HEART LAKE
- BACKPACK REMOTE YELLOWSTONE -
EXPLORE YELLOWSTONE'S
WILDEST CORNER
EXPLORE
YELLOWSTONE'S
WILDEST CORNER
We’ll bring the permit, meals, gear, and expert guide
Deep in Yellowstone’s wilderness, you listen from your tent as the backcountry awakens. A geyser splashes somewhere in the darkness, loons call across the water, and elk stomp through the forest. The farther you hike into this ancient world, the more you leave familiar life behind.
- 5 Days
- 32 Miles
- Moderate
Got questions? Contact us!
Price: $1,910
Just a $400 deposit to book!
2026 DATES
September 2-6 5 spots left!
Yellowstone grants permits in March. Dates may slightly shift until permit is granted.
WHERE THE WILD STILL ROAMS
Backpack deep into one of Yellowstone’s most remote, rarely visited corners.
Circle the gigantic Heart Lake, exploring volcanic features like fumaroles hissing with steam, bubbling mud pots, and even a geyser. Wild rivers must be crossed to reach golden meadows stretching toward distant peaks. Backcountry swims are the reward after a satisfying day on the trail.
Due to high bear activity, rangers keep this area closed each spring. Keep your eyes peeled! With a bit of luck, you may glimpse a grizzly roaming freely through the landscape.
As night falls, the wilderness comes alive. Elk bugle through the woods, loons call across the lapping water, and bison stomp across the vast wilderness.
This is Yellowstone at its most untamed, where wildlife still rules, and every day is an adventure!
ADVENTURE ITINERARY
DAY ONE
See a volcanic hot spot.
Hike to Heart Lake.
Meet your guide and hiking companions at the Heart Lake trailhead. Gear is checked, packs are ready, and your adventure begins.
A gentle climb brings you to the top of Heart Lake Pass, where the ground hisses and bubbles. Fumaroles steam and mud pots pop right next to the trail. We stop and enjoy the volcanic action. Looking out from the pass, you see massive Heart Lake stretching wide to the horizon… our home for the night!
Descend past rainbow hot springs shimmering beside the trail. At Witch Creek, we are enveloped in sulfurous steam clouds. While crossing the bridge, you feel the heat of the warm water radiate around you.
At the shore of Heart Lake, we make camp. You swim and relax as your guide prepares dinner. From your tent, you hear a bugling elk stomping through the forest and the splash of Heart Lake Geyser erupting through the night.
8 miles +350 ft | -700 ft
DAY TWO
Into the heart of the park
Wake up to the smell of hot coffee and breakfast cooked by your guide. Morning mist rises over Heart Lake, while Mount Sheridan towers over camp behind you.
The trail hugs the lake for a while before we head deeper into the wilderness. This section of Yellowstone is alive with wildlife. Bears are so active here that rangers close Heart Lake until July, giving them space in the spring. You follow your guide through their territory.
Hiking across golden meadows stretched between rugged peaks, you realize this is exactly what you’ve been imagining when picturing the Wild West. After our second creek crossing, you wade into the cool water while your guide prepares lunch under a tree.
The landscape is so vast, it’s impossible not to pause in the sunlit meadows and scan for wildlife. We stop at a rippling grassland with mountains in the distance, and your guide points out a grove of towering trees beside a stream. This will be our camp tonight!
With camp set up, you take a breath of fresh air and look out at the landscape. This is the Yellowstone you’ve been dreaming of!
6 miles +200 | -200 ft
DAY THREE
Cross the wild Snake River
You’re already remote, but today you’re heading even deeper into the land of the bears!
You hike through more meadows before following your guide into pockets of dark, mysterious forest where the sun barely penetrates. You peer through the thick branches and wonder what might be lurking there. This is a true adventure!
Eventually, you emerge from the trees onto a rocky riverbank. This is the famous Snake River, stretching a thousand miles from Yellowstone, through the Tetons, and all the way to Idaho. We ford the rushing water and set up camp in a meadow on the other side.
After setting up your tent, you return to the riverbank to sit on the rocks, dip your feet, and take in the view. This is our most distant point on the trip, and the feeling of being so far from civilization is freeing. You lose yourself in thought until your guide calls out, “Dinner is ready!”
3 miles +200 ft | -100 ft
DAY FOUR
Camp on a ledge above Heart Lake
Follow your guide through a gorgeous stretch of rolling hills. After crossing a river, you hike through the woods and catch a glimpse of water through the trees. You’ve circled around Heart Lake!
We stop on the beach to take in the view. Across the distant shore, Mount Sheridan looms, where we camped just two nights ago. After a lunch of wading and swimming, we hike to our campsite.
