Backcountry camping in Yellowstone National Park offers a profound way to experience the park’s wilderness, away from the crowded boardwalks of Old Faithful. However, it requires careful planning, a bit of luck with the lottery, and strict adherence to safety protocols.
The Permit System & Key 2026 Dates
A permit is required year-round for all overnight stays in the backcountry. For the peak season (May 15–October 31), permits are primarily distributed through a lottery system on Recreation.gov.
- Early Access Lottery: Applications are typically accepted from March 1 to March 20, 2026. This is your best chance to secure popular sites like those along the Bechler River or Shoshone Lake.
- General Reservations: Any remaining sites become available on April 26, 2026, for first-come, first-served online booking.
- Walk-up Permits: Approximately 25% of permits are held for walk-ups, which can be obtained in person at a Backcountry Permit Office up to 48 hours before your trip.
- Fees: There is a $10 non-refundable application fee for the lottery. If successful, you will pay a $5 per-person, per-night recreation fee.
Top Backcountry Regions
Yellowstone’s backcountry is diverse, ranging from high alpine plateaus to lush, waterfall-heavy canyons.
- The Bechler Region (“Cascade Corner”): Located in the remote southwest, this area is famous for its massive waterfalls and wide meadows. It is best visited in late summer after the spring runoff subsides.
- Shoshone Lake: The largest backcountry lake in the lower 48, it is only accessible by foot or boat. The Shoshone Geyser Basin at the lake’s western end features wild, un-boardwalked thermal features.
- The Thorofare: Known as the most remote spot in the contiguous United States, this 30+ mile trek into the southeast corner of the park is legendary among seasoned backpackers for its solitude and wildlife.
- Slough Creek: A favorite for anglers and wildlife watchers, offering high chances of spotting wolves and grizzly bears in the open meadows.
Safety & Essential Gear
Backcountry camping in Yellowstone is inherently risky due to the high density of grizzly bears and unpredictable mountain weather.
- Bear Awareness: You must carry bear spray in an accessible holster—not inside your pack. All food and “smellables” (toothpaste, sunscreen) must be hung on the food storage poles provided at every designated site.
- Water Management: Always filter or boil your water. Be prepared for potentially difficult river fords, especially in the Bechler region during early summer.
- Clothing: Avoid cotton, which loses its insulating properties when wet. Even in July, overnight temperatures can drop below freezing, and snow is possible at any time.
- Entry Surcharges: Note that as of January 1, 2026, non-U.S. residents may be subject to a $100 surcharge per person for entry into Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
Pro Tip: If you are visiting in July, bring a head net. The mosquitoes near water sources like Shoshone Lake can be relentless during this window. Planning a cross-country road trip, the Recreation.gov app helps you find and reserve campsites, review location details, and quickly access information on past and upcoming reservations.
Safety in Bear Country
Hiking and camping restrictions are occasionally in effect as a result of bear activity. Never camp in an area that has obvious evidence of bear activity such as digging, tracks, or scat. Odors attract bears, so avoid carrying or cooking odorous foods. Keep a clean camp; do not cook or store food in your tent. All food, garbage, or other odorous items used for preparing or cooking food must be secured from bears. Most backcountry campsites have food poles from which all food, cooking gear, and scented articles must be suspended when not being used. Treat all odorous products such as soap, deodorant, or other toiletries in the same manner as food. Do not leave packs containing food unattended, even for a few minutes. Allowing a bear to obtain human food even once often results in the bear becoming aggressive about obtaining such food in the future. Aggressive bears present a threat to human safety and eventually must be destroyed or removed from the park. Please obey the law and do not allow bears or other wildlife to obtain human food.
Sleep a minimum of 100 yards (91 meters) from where you hang, cook, and eat your food. Keep your sleeping gear clean and free of food odor. Don’t sleep in the same clothes worn while cooking and eating; hang clothing worn while cooking and eating in plastic bags.
Considering bears’ highly developed sense of smell, it may seem logical that they could be attracted to odors associated with menstruation. Studies on this subject are few and inconclusive. If a woman chooses to hike or camp in bear country during menstruation, a basic precaution should be to wear internal tampons, not external pads. Used tampons should be double-bagged in a zip-lock type bag and stored the same as garbage.
If you are involved in a conflict with a bear, regardless of how minor, report it to a park ranger as soon as possible. Another’s safety may depend on it. Exceptional combinations of food, shelter, and space draw grizzlies to some parts of Yellowstone more than others. In these Bear Management Areas, human access is restricted to reduce impacts on the bears and their habitat. Ask at ranger stations or visitor centers for more information.
Handling Refuse
All refuse must be carried out of the backcountry. Human waste must be buried 6 to 8 inches (15 – 20 centimeters) below the ground and a minimum of 100 feet (30 meters) from a watercourse. Waste water should be disposed of at least 100 feet (30 meters) from a watercourse or campsite. Do not pollute lakes, ponds, rivers, or streams by washing yourself, clothing, or dishes in them.
General Safety Concerns
Should you drink the water? Intestinal infections from drinking untreated water are increasingly common. Waters may be polluted by animal and/or human wastes. When possible, carry a supply of water from a domestic source. If you drink water from lakes and streams, bring it to a boil to reduce the chance of infection.
Don’t take chances in backcountry thermal areas. Scalding water underlies thin, breakable crusts; pools are near or above boiling temperatures. Each year, visitors traveling off trail have been seriously burned, and people have died from the scalding water. No swimming or bathing is allowed in thermal pools.
Removing, defacing or destroying any plant, animal, or mineral is prohibited. Leave historical and archeological items in place.