Slough Creek Trail

Slough Creek Trail is a 3.4-mile out-and-back from Slough Creek Trailhead 2K5 to the first meadow. The published round-trip figure is 3.4 miles, though other route descriptions put the meadow close to two trail miles from the lot; leave some room if you track the walk. Allow 2 to 5 hours. It is a moderate hike with a steady climb at the start, followed by a descent through spruce into open grassland along Slough Creek.

The historic wagon road climbs roughly 400 feet over its first mile, then crests a damp, marshy stretch and drops through denser spruce. The first meadow opens up at the bottom, where the path follows the grassy edge and passes the Slough Creek Patrol Cabin. The return uses the same route, so save energy for the climb back over the hill.

Slough Creek winds through a broad meadow beneath Cutoff and Sugarloaf mountains. This is a popular fishing stretch, with a lot of open ground to look across; wildlife may be present, but sightings are never promised. Bears and moose are among the animals the park warns hikers to watch for. For a photo, frame the wagon ruts leading into the meadow rather than filling the picture with the distant peaks alone.

The first meadow makes a satisfying turnaround. Continue to the second meadow only if you want a much longer day: the full out-and-back is 8.6 miles, with another 2.6 miles of trail each way beyond the first meadow. The trail keeps going into the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, but that longer backcountry corridor is a different outing from the first-meadow walk described here.

The 2K5 trailhead has ample parking, including space for horse trailers, and a vault toilet. There is no food or potable-water service on the route, so bring what you need. The gravel road closes to vehicles in winter; visitors can park by the vault toilets near the main road and ski or snowshoe in. Pets are not allowed. Horses and wagons use this old stock route: move to the downhill side and stand still while they pass.