Aster Lake - Yellowstone - September 12, 2021
Oct 14, 2021 9:07:46 GMT -8
rebeccad, MTalpine, and 4 more like this
Post by scatman on Oct 14, 2021 9:07:46 GMT -8
After my Gneiss Creek backpacking trip, I squeezed in a ten mile day hike with a friend to Aster Lake and the upper Witch Creek Drainage in Yellowstone National Park. Aster Lake sits in a small basin just to the north of the Red Mountains. The shrubs along our route were showing off their beautiful fall colors and I couldn't help but take pictures of them.
I began the hike at the Heart Lake Trailhead, and after about two miles down the trail, I headed south off-trail towards Aster Lake. The bushwhack along this section was pretty rough, but eventually we made it to the lake where we enjoyed a well deserved lunch break.
After lunch, we made our way up and out of the basin and began our trek to upper Witch Creek. This route took us through some thick willow stands along the headwaters of Witch Creek, and eventually we dropped down the drainage to the thermal areas on either side of the creek.
Once we had explored the drainage to our liking, we made our way back to the Heart Lake Trail and returned to the trailhead.
Warning sign at the trailhead
The shrubs were beautiful
This is the point where we left the trail and headed towards Aster Lake
A lot of climbing over downfall on our way to the lake
A short rest
Aster Lake
Aster Lake and the Red Mountains
Lunch time
Shrubs at the lake
Leaving the lake and heading toward the headwaters of Witch Creek
I'll bet this is a boggy meadow come spring time, with Factory Hill ahead
Willow hiking
At the headwaters of Witch Creek
Beginning to make our way down the drainage
Thermal feature
Fireweed along the hillside
Waterfall on Witch Creek
The route ahead
Small thermal pool that looked like tomato soup
Beginning to open up a bit
Thermal pool ahead
Thermal pool
Small drainage full of ferns
More thermal
Series of pools
Beginning our ascent back to the Heart Lake Trail
View of Heart Lake to the southeast
Fall colors
Finger meadow to the north of the Heart Lake Trail
More red
And more
View along the Heart Lake Trail
Back at the trailhead
The End
I began the hike at the Heart Lake Trailhead, and after about two miles down the trail, I headed south off-trail towards Aster Lake. The bushwhack along this section was pretty rough, but eventually we made it to the lake where we enjoyed a well deserved lunch break.
After lunch, we made our way up and out of the basin and began our trek to upper Witch Creek. This route took us through some thick willow stands along the headwaters of Witch Creek, and eventually we dropped down the drainage to the thermal areas on either side of the creek.
Once we had explored the drainage to our liking, we made our way back to the Heart Lake Trail and returned to the trailhead.
Warning sign at the trailhead
The shrubs were beautiful
This is the point where we left the trail and headed towards Aster Lake
A lot of climbing over downfall on our way to the lake
A short rest
Aster Lake
Aster Lake and the Red Mountains
Lunch time
Shrubs at the lake
Leaving the lake and heading toward the headwaters of Witch Creek
I'll bet this is a boggy meadow come spring time, with Factory Hill ahead
Willow hiking
At the headwaters of Witch Creek
Beginning to make our way down the drainage
Thermal feature
Fireweed along the hillside
Waterfall on Witch Creek
The route ahead
Small thermal pool that looked like tomato soup
Beginning to open up a bit
Thermal pool ahead
Thermal pool
Small drainage full of ferns
More thermal
Series of pools
Beginning our ascent back to the Heart Lake Trail
View of Heart Lake to the southeast
Fall colors
Finger meadow to the north of the Heart Lake Trail
More red
And more
View along the Heart Lake Trail
Back at the trailhead
The End
