trail riding in montana, trail riding in absaroka-beartooth wildnerness, trail riding near yellowstone national park
Adventures�
Story and Photos by
Kent & Charlene Krone
Head to Hellroari
Overview: Just north of Yellowstone
National Park in Montana
lies the vast Absaroka-Beartooth
Wilderness. Containing almost
one million acres, this wilderness
is the largest single land block
above 10,000 feet in the contiguous
48 states. This region also
boasts the highest mountain in
Montana, Granite Peak, which
rises to 12,799 feet in elevation.
And nearly 1,000 miles of trails
lie within the Absaroka-Beartooth
Wilderness.
Outfitters: If you’d like, Hell’s A-Roarin’ Outfitters
in Gardiner, Montana, will guide you
through this vast area. Your hosts will be
owners Warren and Sue Johnson. The Johnsons
have been outfitting for three generations.
Their son, Jeremiah, is a saddlemaker
and an outfitter. Their daughter, Aimee,
helps with the business.
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Guests may stay right at the
Johnson’s picturesque lodge
overlooking the Yellowstone
River valley and participate in
rides ranging from an hour up
to all-day picnic rides. The Johnsons
provide pack trips to a base
camp in the Absaroka-Beartooth
Wilderness Area. At the base
camp, guests are provided with
wall tents, woodstoves, wholesome
meals, cots with foam
pads, and a primitive shower.
Horse packing: We packed
in ourselves. Our route into the Absaroka-
Beartooth Wilderness was via the north
entrance of Yellowstone National Park and
the Hell Roaring Trailhead. Since it was July,
the wildflowers were out in full force. Brilliant
shades of yellow, pink, and blue were
splashed generously across expansive meadows.
Below our trail, a scarlet rivulet of Indian
Paint Brush cascaded down a dry streambed.
Horse camping: Beaver Creek Camp is located
where the trail crosses Beaver Creek. From
our starting point, we rode about 14 miles,
dropped 200 feet to the suspension bridge,
then climbed up to 7,500 feet elevation. This
camp is an excellent spot to spend several
days. There’s ample grazing, and water is
nearby. It’s centrally located with a number
of day rides radiating out from camp.
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