Yellowstone NP, WY – Rescue Creek Trail is an 8 mile (one way) route that travels from the Blacktail Creek Trailhead on the Mammoth-Tower Road to the Rescue Creek Trailhead located at the pedestrian bridge over the Gardner River located on the North Entrance Road. The trail starts at 6,588 feet, climbs to a high point of 6,880 feet around mile 4, and then descends to 6,360 feet. We’ve day hiked from both ends of this hike in the past, but decided to complete a one way hike as we had a shuttle vehicle. This hike is included in Bill Schneider’s Falcon Guide: Hiking Yellowstone National Park- A Guide to More than 100 Great Hikes.
Rescue Creek is accessed via Blacktail Creek Trail
From the trailhead located 7 miles east of Mammoth on the north side of the road, the trail quickly climbs a ridge before dropping down to Rescue Creek. At the junction at 0.7 miles, Blacktail Creek Trail heads right and to the left is Rescue Creek Trail. We spotted a mule deer during the initial climb and a male bison about 0.5 miles down Rescue Creek Trail. Along the first section of Rescue Creek, there are several easy creek crossings. The trail then begins climbing up through sagebrush slopes.
View from the beginning of the trail
View from Rescue Creek Trail
Rescue Creek Trail
Rescue Creek
The trail climbs up sage slopes above Rescue Creek
An open hillside along the route
We enjoyed the first 4 miles which climbed up to the high point. From here the trail begins descending through Turkey Pen Creek draw. When we hiked this in late August, the draw was overgrown. Picture two miles of trail filled with waist high brush including wild rose bushes and thistles. There were also some sections that were shoulder height! It had rained the night before, so our pants were soaked well above our knees from brushing against all of the vegetation. The trail itself was often difficult to see due to the brush. This was our least favorite section of the trail.
Heading toward the first draw
View from bottom of first draw section
View from near high point
Looking west from high point
Turkey Pen Creek descent
Representative of the Turkey Pen Creek Draw trail section
Eventually, we came out onto sagebrush meadows and slopes for the final descent. We spotted a small herd of Pronghorn who left the area as soon as they saw us. The trail descends past Turkey Pen Peak and Rattlesnake Butte. This region is good for wildlife viewing during November through May, including: elk, mule deer, coyote, bighorn sheep, pronghorn and possibly bears. In the future, we would hike several miles from either end, but skip the long descent down Turkey Pen Creek.
Turkey Pen Peak
From the trail
Beginning the long final descent with Gardner in the distance
The Yellowstone River Canyon & mountains from Rescue Creek Trail
Stormy skies over the end of the trail
The bridge over the Gardner River
While visiting Yellowstone National Park this trip, we stayed at the Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone, Montana. We also hiked a number of other trails including:
- Riddle Lake
- Chain of Lakes (Cascade, Grebe, and Wolf)
- Pebble Creek
- Fawn Pass/Fan Creek
- Gneiss Creek
- Black Canyon of the Yellowstone Backpack Overnight Trip: (Hellroaring, Yellowstone River Trail, Blacktail Deer Creek Trail)
- Upper Gallatin River/ Bighorn Pass Trail
- Nez Perce Creek (western Mary Mountain Trail)
During prior trips to Yellowstone we’ve also hiked:
- Artist Paintpots, Yellowstone River Picnic Area/Specimen Ridge, Rescue Creek, Trout Lake, Slough Creek, Beaver Ponds, Hellroaring Creek, Mary Mountain Trail, Pelican Creek, Fairy Falls
- Mount Washburn, Bunsen Peak, and Elephant Back
- Garnett Hill Loop, Pelican Valley, Snow Mesa/Hoodoos Loop, Lonestar Geyser, Clear Lake/Ribbon Lake/Wapiti Loop
