Lamar River Stock Cutoff Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The Lamar River Trail, and numerous trails that branch from it, receive a fair amount pack-horse use. This large pullout with restrooms is dedicated for their use as a trailhead.

This short, .9-mile trail leaves the trailhead and quickly fords good-sized Soda Butte Creek. It then continues across an open meadow in the middle of the Lamar Valley. This valley is often called the Serengeti of North America. It is not uncommon to see buffalo, elk, grizzly, wolves, and antelope throughout the valley. At the .9-mile mark, the Stock Cutoff Trail joins the main Lamar River Trail.

Runners wishing to access the Lamar River Trail, Cache Creek Trail, Specimen Ridge and other trails leading from them are advised to begin a 1/2 mile east of the Stock Cutoff Trail. There you'll find good parking and a nice bridged crossing of Soda Butte Creek.

Thanks to guidebook author, Tom Carter, for sharing this trail description. To learn more about visiting Yellowstone, check out his book, Day Hiking Yellowstone.