North Absaroka Wilderness

Yellowstone National Park lies along the western boundary of North Absaroka Wilderness, which also shares a border with Montana and contains one of the areas least desecrated by humanity's insatiable thirst for development. Several summits rise above 10,000 feet, with the highest point on Dead Indian Peak at 12,216 feet. Dead Indian Peak stands about eight miles from Dead Indian Meadows and about 15 miles from other landmarks such as Dead Indian Pass, Dead Indian Hill, Dead Indian Creek, and Dead Indian Campground. This remote and rugged country contains large regions of virtually inaccessible terrain. Volcanic in origin, the land is dissected by numerous creeks forming huge drainages, containing tons of erodible topsoil, that turn into frenzied rivers of mud during summer rainstorms. The Wilderness receives few visitors, especially before hunting season opens. There are 217 miles of rough and minimally marked trails, and hikers run a high risk of getting lost or hurt. The trails are generally long, steep, and narrow; they tend to follow drainages and have few places to cross from one drainage to another except at the headwaters, though some will take you far from water. From easily accessible Pahaska Campground, a trail runs north along Crow Creek to meet other trails. Summers are relatively dry, and flies and gnats may disturb your serenity, though mosquitoes are generally few and far between. A limited number of appealing campsites has created some overuse at the desirable places. Only a few lakes exist, but the streams contain cutthroat, brown, brook, and rainbow trout. The region is home to grizzly bears, so precautions are in order. Big-game hunters come by the hundreds for bighorn sheep, elk, and moose, and marmots and pikas reign on numerous talus slopes.