Yellowstone National Park, WY · MT · ID
Bear country, a high pass, then a long descent to the Lamar.
Overview
Mist Creek Trail is a 14.3-mile, one-way backcountry route from a Pelican Valley trail junction to the Lamar River Trail. Its mapped distance starts about three miles beyond Pelican Valley Trailhead, along the access trail, so walking in from the car makes the approach roughly 17 miles to the Lamar junction. The eastern end is still in the backcountry, not at a road. Allow about 12 hours for the mapped route itself, plus the walk-in and through-hike logistics. This is a demanding full-day leg or part of a multi-day trip, not a roadside day hike. A separate 34-mile Pelican-to-Lamar Trailhead backpack continues beyond this trail and is not included in that mileage.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the right route for you?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 tourMore 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
The route begins in open valley meadows, where the tread can be faint and marshy, then crosses low ridges and lodgepole forest. This is prime grizzly country, and bison use the open valley; stay on the trail and give wildlife plenty of room. The climb becomes steady beyond Pelican Springs Patrol Cabin, rising to Mist Creek Pass at about 8,750 feet. From the pass, look back west over Pelican Valley and Yellowstone Lake; on a clear day, the distant Teton Range has been reported from here.
Past the pass, the route drops through Mist Creek meadows and then more open, burned slopes, with views toward Saddle, Little Saddle, Hague, Castor and Pollux. It is a long change of scenery after the climb. Near the Lamar River end, the route crosses Cold Creek before joining the Lamar River Trail; water levels vary, so check conditions before committing to the crossing. The route's pass and creek meadows make the best photo stops; pause at the pass for a wide view back across the valley.
The Pelican Valley approach is closed until July 4 and is day-use only from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The first 2.1 miles prohibit off-trail travel, and groups of four or more are recommended. Those restrictions apply before you reach Mist Creek's mapped start and can shape the whole day's timing. A backcountry permit is required for any overnight stay. Pets are not allowed on Yellowstone trails or in the backcountry. For a shorter visit to the same valley, the separate Pelican Valley Trail is a 6.2-mile round trip to a washed-out bridge; it does not reach Mist Creek Pass.
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
ChallengingAstringent Creek Trail9.1 mi · 6.5 hr · 1.5 mi awayA remote nine-mile connector between Pelican Valley and Wapiti trails.
ModeratePelican Creek Trail9.2 mi · 5 hr · 3.1 mi awayA remote creekside walk through Yellowstone meadow country.
ChallengingPelican Cone Trail22.3 mi · 10 hr · 3.1 mi awayA long backcountry walk to a rare summit fire lookout.
ModeratePelican Valley Trail6.2 mi · 4 hr · 3.1 mi awayCross open meadows to a creekside overlook in prime grizzly country.
EasyStorm Point Trail2.3 mi · 1.5 hr · 3.6 mi awayA short loop from Indian Pond to a wind-swept Yellowstone Lake point.
ChallengingThorofare Trail33.1 mi · 16 hr · 4.8 mi awayA 33-mile one-way trek from lake shore into remote river country.
ModerateTurbid Lake Trail10.2 mi · 5 hr · 4.8 mi awayA long old road walk through forest to Turbid Lake.
EasyPelican Creek Nature Trail0.8 mi · 45 min · 5.2 mi awayA short forest loop opens onto Pelican Creek and Yellowstone Lake.
Picnic area · 3.4 mi awaySteamboat Point Picnic AreaA simple lakeside pause with four tables and a vault toilet.
Picnic area · 3.9 mi awaySedge Bay Picnic AreaA simple picnic stop with broad views across a giant lake.
Sight · 4.5 mi awayLake Butte OverlookA short, steep spur opens a huge Yellowstone Lake panorama.
Campground · 5.5 mi awayFishing Bridge RV ParkYellowstone’s only full-hookup campground; tents aren’t allowed.
Store · 5.8 mi awayFishing Bridge General StoreGroceries, ice cream and a grill make this a useful park stop.
Gas station · 5.8 mi awayFishing Bridge Gas and Service StationA handy stop for fuel, repairs, towing and propane.
Visitor center · 5.9 mi awayFishing Bridge Visitor Center and Trailside MuseumStep into a bird museum with Yellowstone Lake just beyond the windows.
Sight · 6.1 mi awayFishing BridgeA quick fish-watching stop at a bridge closed to fishing.Parkwolf’s Yellowstone ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
