Yellowstone – the world’s first National Park – is known
throughout the world for its thermal features but it is also famous
for its wildlife. During this particular backcountry camping trip,
we respectfully shared the land with some of these magnificent
creatures.
After we obtain our backcountry permit (they are free at any Ranger
Station or Visitor Center), we arrive at the Cascade Lake Trail
Picnic Area (about 1.5 miles north of Canyon Junction). We park the
car and get our backpacks ready for three nights of camping at
Cascade Lake.
NPS Map showing Cascade Lake Location
It’s late afternoon before we begin our 2.2 mile hike to Cascade
Lake. The trail is fairly easy and flat. We walk through open
meadows and watch for wildlife. We see a bison lying down in the
meadow but not much else.
Cascade Lake
Cascade Lake is just ahead of us. We keep walking through a meadow
turning right at the trail that goes to Observation Peak. Within a
short distance, we find the spur trail that will lead us to our
designated campsite at the edge of the forest near Cascade Lake.
Here, we setup our camp starting with the designated area for cooking
and hanging food. Next, we follow the narrow foot trail another 100+
yards where we find a level area big enough to set up our two-person
tent.
Campsite Trail with Tent in Background
Tent at edge of forest
View of Cascade Lake from tent
Spur Trail To/From Campsite
While we still have some daylight, we walk to Cascade Lake to get
some water for cooking. The water looks clear but it is important to
purify the water
to be safe from giardia. While my Hubby is
collecting a container of water, I look around the area. A nearly
full moon is rising over the top of a ridge. That’s when I see
him. In the meadow, a grizzly bear has his nose to the ground
totally engrossed in his search for food. Now, I don’t mind
getting a bear hug from my Honey Bear but that is as close to a bear
encounter that I wish get.
Moonrise & Grizzly Bear
Back at our campsite, my Honey Bear starts the evening fire in the
designated food area. He boils a pot of water for a couple of
minutes and then purifies it even further with iodine tablets. As
darkness descends upon the landscape, the campfire helps us to see
what is within the confines of its lighted area. I can’t help but
wonder if there is a bear watching us from somewhere beyond our
circle of light.
We don’t do any cooking for dinner – just cheese and crackers,
nuts, and other snacks. After we get done eating, we hang our food
keeping our campsite clean and safe. We are constantly “Bear
Aware”. What happened to the bear in the meadow? He’s not Yogi
the Bear (the lovable cartoon character from Jellystone Park) looking
to steal our picnic basket. Okay, maybe he would steal our food if
we didn’t properly store it. So, I named the bear from the meadow
Yogi.
The full moon rises higher in the night sky. Its light finally
penetrating the tree tops and casting a soft light on our
surroundings. It’s getting late and the campfire isn’t needed as
a light source anymore,. After we completely extinguish it, we head
down the trail to the tent. We use our flashlights to sweep across
the area and talk while we walk. It was the longest 100 yards.
Once inside the tent, I lie awake listening for sounds but I don’t
hear anything. The forest is eerily quiet tonight. Where are you
Yogi? I ask God to protect us and fall into a restless night sleep.
After daylight arrives, I am able to sleep for an hour or so.
Meanwhile, my Hubby has brought the food bag down from the hanging
pole and has water boiling on the camp stove. We have a gourmet
breakfast consisting of oatmeal, breakfast bars, and cups of hot
cocoa.
After we hang the food and cleanup the campsite, we get ready for our
six mile (round trip) hike to Observation Peak. More ambitious
people might do Observation Peak as a day hike (11 mile round trip
from the Cascade Lake Trail Picnic Area parking lot). We prefer to
take our time and really enjoy the hike and the scenery. After all,
the beauty of a hike is as much about the journey as it is about the
destination.
At Cascade Lake, the trail to Observation Peak is a steady 1,400-foot
climb to the summit. As we begin our trek to the top, we get a nice view of Cascade Lake. Except for some bison
grazing on the hillside, we have the trail to ourselves.
