Hayden Valley Loop - Yellowstone - September 17, 2021

After our four day backpacking trip into the Bechler area of Yellowstone, our group set off on a 21 mile loop through Hayden Valley.  Since Hayden Valley is my favorite place in the Park, I was excited to have an opportunity to see the beautiful valley one more time.  Our route began on the southern end of the valley, heading up the stagecoach road along Trout Creek all the way to the west end of the valley.  From there, we followed Alum Creek through Glen Africa Basin and on to the Mary Mountain Trail on the north side of the valley.  We eventually left the Mary Mountain Trail, forded Alum Creek, before heading on to the Crater Hills Area.  Once we explored the thermal area, we returned back to our vehicle parked at a pullout on the Grand Loop Road near Trout Creek.

As we made our way around the valley, of course we ran into many bison that included lone bulls, and four separate herds of bison, that we had to make our way through while hiking down Alum Creek.  We had hoped to see a grizzly bear or two since Hayden Valley is such good grizzly habitat, but unfortunately we didn't see any.  This was only the second time that I have done a substantial hike in or through JHayden Valley that I have not seen a grizzly bear. 

Here are some shots of our day hike:



Our route through the valley


Stagecoach road up Trout Creek


Dropping down to cross Trout Creek


Bison remains along the way


Bison ahead, with the old stagecoach road heading towards the forest on the south end of the valley


Looking northeast from the stagecoach road, towards the Crater Hills termal area, with Mount Washburn in the distance


A bison wondering who we are and why we are there


View to the northwest across Hayden Valley


Looking back to the east at the stagecoach road cut through the hillside


South end of Hayden Valley


Grizzly scat along our route


Another bison checking us out


Still on the old stagecoach road as we get closer to the west end of the valley


Reaching Alum Creek


Old army snowshoe cabin near the west end of the valley


Snowshoe cabin


Heading towards Glen Africa Basin along Alum Creek


Elk skull


Breaking out into Glen Africa Basin


Thermal feature in Glen Africa


Thermal feature in Glen Africa


Thermal feature


A small bubbler 


Alum Creek - beginning to head towards the Mary Mountain Trail


Alum Creek


Bison ahead


Bison


Alum Creek


Alum Creek


Bison


Bison


Bison skull


Alum Creek


Mary Mountain Trail


Alum Creek


Getting ready to ford Alum Creek


Thermal pool near Crater Hills


View from Sulphur Mountain


View from Sulphur Mountain


Bluffs above Trout Creek as we near the end of our day hike


Trout Creek sign - nearing the pullout and our vehicle


The End