Hoodoo Basin Trail

Hoodoo Basin Trail is a 9.8-mile point-to-point backcountry route from Hoodoo Trailhead (3N4) on Yellowstone’s eastern boundary westward across the Absarokas. It crosses open ridges and passes close to the red-gray hoodoos in Hoodoo Basin. Starting at 3N4, you begin near 10,470 feet; the line loses nearly 2,800 feet overall, with shorter climbs along the way. Allow about nine hours for this segment alone.

3N4 has no road access. The documented approach from Lamar River Trailhead adds about 16.1 miles on the Lamar River, Miller Creek, and Bootjack Gap trails before this 9.8-mile segment starts. That is nearly 26 miles of one-way trail travel before any onward route or return, so plan a multi-day backcountry itinerary and an exit. There is no parking or service stop at 3N4. Overnight stays require a backcountry permit and a designated campsite.

The route begins at a high boundary saddle and drops toward lower country through rugged terrain, with repeated ups and downs and broad views across the Absarokas. The documented line crosses Miller Creek; water gets scarce higher up, so use the creek as the last reliable source and treat its crossing cautiously during snowmelt. This is a serious route at altitude, not an easy walk to the basin.

The Absaroka volcanic field was active about 53 to 43 million years ago. Erosion has cut its old lava, solidified magma, and overlying deposits into the steep ridges around the basin. The hoodoos are the route’s signature: red and gray pinnacles, some balanced under broad capstones, stand close to the trail. For a photo, put a nearby spire in the foreground with Hoodoo Peak behind it to show the scale of the formations.