Bechler Meadows

Hikes: D, O, W.
Total Distance, O: 8 1/2 miles.
Difficulty: Level I.
Season: June 15-October 25.
USGS Map: Bechler Falls.
BLM 100K Map: Ashton.
Dirt Road Miles: 13 gravel.
PLSS Location: Section 25, T49N R118W, Wyoming.

Introduction: This hike is in Idaho's own special corner of Yellowstone Park, at 6400 feet. Why is it in a desert hiking book? Because over and over, this book has sent you to places with relict ungrazed or undergrazed vegetation. Unfortunately, these are only found: in steep, un-cow-accessible locations--and such sites are often very dry. There are simply no wet meadows with pristine vegetation in southern Idaho's desert.
  That's why you are hiking to Bechler Meadows: to visit a wet meadow with waist-high grass. The meadows themselves stay wet far into the summer, making for poor hiking; but you can easily walk to their edge, gaze on the grass, and look north to the rim of the Yellowstone Caldera and the waterfalls that plunge off it. (During the very wet, sudden Spring of 1997, a Park Service person referred to Bechler Meadows as "Bechler Lake".)
  Your trailhead is Bechler River Ranger Station. Be sure to stop in, register, and get the latest information on trails, campsites, grizzlies, etc.

The Hike: This trip, with its broad, maintained, well-signed trails, would rate as a Level 1/2 hike if the author knew how to do fractional Roman numerals! It starts on the Bechler River Trail, which heads to Bechler Meadows, Ouzel Falls, Bechler Canyon, and Three Rivers Junction. In this stretch, the trail follows the Old Marysville Road, a historic stage route. The stock that pulled the stages probably fed on Bechler Meadows' grasses.
  From the ranger station, the trail crosses a creek and then starts moving through the lodgepoles, past occasional ponds. It is almost totally level. After 1 1/2 miles, the Boundary Creek Trail cuts left. Bear right.
  After another 1 1/2 miles, you come to the junction with the Old Marysville Road Trail, which heads east (right) to the lower Bechler River. You'll return this way, but for now continue north another 1/2 mile to Boundary Creek, which is quite big, and which has a bridge across it.
  This marks the edge of Bechler Meadows. From here, you can look north across the meadows to the Yellowstone Caldera's escarpment. Ouzel Falls is visible just a bit east of due north. When the meadow dries out in late July, you can continue north 2 miles to Bechler River Ford. You'll never forget the sandhill cranes you see along the way.
  There are campsites at the Ford, and the author stayed there, but he doesn't recommend them. The river here flows gently through the meadows, and is utterly silent. Yellowstone Park can be very creepy at night when it's quiet and you here every noise in the dark... (Although grizzlies don't seem to come here, you should always take full grizzly precautions in the park.)
  Return to the Old Marysville Road, and turn left (southeast) on it. Hike to the Bechler River. This is big, beautiful water, and there are some nice campsites along the trail--with nice river noise to put you to sleep. Continue a long 1 1/2 miles down the river, and take a trail (W1) to the right (west) that returns you to the trailhead.

Access: Start in Ashton, and head east on ID-47. After 6 miles, turn right on Greentimber Road (W2), which leads to Cave Falls. After about 15 3/4 miles, just across the Wyoming line, turn left for Bechler River Ranger Station, which you reach in 2 miles. You can car camp in the Forest Service's Cave Falls Campground.