Bighorn and Fawn Passes - Yellowstone - September 7, 2023
May 24, 2024 7:14:47 GMT -8
rebeccad, MTalpine, and 2 more like this
Post by scatman on May 24, 2024 7:14:47 GMT -8
I figured I better get this report up before I forget where I went, what I saw, and who I was with. 
Last September a group of us backpacked into campsite WB1 along the Gallatin River in the northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park. We stayed at WB1 for three straight nights, and did two day hikes from camp - one to Bighorn Pass and a second one to Fawn Pass. I had approached both passes from the east before, but I'd never reached them from the west so this would be some new territory for me.
Overview map
Day 1 -
The Bighorn Pass trailhead is located 20 miles north of West Yellowstone on Highway 191. After stopping to get our official permit at the visitors' center in West Yellowstone, and grabbing a sandwich for lunch at Ernie's, we drove north to the trailhead to begin our trip.
Sign hanging in the Backcountry Office in West Yellowstone
Map of the Park in Backcountry Office
Arriving at the trailhead
Did I forget to mention that we stopped to pick up some Cold Smoke Scotch
Ale for the trip too.
The Gallatin River
More Gallatin
The Bighorn Pass Trail with Crow Ridge in the distance
Gallatin River and Crow Ridge
Hope the bears can't see me.
View from campsite WB1, looking east up the Gallatin River Drainage
Day 2 -
View up the meadows of the Gallatin River on our way to Bighorn Pass
Entering the Gallatin Bear Management Area
A lot of sign of bear on our way up to Bighorn Pass, but no sightings
Some beautiful country to see as one approaches the pass
View to the northwest down the Gallatin River Drainage
Reaching the pass
View down the other side of Bighorn Pass, looking northeast with Bunsen Peak in the distance
We bushwhacked to Stone Hollow Falls on our way back to camp. It was a very
slippery approach to the falls.
Dinner by the campfire before an evening shower moved in
Day 3 -
Heading out for Fawn Pass at the junction of the Fawn Pass Cutoff Trail
The Fawn Pass Trail.
Crow Ridge with the Gallatin River Meadows below - where we hiked the day before
A soaring hawk above
A ghost forest on our way to Fawn Pass
The only sign of bear we saw on the Fawn Pass Trail
If you look closely you can see our campsite down below
Made it to Fawn Pass
Gray Peak
View of the pond just off the pass
A look back up towards Bighorn Pass where we were the day before, on our way
back to camp
A bite from a dark chocolate Tony's Chocoloney Bar will get you through four days
in the backcountry.
Another storm moved in after dinner
Day 4 -
Heading back to the trailhead through the meadows along the Gallatin River
More views of the meadows
Horseshoe bend on the river
Arriving back at the trailhead
Celebratory lunch at the Buffalo Bar in West Yellowstone before returning home.
Last September a group of us backpacked into campsite WB1 along the Gallatin River in the northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park. We stayed at WB1 for three straight nights, and did two day hikes from camp - one to Bighorn Pass and a second one to Fawn Pass. I had approached both passes from the east before, but I'd never reached them from the west so this would be some new territory for me.
Overview map
Day 1 -
The Bighorn Pass trailhead is located 20 miles north of West Yellowstone on Highway 191. After stopping to get our official permit at the visitors' center in West Yellowstone, and grabbing a sandwich for lunch at Ernie's, we drove north to the trailhead to begin our trip.
Sign hanging in the Backcountry Office in West Yellowstone
Map of the Park in Backcountry Office
Arriving at the trailhead
Did I forget to mention that we stopped to pick up some Cold Smoke Scotch
Ale for the trip too.
The Gallatin River
More Gallatin
The Bighorn Pass Trail with Crow Ridge in the distance
Gallatin River and Crow Ridge
Hope the bears can't see me.
View from campsite WB1, looking east up the Gallatin River Drainage
Day 2 -
View up the meadows of the Gallatin River on our way to Bighorn Pass
Entering the Gallatin Bear Management Area
A lot of sign of bear on our way up to Bighorn Pass, but no sightings
Some beautiful country to see as one approaches the pass
View to the northwest down the Gallatin River Drainage
Reaching the pass
View down the other side of Bighorn Pass, looking northeast with Bunsen Peak in the distance
We bushwhacked to Stone Hollow Falls on our way back to camp. It was a very
slippery approach to the falls.
Dinner by the campfire before an evening shower moved in
Day 3 -
Heading out for Fawn Pass at the junction of the Fawn Pass Cutoff Trail
The Fawn Pass Trail.
Crow Ridge with the Gallatin River Meadows below - where we hiked the day before
A soaring hawk above
A ghost forest on our way to Fawn Pass
The only sign of bear we saw on the Fawn Pass Trail
If you look closely you can see our campsite down below
Made it to Fawn Pass
Gray Peak
View of the pond just off the pass
A look back up towards Bighorn Pass where we were the day before, on our way
back to camp
A bite from a dark chocolate Tony's Chocoloney Bar will get you through four days
in the backcountry.
Another storm moved in after dinner
Day 4 -
Heading back to the trailhead through the meadows along the Gallatin River
More views of the meadows
Horseshoe bend on the river
Arriving back at the trailhead
Celebratory lunch at the Buffalo Bar in West Yellowstone before returning home.