View of Cascade Lake
The trail passes through meadows and stands of burned pine tree
forests. We called them “ghost forests”. Fallen logs along the
trail serve as nature’s furniture offering us a place to “sit a
spell” and listen to the sounds of Yellowstone. In the distance, a
bull elk is bugling his mating call. From their perches in the
pines, the birds are serenading us with their songs. Alone on the
trail, we take a moment to stop and appreciate the beauty of
Yellowstone’s quiet wild.
Ghost Forest of White-Bark Pine Trees
The
summit to Observation Peak is just over the next hill.
Almost to the Summit
The panoramic view of Grebe
Lake and the valley below is rewarding and well worth hiking here.
For some reason, I can’t get the tune “On top of Old Smoky” out
of my head. Here at the top of Observation Peak (9,397 feet high),
it is cold and windy. I use the side of the abandoned lookout tower as a shield
from the wind.
Abandoned Lookout Tower
View of Grebe Lake
It’s time to begin our return hike to our campsite at Cascade Lake.
The scenery is just as good going down the trail as it was going up
the trail.
Trail Views
Trail View of Cascade Lade
We arrive back in camp by 6:30pm. There doesn’t seem to be any
sign of Yogi the Bear. A lone bison grazes in the meadow near
Cascade Lake.
Bison in Meadow near Cascade Lake
While we gather wood for a fire and get water from the lake, the
sunset is painting the sky in vibrant shades of pink, red and orange.
Sunset at Cascade Lake
Once again, my Hubby builds the evening campfire. By 10:45 pm, we
decide to hang the food, extinguish the fire, and go to the tent for
the night.
What a difference from last night. Tonight, the forest is alive with
the sounds of nature. We can’t see them, but two bull elk are
bugling constantly somewhere near our tent. Hearing the bugling of
an elk is considered a “true Yellowstone experience”. It is
thrilling – at first… but at 3am, you just want to yell “SHUT
UP!” I take all this activity as a positive sign that Yogi the
Bear has left the area.
After spending the night wandering around our campsite, the bugling
elk leave just before dawn. Aaah, peace and quiet at last …. THUD,
THUD, THUD! What is that? It’s the squirrels. They are in the
trees dropping pine cones to the ground all around our tent.
Eventually, one of the pine cones hits the tent. I think that was
their intent all along – they just had poor aim.
Now that he is awake, my Hubby starts a campfire and prepares
breakfast for us. When we camp, he does all the cooking and
cleaning. Gotta love that!
While he fixes breakfast, I stay in the tent observing the sunlight
and shadows playing across the roof of the tent. Using my vivid
imagination, I see what looks like pencil drawings of a cat, a bird
and a man’s face.
Tent Shadows (black marker used to enhance facial features)
While we are eating breakfast, we hear voices coming from the meadow.
It is Saturday morning, so we are not surprised to see hikers on
the trail today.
While those hikers head to Observation Peak, we will hike to Grebe
Lake (a four mile round trip hike from Cascade Lake).
Trail Cascade Lake to Grebe Lake
Beyond Cascade Lake, the trail to Grebe Lake involves crossing small
streams (using logs or rocks or just jumping across it) and climbing
over fallen tree trunks – think of it as nature’s gym set. The
forest floor is carpeted in colors often found in a harvest-time
cornucopia that is filled with red apples, yellow bananas, and oranges.
Near one fallen tree, a lone bison stands quietly about ten feet off
the trail. He sees us and moves away deeper into the tangled web of
downed trees.
(Bison photographed using a telephoto lens)
After awhile, we enter a forest at the edge of Grebe Lake. The
forest is a combination of new and mature pine trees. We take this
opportunity to sit underneath the shady canopy of the forest and
enjoy the solitude. A Mountain Chickadee sings to us, a squirrel
scolds us from a nearby tree, a waterfowl honks as he flies overhead,
a few insects buzz around us and the breezes are like a soft whisper. These quiet wild moments are what my Hubby loves about Yellowstone.
