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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........
Review
Slough Creek campground!
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)
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