Parking
No road access or parking at Bootjack Gap Trailhead (3N3). Reach this remote backcountry junction from another route and plan your exit separately.
Overview
About Bootjack Gap Trail
Why go
- A direct 4.6-mile traverse from 3N3 to the high pass at Bootjack Gap.
Heads up
- The remote start has no road access; the approach and exit require separate backcountry planning.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Yellowstone map
Full mapElevation7,592–9,193 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
5 active Yellowstone alerts
- ClosureBiscuit Basin closed after hydrothermal explosionBiscuit Basin’s parking lot, boardwalk, and Firehole River are closed to all travel.Official details
- ClosureMost Yellowstone roads close to regular vehicles November 1Most Yellowstone roads and the West, South, and East entrances are scheduled to close to regular vehicles November 1, 2026, as the park prepares for winter operations.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
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- Wildlife heatmapsfor Wolf, Grizzly Bear, Bison, and 13 more
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Trail guide
Hiking Bootjack Gap Trail
A one-way climb to Bootjack GapBootjack Gap Trail is a 4.
Bootjack Gap Trail is a 4.6-mile point-to-point backcountry route from remote Bootjack Gap Trailhead (3N3) to Bootjack Gap at Yellowstone’s eastern edge. It rises from about 7,600 to 9,200 feet, with roughly 1,700–1,800 feet of climbing. Allow about four hours for this segment. The mileage covers one direction only; this is a remote connector, not a loop or a roadside day hike.
Reach 3N3 before you startThe 3N3 trailhead has no road access, so the 4.6 miles do not include the approach or a return.
The 3N3 trailhead has no road access, so the 4.6 miles do not include the approach or a return. A longer route from the Lamar River through Miller Creek reaches Bootjack Gap in about 11 miles; that figure belongs to the full approach, not this trail segment. Plan the connecting route and your exit on the current backcountry map before setting out.
Backcountry rulesThis route reaches high, remote ground, so the climb, altitude and logistics matter more than…
This route reaches high, remote ground, so the climb, altitude and logistics matter more than the short mileage suggests. Yellowstone does not allow pets on hiking trails or in the backcountry. Overnight stays in the backcountry require a permit. Current route conditions and access details were not established here; check them before you go.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Yellowstone
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.