The afternoon sun is working its way westward. That’s our signal to return to camp.
The afternoon sun is working its way westward. That’s our signal to return to camp.
Grebe Lake
Once again, we see a full moon rising over the ridge. Yogi is gone
but four deer are running back and forth across the meadow. A coyote
must be chasing them.
A short time after we enter the tent, we hear a yelping bark. We
assume it’s a coyote. Last night’s dueling bugling elks have
moved further away from us. We do hear an owl hooting … otherwise,
a much quieter night.
This is our last morning of our camping trip. For breakfast, my
Hubby pours the boiling purified water into packages of dehydrated
food and prepares a hot breakfast for us.
It’s early afternoon by the time we have cleaned up, packed up, and
begin the 2.2 mile hike back to our car. The afternoon is warm and
the backpack is heavy on my shoulders. When we reach the picnic
area, I happily drop my backpack next to our car. I’m more than
ready to return to civilization. Three nights of camping was a
compromise during this trip – I like the creature comforts of a
hotel room; Hubby likes the solitude of wilderness camping. Right
now, it’s time for a hot shower and a real hot meal. Canyon area –
here we come!
Over the years, my Hubby and I have driven and hiked through
Yellowstone’s many scenic natural areas. No matter how many times
I visit Yellowstone, I never get tired of seeing its ever-changing
scenery. I invite you to view my other blog posts on Yellowstone
National Park by clicking on the following links:
Yellowstone: A Geyser Gazers Guide to the Upper Geyser Basin
Yellowstone: It's Cookin' in the Biscuit Basin
Yellowstone: Touring the Black Sand Basin
Yellowstone: A Ton of Fun at the Canyon
Hiking Yellowstone: Fairy Falls & Imperial Geyser
Yellowstone Scenic Drive: Firehole Canyon
Yellowstone: It's Cookin' in the Biscuit Basin
Yellowstone: Touring the Black Sand Basin
Yellowstone: A Ton of Fun at the Canyon
Hiking Yellowstone: Fairy Falls & Imperial Geyser
Yellowstone Scenic Drive: Firehole Canyon
Yellowstone: Fountain Paint Pot Nature Trail
Yellowstone: Fountain Flat Drive & Beyond
Yellowstone: Fountain Flat Drive & Beyond
Grand Loop Road - Upper Loop (coming soon)
Grand Loop Road - Lower Loop (coming soon)
Yellowstone: Mud Volcano - Stop and Smell the ... Sulfur?
Hiking Yellowstone: NW Corner - More Space; Less Crowded
Hiking Yellowstone: NW Corner - More Space; Less Crowded
Norris Geyser Basin: Porcelain Basin - Some Like It Hot
West Thumb Geyser Basin: Two Thumbs Up
Whatta Falls - Waterfalls in Yellowstone NP
West Thumb Geyser Basin: Two Thumbs Up
Whatta Falls - Waterfalls in Yellowstone NP
Planning a visit to Yellowstone? Food and lodging options are
available inside the park and in the towns just outside the park (West Yellowstone, Gardiner, and Cooke City/Silver Gate – all in Montana).. I strongly suggest making lodging reservations in advance. Yellowstone
is a popular destination and “No Vacancy” signs are common
especially during the peak summer months. Since opinions,
preferences, and budgets vary, I recommend checking a trusted travel
source for current reviews.
My best advice is this - don’t just drive through Yellowstone –
experience it!
The National Park Service has created a series of short videos titled
“Inside Yellowstone”. It’s a fast and fun way to learn about
the Park. Click on the following link to begin this Yellowstone
experience.
Inside Yellowstone: A Series of Short Videos
Inside Yellowstone: A Series of Short Videos
Family vacations created some of my favorite memories. To start
planning your memorable trip to Yellowstone, please click on the
following link:
