Slough Creek Trail (First and Second Meadows)

Yellowstone National Park, northern range (Slough Creek Trailhead near Slough Creek Campground, Tower area)

Slough Creek winds through a chain of open meadows in Yellowstone’s northern range, a few miles north of the Northeast Entrance Road. The National Park Service describes the trail as following “a historic wagon trail into the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness,” and calls Slough Creek a popular fishing area.

It’s a short, mostly gentle walk to the first two meadows, which makes it one of the easier overnight trips in the park, though the NPS warns that “Grizzly bears frequent this area.”

The hike

The trailhead is just south of Slough Creek Campground, about 2 miles up a gravel road from the Northeast Entrance Road, according to Hiking Project. The NPS says to park beside the vault toilet where the campground road bears left.

The trail starts with a steep climb. Hiking Project puts it at roughly 400 feet in the first mile, with occasional views of Little America Meadows, before the trail descends to the First Meadow at about 2 miles, where the Buffalo Fork Trail splits left and an NPS patrol cabin sits on the right. The NPS lists the first meadow as a 3.4-mile round trip and the second meadow as 2.6 miles farther, for 8.6 miles round trip.

Past the first meadow, Hiking Project says the trail rejoins the creek at about 3.7 miles, passes an oxbow lake showing the creek’s old course at 5.8 miles, and reaches the Elk Tongue Patrol Cabin at 7.1 miles, where the Bliss Pass Trail splits right. The first 11-plus miles follow an old wagon road to Silver Tip Ranch, a guest ranch just past the park boundary at about 10.6 miles. The NPS asks hikers who meet horses or horse-drawn wagons to step to the downhill side and stand still until they pass.

Beyond the boundary the trail continues into the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. Hiking Project notes a creek ford at about 14.4 miles into Frenchy Meadows and a seldom-traveled section beyond. A June 2024 trip report on Backcountry Post describes that crossing as “mid-thigh at it’s deepest,” with everything upstream “too deep & swift.”

Hiking Project calls Slough Creek a major fly-fishing destination and lists bison, elk and sandhill cranes along with grizzlies. The 2024 trip report saw bison, beavers, elk and a grizzly sow and cub from camp, and a black bear digging about 10 yards from one campsite sign.

For a lower-elevation river trip on the same northern range, see Montana’s Black Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Tips

Carry bear spray and hike in a group. The NPS recommends groups of three or more and says to keep spray accessible.
Yield to horses and wagons. Step to the downhill side and stand still.
Scout crossings. The park says flood-changed northern rivers don’t always cross at the trail.
Get a fishing permit if you’ll fish. The NPS says permits are required for fishing as well as overnight camping.
Bring 35 feet of rope for the food pole.

Camping

A Yellowstone backcountry permit is required, and you camp only at designated sites. The NPS says about 75% of sites can be reserved on Recreation.gov at least three days ahead, and walk-up permits are issued in person up to two days before a trip; May 15 to Oct. 31 you pick up permits in person. Stays run 1 to 3 nights, group limits are 4 to 12 by site, and most sites take one group. Every site has a food pole or box. The trailhead page says to sleep at least 100 yards from food storage and cooking areas and to build fires only in established rings at designated sites. Pets aren’t allowed on park trails.

Inside Intel: On Backcountry Post, shredhiker’s group spent a night at 2S4 on a June 2024 trip, which they called a “very pleasant hike in,” and later camped at 2S6: “The view from 2S6 was pretty spectacular,” with bison and sandhill cranes nearby. A Hiking Project photo caption calls 2S1 one of the top backcountry sites in the park.

Trail facts

Distance: 8.6 miles round trip to the second meadow (NPS)
Route type: Out and back
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Campsites: Designated sites along the meadows (2S1, 2S4, 2S6 among others)
Water: Slough Creek; treat it
Permits: Yellowstone backcountry permit required; separate park permit for fishing
Bear storage: Food poles or boxes at every site; bring 35 feet of rope
Dogs: Not allowed on park trails
Trailhead: Slough Creek Trailhead (2K5), near Slough Creek Campground, off the Northeast Entrance Road
Last verified: October 12, 2026

The Lowdown

Grizzly country in the Slough Creek meadows:

A June 2024 trip camped at 2S4 on a sub-freezing night with a grizzly sow and cub in view across the open valley. See the tents backpackers rate for cold, exposed meadow camps.

See the picks →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.