Yellowstone NP, WY – The Pebble Creek Trail travels 12 miles from the Warm Creek Trailhead located 1.5 miles west of the Northeast Entrance Station to the Pebble Creek Trailhead located near the Pebble Creek Campground on the Northeast Entrance Road. We opted to day hike the length of the Pebble Creek trail since we had a shuttle vehicle. We started from the Warm Creek Trailhead where there is ample parking. This route has 4 crossings of Pebble Creek which can be high and swift in the early summer. This hike is included in Bill Schneider’s Falcon Guide: Hiking Yellowstone National Park- A Guide to More than 100 Great Hikes.
We hiked the Pebble Creek Trail starting from the Warm Creek trailhead
From the Warm Creek Trailhead, located at 7,292 feet elevation, the trail quickly climbs 1,100 feet in about 1.5 miles through mixed pine forest to Warm Creek Pass at 8,307 feet. During this climb, views of Soda Butte Creek and Barronette Peak intermittently break through the trees. The trail is quite steep and narrow in places. Once the climb is complete, the trail descends briefly to the Upper Meadows and the first crossing of Pebble Creek at mile 1.8, which we were able to rock hop. The rest of the trail trends down hill, with the Pebble Creek Trailhead at 6,950 feet.
The trail climbs quickly
Along Pebble Creek Trail
View of Barronette Peak from the climb
After crossing Pebble Creek, the trail enters the broad expanse of the Upper Meadows. Views of Cutoff Mountain (west), Wolverine Peak (north), and Sunset and Meridian Peaks (east) are majestic and spectacular. The Upper Meadows are extensive (about 2.5 miles long) and beckon for exploration. Willows line the banks of Pebble Creek and create excellent habitat for moose.This was our favorite portion of the trail.
Expansive view in Pebble Creek Upper Meadows
The trail heads across the Upper Meadows
Mountains from Pebble Creek
Pebble Creek Valley
Mount Hornaday
At the eastern end of the Upper Meadows we completed our second crossing of Pebble Creek, which was about shin deep. After hiking through a willow section, the trail climbs above the creek and travels through forests of lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce, and sub-alpine fir. After fairly open sections that had been burned more recently, the forests became thicker with shorter visibility lines.
Karla crossing Pebble Creek at the 2nd crossing
Pebble Creek’s namesake pebbles and banks lined in willow
Pebble Creek Trail view
The trail meets a junction with Bliss Pass Trail at 5.1 miles. Pebble Creek is crossed twice within a mile between miles 6.5 and 7.5. These crossings were noticeably deeper and had more current than the first two. The trail continues through forest until about mile 10.5, where there are more open meadow areas mixed with grand old growth trees.
Wooded section of the trail
Near the third crossing
Barronette Peak from the west
The final creek crossing was about knee deep
Meadow and old growth trees
There is a split at mile 11.6, head left to go to the Pebble Creek Trailhead, right to go to the Pebble Creek Campground. Enjoy views of The Thunderer (10,564 feet) as you descend to the Trailhead.
View near Pebble Creek Trailhead
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)
- Gneiss Creek
- Fawn Pass/Fan Creek
- Rescue 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
