Slough Creek Trail
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
This is serious grizzly bear country — carry bear spray accessible on your hip, not buried in your pack. Make noise on the initial forested climb where visibility is limited, and never approach bison or moose grazing in the meadows.
The creek crossings on the extended route to the second meadow can run thigh-deep during early summer snowmelt. Check conditions at the Tower Ranger Station before committing to the longer route.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Start early — the trailhead parking lot off the Slough Creek road fills by mid-morning in July and August, and there's no overflow option nearby.
If you're fishing, bring your Yellowstone fishing permit and plan to reach the first meadow where the creek pools up in slow bends — the cutthroat trout are not shy, but they're catch-and-release only here.
The second meadow is the real prize for photographers: fewer people, wider views, and elk herds that move through at dawn and dusk. Budget an extra two hours each way and carry enough water for the full out-and-back since the creek water needs filtering.
Photos
NPS / Addy Falgoust
