Yellowstone National Park
Slough Creek flowing through verdant pine forest
Slough Creek Campground
 


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There is no doubt that Slough Creek is a fishermen and wolf watchers campground, with an emphasis on tent camping. Access is easy to this world class stream as the camping sites border it. Slough Creek campground is also the only drive-in campground in Yellowstone more than one mile from pavement. The campground fills incredibly fast. If you want a camping site during peak hours, get there before 8:30 AM. In the fall, it will fill before noon. Slough Creek campground does not offer modern bathrooms.

Wolf watching is also a popular activity in the Slough Creek valley. This is some of the heavier bear country in Yellowstone National Park, so be alert. Bring bear spray on any hike, even just upstream into the verdant forest. A few years back, Slough Creek campground had problems with a bear who liked to just jump on tents. No one was ever in the tents - the bear just liked to collapse them. Eventually, the bear was named "Pouncy". But by the time its antics were well documented, it was never seen again.

Slough Creek is a really great fishing experience. It tumbles out of the Beartooth mountains, pausing in several well spaced meadows before churling its way down to the Lamar river, and ultimately the Yellowstone river. This is trophy fishing for enormous cutthroat and cutbow trout. The catch is that these fish are incredible picky. If you don't match the hatch exactly as these fish see fit, forget it. Always, and I mean always show up to Slough Creek with the widest amount of flies you can comfortably pack on your trip - unless of course you like driving to fly shops every day in a desperate search for effective flies. It's advisable to stock up on flies specifically designed for Slough from some of the local outfitters that dot the periphery of the park. Your chances of success will increase greatly with this approach.

Due to the far northern location of Slough Creek inside the park, it's not ideal as a camping site for those who wish to explore other attractions such as Old Faithful, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone or Yellowstone Lake. You will end up spending much of your day driving. Also, driving Yellowstone roads at night is simply not recommended. Bison eyes do not reflect like a deer, and they are not afraid of vehicles. Huge bull elk feed on the roadsides as the traffic starts to thin out. It's dangerous driving. Even the gravel road to Slough Creek campground can be dotted with bison. If your focus is to watch wildlife, fish and enjoy tent camping under the stars, Slough Creek is a prime choice. Just keep an eye out for Pouncy........


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Slough Creek campground facts:

Video Tour available: Yes. Download now!
Open: Late May to Late October
Sites: 29
Laundry: No
Showers: No
Dump Station: No
Store: No( 10 miles to Tower)
Fee: $12
RV: No large RV's
Handicapped Accessible: Yes (vault toilets)
Water: Yes
Elevation: 6440 feet
Fishing: Yes (Slough Creek)
Generators: No
Gas: No (7.69 miles west to Tower Junction, June to September)
Repairs: No (29 miles to Gardiner, all year)
pine trees and white tent at campsite
restroom at campground with pine dotted hill in back

 

 

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