Beyond the beauty of Old Faithful’s predictable spoutings, there’s a less visited area brimming with wildlife, waterfalls, and hot springs. Furthermore, tucked away in Yellowstone National Park’s southwest corner is an area with meadows, forests, and waterfalls. For this reason, this hidden treasure is a unique place that you must put on your list of places to visit.
Activity/Place Highlights
Known as Cascade Corner, it encompasses the Becher and Falls Rivers and their many tributaries that meander across the rugged Madison and Pitchstone plateaus. Furthermore, it plunges over the sides in a series of spectacular cascades. Starting at the Bechler River Ranger Station, follow the banks of the fast-moving Falls River and you will hear the sound of water cascading down Cave Falls.
Additionally, towering lodgepole pines frame this wide waterfall, while ospreys descend from above, fishing for trout. Then head northeast along the Bechler River. As you hike the trail through the expansive Bechler meadows, spectacular views of the Teton Range come into view the south.
A gentle breeze fans your cheeks and the scent of pine wafts in the air as you continue up the canyon through some area’s lushest forest. Try the deep purple, tart huckleberries growing along the trail. You’ll see the thundering Ozuel Falls in the distance.
Soon afterward are Colonnade Falls and then Iris Falls (9 miles/14.5 kilometers from the ranger station). Then a few miles farther on at the Bechler River’s Ferris Fork, you can watch stream rising from bubbling hot springs as you pause to take in the spectacular scenery. Finally, you will need to return on the same route.
How to get there
There are several airports you could consider for Yellowstone. Both Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody (COD) and Jackson Hole Airport in Jackson (JAC) are slightly more than 50 miles away. While there is Gallatin Field Airport (BZN) Bozeman, more than 65 miles; and Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) in Idaho.
Furthermore, the airport in West Yellowstone (WYS), connecting is usually open from June to September. You could also consider flying into Salt Lake City (SLC) in Utah (almost 400 miles away) or Denver (DEN), Colorado (more than 500 miles), and then renting a car. However, there’s no public transportation to or within Yellowstone National Park.
Moreover, in the peak summer season, there are commercial buses operate from Jackson and Cody. Buses operate to West Yellowstone and Gardiner from Bozeman year-round.
When to go
The best time to enjoy the Bechler area is from late August through September, in early summer, the meadows can be flooded and hungry mosquitoes abound.
How long
The standard answer is for two days. However, it takes longer than two days to really experience the Yellowstone area: three days will be less hectic for sight-seeing, four days means you can take a day off from touring, five or more days leave room to pursue favorite activities (like fishing or hiking) as well as see some sights off the beaten track.
Opening and Closing Hours
While the park is “open” year-round, access is limited in the fall, winter, and spring.
Always Open: No matter what time of year, 24 hours a day. You can always access the park via the North as the road between the North Entrance at Gardiner, through Mammoth Hot Springs. Additionally, to the Northeast Entrance at Cooke City is open year-round (note that the road is closed east of Cooke City between mid-October and late-May).
As a matter of fact, the summer season begins in late April as the roads are cleared of snow. In addition, facilities open on a staggered schedule and then close in September and October. Finally, Yellowstone National Park Lodges offers nine lodging facilities, in which two winter lodges are opened just before Christmas and close again in early March.
Planning
Depending on where you are coming from, the cost of getting to Yellowstone will vary. Flights into Jackson, Wyoming; Idaho Falls, Idaho; or Bozeman, Montana will range in the hundreds of dollars.
Yellowstone National Park fees are:
- 7-Day Yellowstone National Park Pass (covers the Yellowstone entrance fee for everyone in your vehicle)
- Private, non-commercial vehicle: $35
- Motorcycle or snowmobile: $30
- Individual (by foot, bicycle, ski, etc.): $20/person
- Annual Yellowstone Pass (covers the Yellowstone National Park entrance fee for everyone in your vehicle)
- $70
Both types of passes are sold at all entrance stations and online through the Your Pass Now website.
Inside Information
Therefore, Yellowstone is a bear and buffalo country. Never hike alone, and always check at the ranger station for reports of recent bear activity. Go to the national park’s website repellent and wear waterproof boots. There are campsites along the Bechler Canyon, but you will need a permit.
History
The headwaters of the Yellowstone River are contained in the park, which takes its historical name. Also, near the end of the 18th century, French trappers named the river Roche Jaune. Which is probably a translation of the Hidatsa name Mi tsi a-da-zi(“Yellow Rock River”). Later, American trappers rendered the French name in English as “Yellow Stone”.
Although it is commonly believed that the river was named for the yellow rocks seen in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the Native American name source is unclear. A very close drive from Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Tetons National Park is a wonderful place to explore the national park.
Furthermore, other cool places are found around the park areas with historic or cultural places of interest.
Websites
Other nearby attractions
Grand Tetons National Park
A very close drive from Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Tetons National Park is a wonderful place to explore the national park. Furthermore, other cool places are found around the park areas with historic or cultural places of interest.
Jackson Hole
A little over an hours drive from Yellowstone and just south of the Grand Tetons National Park is the trendy western city of Jackson Hole. This city has become a very upscale and trendy place to hang out and enjoy the Wyoming lifestyle and vibe.
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