spot to have some really
27:21
good sightings. If you love what you're hearing
27:25
on this podcast and want more information on
27:27
wildlife watching or hiking, please consider
27:30
picking up a copy of my Wildlife Watching Guidebook
27:32
or my Hiking Guidebook to the Region. They're
27:34
both available in ebook and paperback formats
27:37
and these books are written with love and all
27:41
of the information I have from a lifetime here.
27:44
If you do want to buy a book, consider buying
27:47
it directly from me as I make next to nothing
27:49
when they're sold on Amazon and that money just
27:51
goes to a billionaire. He doesn't need more money,
27:52
right? Um, if you buy it through me, I see who
27:56
orders it. I appreciate it. It makes me feel
27:59
good. So if you want to do that, you can get
28:02
your copy at outdoor -society .com or just contact
28:05
me directly. Trail alerts and updates. There's
28:10
no official trail alerts this week, but I have
28:13
a few. The first, carry your bear spray, have
28:17
it out, have it ready. I saw somebody today that
28:23
was getting ready to hike and I watched them
28:25
put their bear spray in the bottom of their backpack.
28:29
Don't do that. Have it out. and ready to use
28:32
immediately, a bear is not going to wait for
28:34
you to open your backpack, rummage around through
28:37
it, and find it. You need to have it somewhere
28:39
where you can grab it within a tenth to half
28:42
a second and also know how to use it. You should
28:45
be able to grab it, pop off the safety, and start
28:48
spraying in less than a second. The other trail
28:52
alert I want to mention right now is the snow
28:54
is melting fast. I know the weather forecast
28:56
says it's going to snow more. That's not going
28:59
to be enough snow on most of these trails to
29:01
make it better. The cold temperatures are going
29:04
to be good. It's going to freeze that mud. But
29:06
as soon as it gets slightly above freezing, trails
29:09
are going to be turning to mud. They were very
29:12
slick today. There was running water all over
29:15
the place in the prairie. It is about three weeks
29:19
ahead of schedule for trails. If you know the
29:21
park, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
29:23
We're getting to mud season right now at the
29:26
Road to get up to Tower Falls. That's normally
29:29
a snowshoe cross -country ski. There is bare
29:32
pavement at Slough Creek There is bare pavement
29:35
at the Blacktail Plateau Road There is still
29:38
snow but it looked nasty and gross when I drove
29:41
by you're not gonna get much good snowshoeing
29:44
or cross -country skiing expect a posthole expect
29:47
mud and You know, like I said the snow in the
29:51
forecast will help but it's not gonna be enough
29:55
to really make snowshoeing an amazing experience
29:58
just expect that be ready for it have a change
30:01
of shoes and socks in your car when you're done
30:03
you'll be fine it's awesome probably should have
30:06
done this off the bat but i apologize for my
30:09
voice kind of going out throughout all of this
30:11
um i was talking all day and so it is hard to
30:15
talk right now but i have to record the podcast
30:18
so doing my best to sound as normal as i can
30:21
apologies if it sounds kind of wonky Now that
30:25
is leading me directly into my Trek of the Week,
30:27
no segway there, Trek of the Week. And this week
30:30
I'm telling you to go on the road to the Washout.
30:34
With a snowpack not ideal for cross -country
30:36
skiing or snowshoeing, unless you get out toward
30:38
Cook City, I'm once again recommending a hike
30:41
instead of a sloppy snow slog. Walking the closed
30:45
road for Mammoth Hot Springs toward the 2022
30:47
Washout is a unique way to wander an often overlooked
30:51
side of Yellowstone's landscape and history.
