We visited Cave Creek Falls CG departing from Ashton ID. I won't say near since it is 20 miles or so away over a terrible washboarded 10 mile stretch of road. The cg is near the mostly unknown SW Bechler entrance to Yellowstone.
Bechler Trail signs. You can hike to Old Faithful if you are a serious hiker. This area is apparently very popular with Horse Packer Guides. The parking lot was full of horse trailers and the two rangers assigned to the ranger station said that the place was full of horses and riders two days before.
There isn't much else at the ranger station, that trail mileage sign above is on the Cave Creek Trail near the falls not at the ranger station which you can drive to. There are a couple of ranger buildings, a residence and barn and a corral and that's it.
Oddly last year when we were in the main park a ranger there told us this station was closed and had been so for years. Not quite correct obviously.
The Falls are very impressive, maybe 20 to 25 feet high and hundreds of feet across:
On the Falls River
If these were located in a more accessible location they would be famous. But that horrible road impedes travel here. That road is so bad that another camper stopped and asked me if there was another way out. But no.
Somehow I missed taking any photos at the CG, but it is a good FS cg with an Iron Ranger. The campsites are mainly right on the Falls River downstream from the Falls. The river is impressive wide with many rapids. A good fishing spot supposedly.
So this is for the adventurous only. The road in is good until you hit the gravel section which is ten miles long out of 16 miles or so. I have a report from 5 or 6 years ago complaining about the washboard then and it has not improved. I also have seen a report from a former FS ranger explaining that they have zero budget for roads unless those roads go to a lumber operation. Which explains the road conditions. Still it is worth the trip especially if you are a hiker. Very nice and empty trails from this location. And there are several more big falls in the area.
Bechler Trail signs. You can hike to Old Faithful if you are a serious hiker. This area is apparently very popular with Horse Packer Guides. The parking lot was full of horse trailers and the two rangers assigned to the ranger station said that the place was full of horses and riders two days before.
There isn't much else at the ranger station, that trail mileage sign above is on the Cave Creek Trail near the falls not at the ranger station which you can drive to. There are a couple of ranger buildings, a residence and barn and a corral and that's it.
Oddly last year when we were in the main park a ranger there told us this station was closed and had been so for years. Not quite correct obviously.
The Falls are very impressive, maybe 20 to 25 feet high and hundreds of feet across:
On the Falls River
If these were located in a more accessible location they would be famous. But that horrible road impedes travel here. That road is so bad that another camper stopped and asked me if there was another way out. But no.
Somehow I missed taking any photos at the CG, but it is a good FS cg with an Iron Ranger. The campsites are mainly right on the Falls River downstream from the Falls. The river is impressive wide with many rapids. A good fishing spot supposedly.
So this is for the adventurous only. The road in is good until you hit the gravel section which is ten miles long out of 16 miles or so. I have a report from 5 or 6 years ago complaining about the washboard then and it has not improved. I also have seen a report from a former FS ranger explaining that they have zero budget for roads unless those roads go to a lumber operation. Which explains the road conditions. Still it is worth the trip especially if you are a hiker. Very nice and empty trails from this location. And there are several more big falls in the area.
