We will be in Yellowstone in July and will be hitting the usual popular stuff. Although we are not big hikers so I was curious if there were any lesser used roads in Yellowstone to use the truck to go hiking in the backcountry a bit? Maybe spend 1/2 day away from the tourist crowds to find a good spot for a picnic...

In a word, no. Back country hiking is allowed but driving on fire roads/maintenance roads is prohibited.

I'm sure park rangers and literature can guide you to less used trails.But you might also look at the National Forests surrounding the park. If you drive backroads in southern California you probably are already aware of the kinds of resources (and restrictions) forest districts offer.On one cross country trip, in a pickup camper, I camped in the Black Hills at a FS campground, took back roads in Wyoming, camping the next night near the summit on US16 in the Big Horn Mtns. Then across WY to Grand Tetons, camping at a FS campground just outside the park. After briefly seeing sights in GT, I drove toward Yellowstone, and then took a FS road between the parks into Idaho. That night was a FS campground near Mesa Falls.

A lesser traveled road in Yellowstone is the one-way Blacktail Plateau Drive. It's off the Mammoth Hot Springs to Tower-Roosevelt road. It's 6 or 7 miles of good gravel. I have seen bear, moose, pronghorn. Blacktail Plateau Drive

down in the Tetons Park is one out of Flagg Ranch campground called Grassy Lake Road...I think it goes all the way across the mountains to Idaho, but up at the top of the pass is a lake. Several vauted toilets and little primitive campsite along the way, so take a picnic lunch.Then down on the southern end is the Snake River road and it is rough and slow going.

I sometimes sound like a broken record when people ask about where in the Yellowstone area, but I love Greys River. It is about 2 hours south west of Yellowstone just outside of Alpine, WY. The Greys River Road starts in Alpine and follows the Greys River for over 60 miles. There isn't a single power pole once you leave Alpine. There is a dude ranch at about mile 32 and a ranch house or two along the way as well as a couple of Forest Service cabins (which are for rent). There are numerous side roads and trails to follow. You can stop at literally hundreds of spots along the river to camp, fish, picnic, hike, mountain bike, etc. There are a couple of roads that actually cut through valleys to the east and you can make a loop out of the trip.Beautiful area with lots of eagles, deer, moose and possibly a few grizzly bears. I've never actually seen a grizzly while there though I have seen fresh sign while fishing. It is the grizzly capital of the lower 48 states, so take your bear spray when hiking.

Any accessible fire roads in Yellowstone? | Good Sam Community

rv2go
Explorer II
Jun 16, 2014
A lesser traveled road in Yellowstone is the one-way Blacktail Plateau Drive. It's off the Mammoth Hot Springs to Tower-Roosevelt road. It's 6 or 7 miles of good gravel. I have seen bear, moose, pronghorn.
Blacktail Plateau Drive
paulj
Explorer II
Jun 16, 2014
I'm sure park rangers and literature can guide you to less used trails.

But you might also look at the National Forests surrounding the park. If you drive backroads in southern California you probably are already aware of the kinds of resources (and restrictions) forest districts offer.

On one cross country trip, in a pickup camper, I camped in the Black Hills at a FS campground, took back roads in Wyoming, camping the next night near the summit on US16 in the Big Horn Mtns. Then across WY to Grand Tetons, camping at a FS campground just outside the park. After briefly seeing sights in GT, I drove toward Yellowstone, and then took a FS road between the parks into Idaho. That night was a FS campground near Mesa Falls.
harold1946
Explorer
Jun 16, 2014
In a word, no. Back country hiking is allowed but driving on fire roads/maintenance roads is prohibited.

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Any accessible fire roads in Yellowstone?

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