On a ledge overlooking the lake, we set up tents. Looking out over the water, we call out, and our echoes bounce off Mount Sheridan. Your guide takes you for a stroll along the shore, spotting the tracks of elk, beavers, and even the occasional grizzly bear. Suddenly, a creature darts out from the bushes and splashes into the water! You realize it’s a beaver going about its day.
After swimming, you head back up to camp and watch the sunset with your fellow hikers, who have become good friends. Under a starry sky, the moon rises, its reflection rippling on the water. You look out at the scene, savoring one last breathtaking night in the wild.
6 miles +250 ft | -150 ft
DAY FIVE
Hike home over Heart Lake Pass
After breakfast, you pack up camp and make your way down to the beach. Hike along the shore through a surprisingly thick morning fog until your guide turns into the trees and leads you back to the trail. You’ve encircled the entire lake!
Before heading back up the mountain pass, we stop on the beach one last time. Photos with your new trail friends are a must. With Mount Sheridan in the background and the lake reflecting the clouds, it’s the perfect shot.
As we hike up to Heart Lake Pass, we stay alert, hoping to spot more bears before leaving. At the top, your guide makes lunch next to the mud pots, and then we continue on our way. The trail descends through the forest, winding gently back to the parking lot.
You say goodbye to your friends, already planning your next adventure together. We head home carrying memories of a remote landscape filled with bears and the freedom of the vast backcountry.
9 miles +900 ft | -350 ft
What kind of person is this trip for?
People who want to experience the remote backcountry of Yellowstone and explore grizzly habitat. The trail is moderate, so this hike is open to first time backpackers as well as more experienced adventurers.
Most guests are drawn to the idea of getting far away from civilization and spending time in one of Yellowstone’s more remote areas. If you like the idea of being deep in the backcountry, hiking over moderate terrain, and the possibility of seeing wildlife in its natural habitat, this trip is for you.
How challenging is this trip?
This is a moderate backpacking trip suitable for people who are comfortable with sustained physical activity. Expect to hike up to 9 miles over rolling terrain while carrying a 30-40 lb pack.
If you can jog three miles, you’ll likely enjoy this trip.
Training is strongly recommended. You can prepare with 6 mile hikes that include elevation gain. Jogging, using a stairmaster, or treadmill at high incline is also effective.
What's included?
Accommodations
• 4 nights camping in tents
Meals and Snacks
• All meals from the first day’s lunch to the last day’s lunch
• All snacks, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and desserts!
Group Camping Gear
• Bear canisters, water filters, stove, cookware, first aid kit
• Individual tent for each client
• See Gear List
Wilderness Guide
• Professional local wilderness guide with a wilderness first responder certification
Wilderness Permit
• Permit to camp in Yellowstone’s backcountry
What's not included?
Transportation to Yellowstone
• Adventurers take own car to reach meeting point
Personal Gear & Clothing
• Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack
• Personal clothing
• Gear rental available
Gratuity for Guides
• Most people tip 10% – 20% of the trip cost
Trip Insurance
• “Cancel for any reason” trip insurance recommended
Backcountry Evacuation
• Read Terms & Conditions for full evacuation policy
What gear do I need? Do you provide it?
Here is a link to the gear list. We also offer a gear rental option.
We want to make it easy for you to join the trip. If you don’t own backpacking gear, or prefer not to travel with it, you can choose our rental option and we’ll provide everything you need.
How do I get there? (Airport, car, parking...)
Fly into Bozeman, Cody, or Jackson. You must fly in the day before your trip starts and fly out the day after it ends. We do not guarantee exact return times to the trailhead.
Most people stay overnight in West Yellowstone or Cody before and after the trip. A rental car is required to reach the meeting point. Once parked at the trailhead, you can leave your car for the duration of the trip.
What dates are available?
September 2-6 5 spots left!
What is your cancellation policy?
A $400 non-refundable deposit is due at booking. The remaining amount is due 90 days in advance of your trip start date.
• If you cancel your trip 61 or more days prior to trip departure, you will receive a full refund, excluding the non-refundable deposit, booking platform fee, and credit card processing fee.
• If you cancel your trip 31-60 days prior to trip departure, you will receive a 50% refund, excluding the non-refundable deposit, booking platform fee, and credit card processing fee.
• If you cancel your trip 0-30 days prior to trip departure, no refund is given.
• No refund is given for any unused portions of a trip.
Please make sure you read and understand the Terms & Conditions.
When are trip dates confirmed?
Yellowstone issues permits in March. If you book before March, trip dates may shift depending on permit approval. In that case, please wait to book flights, hotels, or other travel until your trip dates are confirmed.
How do I contact you?
I’d be happy to answer your questions!
• Email: LamplightersAdventures@gmail.com
• Phone: (209) 336-3147
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