Parking
No parking at either terminus. Harebell Creek Patrol Cabin is 11.6 miles from South Entrance Trailhead on the separate South Entrance–Harebell section; Fox Creek is a remote trailhead with no road access.
Overview
About South Boundary Trail: Harebell–Fox Creek
Why go
- Snake River tributary and willow-meadow scenery near Fox Creek.
- A true backcountry link across Yellowstone’s southern boundary.
Heads up
- No road access at either end; reaching Harebell from South Entrance adds 11.6 miles.
- High elevation and a sunny, south-facing sidehill add effort and heat exposure.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Yellowstone map
Full mapElevation7,602–9,984 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.
Yellowstone Tour Guide
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- Wildlife heatmapsfor Wolf, Grizzly Bear, Bison, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 167 trails, 192 places, and audio download before you lose signal
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Trail guide
Hiking South Boundary Trail: Harebell–Fox Creek
A remote boundary sectionSouth Boundary Trail: Harebell–Fox Creek is an 11.
South Boundary Trail: Harebell–Fox Creek is an 11.14-mile point-to-point backcountry route from Harebell Creek Patrol Cabin east to the Snake River / Fox Creek Trailhead. The distance follows the connected path all the way to the NPS-named Fox Creek access, including about 0.67 mile on the adjoining South Boundary–Lynx Creek trail. It does not include the separate 11.6-mile South Entrance–Harebell section. Allow six to eight hours for these miles, with more time for a loaded pack and stops.
High country above the SnakeThe route climbs from roughly 7,600 feet near Harebell to about 10,000 feet, then drops toward…
The route climbs from roughly 7,600 feet near Harebell to about 10,000 feet, then drops toward Fox Creek. Near the eastern end, it crosses a south-facing, unshaded slope above the Snake River; a backpacker found this stretch hot in near-90°F weather. In the Harebell-to-Fox Creek direction, expect that exposed stretch on the approach to the river country. NPS photographs show a tributary winding through willows and grass west of Fox Creek Patrol Cabin; frame the water with the forested slope behind it.
Plan the access firstNeither end is a roadside trailhead.
Neither end is a roadside trailhead. Fox Creek sits on the eastern park boundary and is not accessible by road. Harebell Creek Patrol Cabin is reached from South Entrance by the separate 11.6-mile South Entrance–Harebell trail. No food, toilets, or water are listed for either end. Overnight camping requires a backcountry permit; Yellowstone recommends groups of three or more, and pets are not allowed on trails.
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.
