North Absaroka Wilderness

592 Views

Several summits in the North Absaroka Wilderness rise above 10,000 feet with the highest point on Dead Indian Peak at 12,216 feet. The United States Congress designated this a wilderness area in 1964 and it now has a total of 350,488 acres. All of this wilderness is located in Wyoming and is managed by the Forest Service.

North Absaroka Wilderness Area

Yellowstone National Park lies along the northeastern boundary of the North Absaroka Wilderness, which also shares a border with Montana and contains one of the areas least desecrated by humanity’s insatiable thirst for development.

Dead Indian Peak stands about eight miles from Dead Indian Meadows and about 15 miles from other landmarks, such as Dead Indian Pass, Dead Indian Hill, Dead Indian Creek, and Dead Indian Campground. It makes you wonder if this region was hazardous to Native Americans.

This remote and rugged country contains large regions of virtually inaccessible terrain. Volcanic in origin, the land is dissected by numerous creeks forming huge drainages (containing tons of erodible topsoil) that turn into frenzied rivers of mud during summer rainstorms.

There are 217 miles of rough and minimally marked trails, and hikers run a high risk of getting lost or hurt. The North Absaroka Wilderness receives few visitors, especially before hunting season opens.

The trails are generally long, steep, and narrow. They tend to follow drainages and have few places to cross from one drainage to another except at the headwaters.

From easily accessible Pahaska Campground, a trail runs north along Crow Creek to meet other trails. Only a few lakes exist, but the streams contain cutthroat, brown, brook, and rainbow trout.

The region is home to grizzly bears, so precautions are in order. Big-game hunters come by the hundreds for bighorn sheep, elk, and moose.

Marmots and pikas reign on numerous talus slopes.

Summers are relatively dry, and flies and gnats may disturb your serenity. Mosquitoes are generally few, I’m happy to report, and far between.

Some of the trails will take you far from water. A limited number of appealing campsites has created some overuse at the desirable places.

Restrictions in this wilderness area:

ALL VISITORS

The following acts are prohibited in the North Absaroka Wilderness:

Camping within 50 feet of any trail.

Grazing livestock at sites posted as closed to livestock grazing.

Exceeding the group size limit of 20 persons and or the exceeding the maximum number of pack and saddle stock of 30 animals.

Possessing, storing, or transporting food for livestock except for pelletized feed or processed grain (rolled). Cubed hay is authorized only if certified weed seed free.

Camping in a single location for longer than 16 consecutive days, or leaving camping equipment unattended for longer than 48 hours.