Backpacking in Yellowstone National Park

We will backpack 4.2 to 9 miles a day, plus hike 3 to 7 miles a day after dropping off our backpacks. This trip is cross posted on Northers Colorado Adventurers meetup. You will be on a waitlist until the deposit is paid and you are approved. If you do not get approved, your deposit will be returned.
Please see the attached AllTrails map. This map only shows the backpacking part, but we will do more hiking every day, just without our backpacks. See the topo map in pictures.
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/yellowstone-backpacking-2025-2835acf

8/31- starting the trip : we will plan to arrive to Cody, which is a 7 hr drive from Ft. Collins. I have made reservations for two hotel rooms in Cody, as getting closer to Yellowstone, hotels become super expensive.

9/1: driving to Yellowstone. It is a 2 hr drive and we will start with Yellowstone upper and lower falls. Then, we will pick up our permits, explore West Thumb Geyser Basin by Yellowstone Lake. From there, we will drive towards Old Faithful and if it’s not a long wait, will observe its eruption (we should be able to get the anticipated eruption times ahead of time). If timing is bad, will plan to stop there on 4th or 5th day. We will need to shuffle our cars a few miles before starting to backpack.
From there, we will hike to Mallard Lake where we camp. Backpacking route for the day is in red, 4.3 mi and 800 ft elevation gain.

9/2: from Mallard Lake, we will head towards Midway Geyser Basin and Fairy Springs. Backpacking part is drawn in blue, 9.3 mi and 500 ft elevation gain, but we will also explore the area after we set our tents not far from Spray Geyser.

9/3: will backpack to Black Sand Geyser Basin in Upper Geyser Basin. Will backpack for 8 mi, 1300 ft elevation gain, and then explore the area more. Drawn in purple.

9/4: will backpack to the car, drawn in yellow, 4.5 mi with 230 ft gain. From there, we will drive to explore more. In the evening, we will drive towards Sentinel Meadows. It will be 1.4 mi and 35 ft elevation backpacking to the camping area. Also drawn in yellow.

9/5: will return to the cars, 1.3 mi. Depending on how much we are able to explore during the previous days, and if the weather is nice, plan to explore more. If we decide to explore the park more, we will look for a hotel on our way back.
Feel free to make suggestions for the day hikes on days # 1, 4, 5.

Everyone has to have their own backpacking gear, including a water filter and cooking gear, unless you made arrangements with somebody else on the trip ahead of time. You have to have a bear proof container for your food, sunscreen, and toiletries. Make sure you get enough food ready and have have any personal medications. We practice leave no trace so everything will need to be carried out, including soiled toilet paper.
As Backpacking goes, this trip is not as strenuous as the elevation gain is not so big. Backing experience is desired. If you have any questions or you don’t have any Backpacking experience, please message me.

Deposit includes expenses per person to be paid when you register and are confirmed: $70 - this includes $20 for 4 nights camping reservation and 50 $ for the first night in a hotel. I also expect that we will pay about $50 each to the driver. Calculations are based on having 6 people and two cars. If we decide to explore the park longer and need to find a hotel on our way back, that might add another $50. Also, if fewer people register, the price for hotels and camping reservation will go up, but the price for gas will go down. If you cancel 30 or fewer days before the trip, and if no replacement is found, you will lose your deposit.

Please message me and let me know how you would like to pay, whether Zelle and Venmo, and I will send you my info.

We will decide on a meeting place and time when we know the list of participants.