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The Trip

Unfortunately, this trip has been cancelled. If you have questions, please contact us.

Located in south-central Montana and northwest Wyoming. The Beartooth mountain range is composed of a great mass of Precambrian granite that rises 9,000 to 11,000 feet, with an occasional spike above 12,000 feet. Glaciers have sculpted the area into granitic peaks and deep, U-shaped canyons, leaving behind hundreds of lakes scattered along the plateau.

The Beartooths are one of the most biologically unique mountain ranges in North America, encompassing four distinct life zones and associated flora including grasslands, mountain, sub-alpine, and fragile alpine tundra. The Beartooths are a critical component of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem known for its abundance of large animals such as moose, elk, deer, wolves, black bear, and grizzly, and are part of the 900,000-acre Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.

Our trip will explore the less congested southern flank of the Beartooth Mountains and edge of the Beartooth Plateau known as the High Lakes located in Wyoming. We'll weave in and out of the wilderness area and adjacent protected lands. As an added bonus, a knowledgeable naturalist will accompany the trip. We'll learn a great deal about the flora, fauna, and environmental impacts in this region and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

This area boasts numerous alpine lakes, forested valleys, and high mountain meadows strewn with wildflowers. Many of the lakes are teeming with trout, making this area an angler's paradise. Short hiking distances and a layover day provide ample time to cast a line, relax, and stroll alongside pristine lakes and streams near camp.

Itinerary

Day 1: Our group will meet at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday morning at the Island Lake Campground. Breakfast will be provided. We'll conduct a brief trip orientation, coordinate a short car shuttle and begin our journey hiking 4.5 mostly flat miles to Becker Lake at 9,700 feet elevation. We'll pass a handful of shimmering alpine lakes and enjoy the spectacular views of the granitic mountain range ahead.

Day 2: We'll layover at Becker Lake. Participants can relax, fish, or join a naturalist lead day hike into the surrounding area.

Day 3: We'll hike less than three miles to camp at Claw Lake (9,800 feet elevation). In the afternoon, fishing, visiting nearby Grayling Lake, contemplating, or relaxing is ours for the taking.

Day 4: We'll hike three miles to camp at Native Lake (9,500 feet elevation) and have the afternoon to relax, fish, or explore nearby lakes.

Day 5: We'll trek less than five miles around the geological wonder of Beartooth Butte, through a wildflower-strewn alpine meadow and forested valley to camp at Granite Lake (8,500 feet elevation). Granite Lake straddles the Wyoming and Montana border and is one of the largest lakes in the Beartooths.

Day 6: We'll ford Lake Creek, hiking six miles to camp at the large and forested Lake Reno (8,200 feet elevation).

Day7: Heading out 6.5 miles to our cars, we'll pass through lower elevation forest and sagebrush via Lost Lake.

Getting There

The nearest airports serving the area are Yellowstone Regional Airport located in Cody, WY (76 miles away), and Billings International Airport, MT (107 miles away).

Our meeting location is Island Lake Campground, situated just off of the Beartooth Highway, US 212. The Beartooth Highway is considered by many to be the most dramatically scenic road in the United States, offering sweeping valley and mountain vistas as it crosses high tundra and enters the northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park. Participants may wish to camp at Island Lake Campground prior to the start of the trip. Pre-trip lodging is available in the nearby towns of Cooke City and Red Lodge, Montana. Carpooling is highly encouraged. Entry and exit trailhead access roads for this trip are suitable for two-wheel drive passenger vehicles.

Accommodations and Food

Hearty and healthy vegetarian-friendly meals and snacks are provided, beginning with breakfast on day one, ending with lunch on day seven. Participants will share the responsibility of meal preparations and clean-up.

Trip Difficulty

The trip difficulty is rated two on a scale from one to five. Our hiking days will be relatively short and mostly on-trail. However, carrying a 45-pound pack on trail at high elevations is physically challenging, therefore participants must be in good physical condition and be prepared for the rigorous physical demands of a backpack. Mileage on our hiking days ranges from three to seven miles, with a total of almost 27 miles for the trip (not including layover day hikes). Participants who have a known sensitivity to higher altitudes are encouraged to arrive to the area a day early to acclimatize.

