Yellowstone National Park, WY · MT · ID
Easy 2.2-mile connector between Blacktail Deer Creek and Lava Creek trails.
Overview
Map & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Yellowstone Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Yellowstone National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Yellowstone audio tourRecorded for this area
Blacktail Creek Trailhead“You're nearing Blacktail Creek Trailhead, where the Blacktail Deer Creek hike leads down to a suspension bridge over the Yellowstone River.”
Plays on the road 0.4 mi from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Yellowstone Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“First time driving through a national park. We used the Yellowstone tour on grand loop Road and it’s just like having a tour guide in your car with you.”
Trail guide
Blacktail Ponds Spur is an easy 2.2-mile, one-way trail connecting Blacktail Deer Creek Trail and Lava Creek Trail across open pond country. Anglers use it to reach Blacktail Pond. The mapped route follows the full named connector from its Blacktail Deer Creek junction west to the Lava Creek junction; allow about an hour for the one-way walk.
Begin from Blacktail Deer Creek Trailhead (1N5) on Grand Loop Road between Mammoth and Tower, then walk about 0.4 mile on Blacktail Deer Creek Trail to the spur. The lot can fill quickly; there is additional parking at the nearby Blacktail Deer Creek Stock Trailhead. The west end is accessed from the Lava Creek Picnic Area Trailhead (1N6), across the road from the picnic area; parking can be limited, and there is a vault toilet. Arrange a pickup or continue on adjoining trails. If you retrace the spur, it is 4.4 miles, plus about 0.8 mile for the east access approach from the 1N5 lot.
The park classifies the route as easy, but this is still a Yellowstone backcountry walk. Pets are not allowed. Grizzly bears frequent the Blacktail Deer Creek area; keep bear spray immediately accessible and follow park bear guidance.
Wildlife
713 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
743 sightingsWolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
5,273 sightingsBisonMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
3,258 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
397 sightingsMooseMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
1,494 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Yellowstone. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingBlacktail Deer Creek to Yellowstone River Trail7.4 mi · 4.5 hr · 0.4 mi awayGrassy hills lead down to a river bridge, then back up.
ModerateRescue Creek Trail8 mi · 5.5 hr · 0.4 mi awayA Northern Range crossing through meadows, forest and sagebrush.
EasyForces of the Northern Range Self-guided Trail0.5 mi · 45 min · 1.5 mi awayEleven exhibit stops on an easy half-mile boardwalk walk.
EasyWraith Falls Trail0.8 mi · 45 min · 1.8 mi awayA short meadow walk ends at a 79-foot waterfall viewpoint.
ModerateLava Creek Trail8.4 mi · 5 hr · 2.2 mi awayA creek canyon leads to a 60-foot waterfall and river junction.
ChallengingCrevice Creek Trail3.5 mi · 4 hr · 4.8 mi awayA steep backcountry spur with broad views above Crevice Creek.
EasyBoiling River Trail1.3 mi · 45 min · 5.1 mi awayA level riverside path ends at the Gardner's geothermal inflow.
ModerateMammoth Hot Springs Lower Terraces Trail1.8 mi · 1.3 hr · 5.3 mi awayWalk boardwalks past colorful travertine shelves that keep rebuilding.
Sight · 2.1 mi awayWraith FallsA short climb to a 79-foot cascade on Lupine Creek.
Picnic area · 2.2 mi awayLava Creek Picnic AreaFive tables beside Lava Creek; two trails start across the road.
Sight · 2.4 mi awayUndine FallsA 60-foot waterfall breaks into three drops just off the road.
Sight · 4 mi awayMount Everts ViewpointA 37-day survival story above layers separated by 60 million years
Sight · 4.7 mi awayOsprey FallsA hard hike to a 150-foot waterfall in Sheepeater Canyon.
Campground · 4.9 mi awayMammoth CampgroundA base where elk sometimes wander among the campsites.
Sight · 5.1 mi awayFort YellowstoneAn easy walk through the Army post that became park headquarters.
Visitor center · 5.1 mi awayAlbright Visitor CenterA practical Mammoth stop for trip planning and Fort Yellowstone history.Parkwolf’s Yellowstone ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