30:53
If you don't know, in June 2022, unprecedented
30:57
rainfall after heavy snow and rapid flooding
30:59
damaged multiple sections of the park's north
31:02
entrance road, washing out portions of the paved
31:04
highway between Mammoth and Gardner. And that
31:07
was right along the Gardner River. The flood
31:10
event was exceptionally severe, prompting widespread
31:12
infrastructure damage, road closures, and a major
31:15
recovery effort by Yellowstone Park Service staff
31:19
and the federal government and everybody that
31:22
road you drive in now used to be a single lane
31:25
dirt road It currently is a temporary road. I've
31:29
talked about what's gonna happen in the future
31:30
there, but For now that road that you drive is
31:35
like just think about how that used to be as
31:37
a dirt road I used to love hiking and running
31:39
that it was great and now it's a two lane road
31:43
So, in 2022, crews and contractors worked to
31:46
stabilize and rebuild access, but much of the
31:49
original paved road through the canyon remained
31:51
permanently altered by the force of water. That
31:53
makes the closed section near Mammoth an interesting
31:56
place to visit on foot. The site where the washout
31:59
occurred is a rare chance to see firsthand how
32:01
dynamic and powerful Yellowstone's waterways
32:04
can be and today many visitors walk the old alignment
32:08
as a pedestrian route that traces the Gardiner
32:10
River downstream toward this dramatic rupture
32:13
in the pavement. To do this hike you should park
32:16
in the Mammoth area near the visitor center post
32:19
office or another public area up on the hill
32:22
and then begin following a short steep trail
32:25
from Mammoth down to the campground. You might
32:28
see some things online that say when you do this,
32:31
go park down at the campground. Don't do this.
32:34
That's going to mess with the campground and
32:36
the people looking for campsites. Park up and
32:38
walk down. You can walk down the road or you
32:41
can walk down the trail from the upper section
32:43
down to the campground. Once you're at the campground,
32:46
there's going to be some informal barriers designed
32:49
to stop vehicles. They're going to say like for
32:51
locals and park staff only, you can walk that.
32:56
It's fine. Past those signs, you're going to
32:59
follow the road, and it gradually descends toward
33:01
the river. Along the way, you're in a cross old
33:04
pavement and roadside sections that once carried
33:06
all the visitors into the park that came in the
33:09
north entrance. As you walk, you're likely to
33:11
see wildlife such as elk, deer, bison, and pronghorn
33:14
grazing near the riverbanks or in the stands
33:16
of cottonwoods. Raptors, including hawks and
33:19
eagles, patrol the skies, and smaller birds like
33:22
ducks, magpies, or the first bluebirds, flit
33:25
along the vegetation. The route traces the Gardner
33:28
River for much of the distance, offering sweeping
33:30
views of the canyon walls and abundant opportunities
33:32
to enjoy riverside scenery away from anyone.
33:36
Eventually, the pavement ends at the washout
33:38
itself, which is a wide, jagged break where water
33:41
surged through in 2022 with enough force to erode
33:44
the massive section of road and reshape the entire
33:48
hillside. This endpoint is both a striking visual
33:51
and a physical reminder of the region's hydrological
33:54
power. When you're here, take a few minutes,
33:58
take 10, 15, 20 minutes, and just take in the
34:02
scale of damage and reflect on the natural processes
34:05
that continue to shape Yellowstone. It's quite
34:08
stunning to see the road and hillside where it
34:11
just vanished. Also, if the weather is a little
34:15
cloudy or snowy, it's really dramatic and great.
34:19
I love going down here on a moody weather day.
34:23
Definitely check this out on a day like that.
34:26
The walk to and from the Washout from Mammoth
34:28
is roughly 6 miles round trip with around 600
34:31
feet of elevation change, and it follows a gradual
34:34
downhill that was a road, and then you go up
34:37
that on your way back. You only really need comfortable
34:40
walking shoes, those will be sufficient, and
34:43
the route doesn't typically require any specialized
34:45
equipment. The layers, water, and snacks are
34:48
highly recommended. Also binoculars. Bring binoculars.
34:52
Walking the closed road toward the washout combines
34:55
accessible exploration, wildlife watching, riverside
34:58
scenery, and a tangible piece of Yellowstone's
35:01
recent history, all within a setting that feels
35:04
both wild and controlled at the same time. This
35:08
is the little known way to see a side of the
35:10
park that visitors seldom experience. Plus, there's
35:14
going to be a new road getting started in the
35:16
next year or two, so your time to enjoy this
35:19
area is very brief. this is a rare experience
35:22
that if you do right now in 10 years from now
35:26
you're not you're not going to be able to do
35:28
it again and you get a kind of brag that you
35:29
did this back in the day right anyway that is
35:35
this week's episode in the next episode i'm going
35:37
to return with all the information you need to
35:39
have a good week in the park including wildlife
35:41
weather and trail updates if you're listening
35:44
this far and you have any questions you want
35:47
to ask me Ask them, send me an email theoutdoorsociety
35:51
at gmail .com or text me 406 -589 -1873. Until
35:58
then, book a tour, pick up a guidebook of mine,
36:01
and happy trails! This is a labor of love if
36:20
you're still listening. Thank you very much,
36:22
and I'll see you next week, baby