Daytime temperatures in late August average in the 60s to low 70s. Nighttime temperatures could dip into the 20s. Thunderstorms, rain, hail, snow, wind, and cold temperatures are not uncommon at this time of year. It is essential that participants be prepared for extremes in weather conditions, and also be flexible so that we can adapt our route to accommodate unexpected conditions or events.

Equipment and Clothing

Participants will furnish their own personal equipment, including: backpacks, sleeping bags, pads, tents, a basic first-aid kit, toiletries, and eating utensils. Backpacks should have a capacity of at least 4,000 cubic inches in order to accommodate commissary and personal gear.

Sturdy, good-fitting, broken-in, waterproofed boots with lug soles are ideal for this trip. Sturdy water sandals will come in handy for river and stream crossings. For shelter, a tent with a rain fly or a lightweight waterproof tarp is the required minimum. For raingear, bring a waterproof jacket and pants instead of a poncho. Hiking poles or a hiking stick provide helpful support. A small day pack will be useful on the layover days. Be sure to bring insect repellent and sunscreen. The leader will send detailed equipment recommendations to participants well in advance of the trip.

The Sierra Club will provide the following items: food (including trail snacks), pots, cooking utensils, stoves, fuel, and bear-proof canisters. At the beginning of the trip you will be issued one bear canister loaded with food, plus a portion of the group gear, which together may weigh up to 15 pounds. Please limit your personal gear to 25 pounds or less, so that your total pack weight is less than 45 pounds, including 1-2 liters of water. Participants will be provided water treatment tablets for treating drinking water. You may bring your own water filter if you prefer.

References

Books:

• Schneider, B., Hiking the Beartooths.
• Turner, J., Travels in the Greater Yellowstone.

Maps:

• Beartooth Butte Quadrangle, WY. Muddy Creek Quadrangle, WY.

Conservation

The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness is an important part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. We'll discuss environmental threats to this and adjacent wild lands, such as pine beetle infestation (which is evident all over the West including the Beartooths), oil, and gas development. Several large glaciers have been present in the Beartooths for many years. Like other places, these are melting quickly due to global warming. We'll ponder the long-term effects of their reduced water supply for areas downstream. As a group we will diligently observe Leave No Trace principles.

"The love of wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth... the only home we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need -- if only we had the eyes to see". -Edward Abbey

The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused entity. We are concerned about conservation and sustainability of resources, both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers and aided by a salaried staff, encouraging grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward greater understanding, advocacy and participation in the goals of the Club. Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and will operate under a permit from the Shoshone National Forest.

Trip Price

See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

Staff

Leader:

Laura Bonds-Johnson's long-standing hobby of backpacking in the Sierra Nevada, Rocky Mountains, and slickrock canyons of the Southwest has evolved into her quest for conservation activism and outdoor leadership. Laura has lead Sierra Club trips into the Sierra Nevada, Montana, and Utah. Laura is a registered nurse and wilderness first responder and resides in Evergreen, Colorado.

E-mail: lbjinsj@aol.com

Assistant Leader:

Kevin Loney was introduced to backpacking over ten years ago with a simple down & back trip to the Grand Canyon. However, he caught the "bug" and hasn't stopped trekking ever since. He enjoys exploring his southeastern backyard and can often be found exploring the Great Smoky Mountains, The Appalachian Trial, and the Shenandoah area. He enjoys mixing his love for traveling with his passion for backpacking. Kevin has led several private trekking trips to the Na Pali Coast, Costa Rica, South Africa, and Mt Orizaba and Morocco. Kevin also enjoys exploring the Sierra and sharing the outdoor and his passion with others. In 2010, Kevin completed the Knapsack Leader Training program and is certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR.

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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Carpooling
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback
• Wilderness Manners