Agate Creek Out-and-Back

Dogs No Dogs

Features Fishing · Geological Significance · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This seldom-used trail takes curious visitors and eager fishermen to a remote section of the mighty Yellowstone River at the bottom of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The route ascends gradually through meadows and forest above the canyon rim before plunging 1300 feet to the Yellowstone River near the mouth of Agate Creek.

One of America's few northward flowing rivers, the Yellowstone begins a few miles south of the park and travels 670 miles before emptying into the Missouri River near the Montana-North Dakota border. It is the longest undammed river in the continental United States.

The trail precipitously drops over 1300 feet to the Yellowstone River. Save some energy for the tough climb back out! There is one backcountry campsite (2Y1) along Agate Creek Trail for backpackers (with a backcountry permit) to use. Permits are not required for day hiking.

The Agate Creek Trail is reached by taking the first 2.3 miles of the Specimen Ridge Trail from its western side. Once Agate Creek Tr leaves the Specimen Ridge Trail, it gradually ascends 500 feet through open sagebrush meadows high above the Yellowstone River canyon.

To the southwest, the skyline is dominated by Mount Washburn. At the 1.6 mile mark the trail crosses Quartz Creek just before it plunges down an eroded ravine to join the Yellowstone. Soon the trail skirts the edge ridge above the river and views up and down the river are outstanding. Up river you see into the reaches of the Grand Canyon. Down river you can see a distinctive light-colored rock outcropping towering above the river. This is the Narrows near Tower Falls.

The final 1.4 miles of the trail precipitously drops over 1300 feet to the river at the bottom. Here the slopes are covered with trees and does not display multi-colors like it does at the beginning of the canyon some 15 miles up river. But the gorge still has a wild sprit and affords adventuresome runners an intimate experience.

Thanks to guidebook author, Tom Carter, for sharing this trail description. To learn more about visiting Yellowstone, check out his book, Day Hiking Yellowstone.

The river here is strong, but fishable and offers the chance to catch some of its biggest cutthroat trout. Agate Creek also sports a decent population of small trout. Bison are commonly seen grazing on Specimen Ridge.