Yellowstone U.S
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National Park Service Yellowstone U.S. Department of the Interior Backcountry Trip Planner © TOM MURPHY Backcountry Permits A trip is defined as a contiguous itinerary submit your application. choice is not available. If you are camping A Backcountry Use Permit is re- that enters and then exits the backcountry We begin processing reservation re- with stock or requesting sites in one of our quired for all overnight trips in the at a trailhead or developed area. An itiner- quests on April 1. All applications received more popular areas such as Slough Creek or backcountry. The permit is valid only ary that requires vehicular transportation on or before April 1 will be processed in Yellowstone and Shoshone lakes, your for the dates, locations, and party size between trailheads during the trip would random order. Applications received after chances of getting your first choices are specified. Permits are not required for day constitute another trip and require an addi- April 1 will be processed in the order they best if you submit your request by April 1. hiking; however, day hikers must observe tional reservation and/or permit. are received. Please submit only one request per party all backcountry regulations. Successful applicants will receive a con- per trip. Duplicate applications slow down All Backcountry Use Permits must be Application Procedures firmation letter by email. This confirma- the reservation process and may result in obtained in person and not more than Reservation requests must be submitted tion notice is then exchanged for the actual duplicate charges, overlapping itineraries, two days in advance of your departure. on the Trip Planning Worksheet (enclosed). Backcountry Use Permit, which must be and unused campsites. Visitors obtaining a backcountry permit Additional worksheets are available by mail obtained in person at a Backcountry Permit Please do not submit requests for campsites with trips dates between Memorial Day and from the Central Backcountry Office or on Office in the park, not more than two days with an opening date prior to those specified September 10 will pay a per-person, per- the park website at www.nps.gov/yell/plany- before the first camping date. Reservations in the site limitations on pages 6–11 and on night permit fee. Backcountry permit fees ourvisit/backcountrytripplanner.htm. are held only until 10 AM on the day of your the Trip Planning Worksheet. The opening apply for group members that are 9 years A non-refundable processing fee trip. If you are delayed, you may hold your dates represent the average date that a camp- or older. The fee for backpackers/ boaters of $25 must be submitted with each appli- reservation by calling the phone number site becomes accessible due to a decrease in is $3 per-person per-night. The group per cation and can be made with check, money shown on the confirmation notice. Res- snow pack, flooding, or dangerous stream night fee is capped at $15 dollars per night. order, or credit card. The fee is for obtaining ervations that have not been confirmed or crossings. If the campsite opens earlier than The fee for stock parties (horses/mules/lla- a reservation, not for taking a trip, and will exchanged for backcountry permits will be these dates it is then made available for both mas)is $5 per-person per night. There is no be deposited only upon confirmation of a canceled and the campsites made available walk-in permits and reservations. In some cap on the group per night fee. reservation. Once the reservation has been for other parties. years campsites may not open by the dates Backcountry permit fees are separate made the fee is no longer refundable even if Only a portion of backcountry campsites that you have reserved. Additionally, we oc- from the $25 fee paid to make an advance the trip is canceled. will be reserved in advance. We leave some casionally have to close campsites due to bear reservation and will be collected at the Requests for reservations will be sites open in each area each night for people activity or wildfire. In these instances, re- backcountry office when you pick up your accepted by mail, in person, or by fax with without reservations. Consequently, if you served itineraries will be modified to the best permit. a credit card number. We cannot accept can be flexible in your choice of campsites, of our ability when you pick up your permit. Each campsite has restrictions on group applications over the phone, or e-mail. Res- you may decide to wait until you arrive in If your plans change and you cannot use size, stock use, boating access, wood ervation applications may be submitted any- the park to reserve your site(s) and obtain any, or part, of your backcountry use per- fires, and length of stay. (Campsite re- time after January 1; however, to ensure that your permit. mit or reservation, you are encouraged to strictions are listed on pages 6–11.) The your application arrives during a time when We strongly encourage you to develop call (307) 344-2160 to cancel your trip. A maximum number of nights one can the Central Backcountry Office is staffed a second itinerary that may explore some refund will not be provided, but you will al- remain at a single site is three unless we recommend waiting until March 1 to less popular areas, in the event your first low other campers access to those sites. otherwise indicated. With the ex- ception of four campsites, we allow Undesignated and Winter Where to Get Your Permit only one party at each campsite. If Camping your party size exceeds the campsite For the best information on trail conditions, obtain your permits from the ranger station or limit, you will need to obtain a second per- visitor center closest to where your trip begins. From June through August, Backcountry Use Camping in undesignated sites is mit and be prepared to cook and sleep as Permits are generally available 7 days a week between 8 AM and 4:30 PM (some stations close occasionally allowed under certain circum- separate groups. for lunch) at the following locations: stances and with special approval on a case- by-case basis. Stringent policies govern Advance Reservations • Bechler Ranger Station • Canyon Ranger Station/Visitor Center this privilege, and adherence to Leave No • Mammoth Visitor Center • Old Faithful Ranger Station Trace skills and ethics is required. Camp- Backcountry campsites may be • Tower Ranger Station • South Entrance Ranger Station ing in designated campsites is not required reserved in advance. The reservation fee • Grant Village Backcountry Office • West Yellowstone Visitor Information during the winter season. For more infor- for each trip is $25 regardless of the num- • Bridge Bay Ranger Station Center mation about camping in undesignated sites ber of nights or number of people in a sin- and/or for a booklet about winter camp- gle trip. Groups that exceed the maximum Permits for boating trips must be obtained at Bridge Bay, Grant Village, or South ing, contact the Central Backcountry Entrance backcountry offices. During the spring, fall, and winter, ranger station and visitor number of people allowed at a campsite Office at (307) 344-2160 or e-mail us at center hours may vary. To obtain a Backcountry Use Permit during these seasons, call (307) must split into multiple groups and submit a [email protected]. 344-2160 or (307) 344-7381. reservation request for each group. Hiking in Bear Country Yellowstone Bear Management Areas Eliminating human entry and disturbance in specific areas can 25 through November 10, foot travel is allowed on the Old Road prevent human–bear conflicts and provide areas where bears can Trail from Tower Falls Campground to the Buffalo Picnic Area. pursue natural behavioral patterns and other social activities. Types Mirror Plateau: From May 15 through November 10, the of restrictions include area and trail closures, no off-trail travel, a H area is open to day use only with the exception that from July recommended party size of four or more people, and travel limited 1 through August 14 overnight camping is permitted for a combined to established trails or daylight hours. Check the campsite listings total of 14 nights per summer. on pages 6–7 for restrictions that may apply to individual campsites. Pelican Valley: Area is closed April 1 through July 3. From July 4 To reduce human related impacts on bears in high density grizzly I through November 10, the area is open to day-use only between bear habitat, we have established the following areas (see map, page the hours of 9 AM and 7 PM. 3) and restrictions. 1 Clear Creek: From April 1 through August 10, travel is only al- Jlowed on the east shore from Nine Mile trailhead to Park Point. Firehole: Area (including Firehole Freight Road and Fire- Off-trail travel is prohibited. On August 11 all trails open and off- A hole Lake Road) is closed March 10 through the Friday of trail travel is permitted. Memorial Day weekend. The Mary Mountain Trail from the Nez 2 Clear Creek: From April 1 through July 14, travel is only al- Perce trailhead to Mary Lake is closed March 10 through June 15. Jlowed on the east shore trail from Park Point to Beaverdam Creek. Through travel from the Canyon trailhead is not allowed; howev- Off-trail travel is prohibited. Open campsites are 5E2, 5E3, 5E4, and er, travel is allowed from the Canyon trailhead to Mary Lake and 5E6 (no travel away from campsite). All other campsites are closed. back. Streamside use is allowed from the point where Nez Perce On July 15, all campsites open and off-trail travel is permitted.