Tower Falls

Tower Junction

Tower Juction is know for a water fall that the juction takes it's name from and that is Tower Falls, a 132 foot waterfall.

This area of the park is one of the most beautiful areas because of the meadows that allow one to see for miles. And with these meadows the animals come to graze in them as well. The elk and bison are plentiful. Antelope are commonly seen along with the moose in the early mornings and at dusk. The main two animal attractions to the area are the bears and the wolves. Now both the wolves and the bears are best viewed just after sun up and just before sun down. In the early spring it is not uncommon to see both the wolves and bears in the same area going after the elk caves. Later in the summer when the bears have moved to higher ground they then can be seen in the Antelope Meadows just below Mount Washburn. There are plenty of pull outs to view the bears from the road as the area is closed to human travel.

The Roosevelt area is the most primitive of the developed areas in the fact that the cabins are head by woodstoves and to get out to the famous cookout you either go out by horse or horse drawn chuckwagons. But this is a great place to visit even if you do not plan on spending a lot of time in the area.

Tower Falls - This is a 132 foot high waterfall. It gets it's name from the towering rocks that stand on either side of the falls. The falls are located just beyond the Tower Hamilton Store just 2 miles south of Tower Junction.

Roosevelt Lodge - Roosevelt Lodge was named after Teddy Roosevelt who really enjoyed this location due to the scenery and the wildlife. Roosevelt was a real avid hunter and enjoyed seeing wild game (even if he could not hunt it) that on morning while in the camp near Roosevelt Lodge he was told of some bighorn sheep while he was getting a shave. That he jumped up from that shaving to get a view of those bighorn sheep.

Calsite Springs - Calsite Springs are another good place to see the varrious colors in the Canyon due to hot springs. This is also a good location to see bighorn sheep in the early summer before they go up to higher elevations. Calsite is located between Roosevelt Lodge and the Tower Fall.

Bannock Ford - Bannock Indian Trail - The Bannock Indian Trail was a trail used by the indians to get across the norther half of Yellowstone. It entered the park from the Clarks Fork Valley up and over the Absaroka Mountains. Went through the Lamar Valley. The Yellowstone River was forded just up stream of Tower Fall a place known now as the Bannock Ford. The trail then continued across the Blacktail Dear Creek Meadows down Lava Creek, to Mammoth Hot Springs. Then up and over Snow Pass to the Gardiner River then up Indian Creek where the Gallatin Range was crossed near Mount Holmes where then the trail went along the Madison River Basin. Then the trail continued over Targhee Pass and ended in Camas Meadows in Idaho. This trail was used by many different tribes of Indians mostly the Bannocks to get from one hunting grounds to the other. Today there is not much to see because the trail was last used by the Indians in 1878.

Petrified Tree - This petrified tree is located about 2 miles west of Tower Junction. This is one of the orginal three trees that use to stand here. The other tree was colleted by souviner hunters so that by 1905 a fence was put up around the tree to protect it for future generations.

Fossil Forest - This is an area of the park where there are over 27 different species of petrified trees. This area is located five miles from Tower Junction as you go out to Lamar. For better directions stop at the Tower Falls Ranger Station. Remember if you go to this area...
NO COLLECTING OF PETRIFIED WOOD IS PERMITED. Fines for people have been quite high.

Blacktail Deer Plataeu Drive - This is a one way scenic drive dirt road. It is six miles in lenght locted between Mammoth and Tower Junction. The road is only open from some time after 8am until just before dusk. As this area is used by both the bears and the wolves during the other hours. There is no off the road travel permitted in this area for that reason at any time of the day.

---

Hikes in the Tower / Roosevelt Area

Lost Falls - This is a short 1/4 mile hike one way just behind the Roosevelt lodge.

Tower Falls - This is another short hike of about 1 mile which takes you to the bottom of the falls. Then at the bottom you can see where the Bannock Ford was located just upstream on the Yellowstone River.

Yellowstone River Trail - This is a 4 mile loop trail. You start in the Yellowstone Picnic area where the trail follows along the rim of the Yellowstone Canyon upstream. Where you meet up with the Specimen Ridge Trail and you follow that back to the road where then you follow the road back to you vehicle.

Hellroaring Trail - This is both a scenic trail but it can be very challenging due to the 600 foot climb up at the end. In early June one can see Elk, Moose, Bison, Mule Deer and even Bighorn Sheep along the trail. It is one mile from the trail head where the Yellowstone River is crossed using a suspension bridge. Then opens up in the meadows where the trail meets up with Hellroaring Creek. The creek is crossed using a bridge located 1 1/2 miles upstream. This trail then joins the Yellowstone River Trail which leads to Gardiner MT. If you start at the Hellroaring Trailhead to Gardiner MT. it is 21.5 miles but you can make it as shorter hike by coming out the Blacktail Trailhead.

Garnett Loop Trail - This is a fairly flat 7 mile loop trail which starts at the Ranger Station and takes you down the stagecoach road to the cookout area. The trail then continues down Elk Creek goes around Garnnet Hill and follows the Yellowstone River upstream to the open meadows where then it comes out on the road to Lamar Valley then it is a short hike back to the vehicle. You can also make a short side trip to the suspension bridge over the Yellowstone River.

Slough Creek Trail - (Slew Creek) - This is a very popular trail that many fisherman use to get to the excellent fishing in Slough Creek. This trail starts about 1/2 mile before yo get to the campground. The trail is on a wagon road used by the Silver Tip Ranch located just north of the park boundry. The first mile and half the trail (wagon road) climbs about 600 feet then drops in to the First Meadow of Slough Creek. From here to the boundry the trail is rather flat so that it makes for easy walking.

Specimen Ridge Trail - This is a trail that has some of the best views but do to the location and that there are not any campsites along the trail it is also one of the least used trails in the park. Now in some respect that is good but since it goes through large meadows the trail can not be easily found at times. So you need to have a map and compass and know how to use them. This trail starts about 2 miles from Tower Junction and ended up 18 miles later at the Lamar Trailhead.

Blacktail Deer Creek Trail - This is a popular trail used mostly in the early summer months when the rest of the park is under snow. The trail is half way between Mammoth and Tower Junction on the north side of the road. The first 4 miles of trail is through the open meadows where then it drops down to the Yellowstone River. Once on the other side via a bridge if you go upstream it will take you to Hellroaring Creek. If you go downstream it will take you to Crevice Lake then to Knowles Falls a 15 foot high waterfall on the Yellowstone River. Then the last part is through what I would consider the desert. It does follow the Yellowstone River but there is not much plant life and it can get quite hot in the afternoon. So you need to take atleast 2 quarts of water with you. But the trail does end up at the K-Bar for pizza and a cold beverage of choice in the town of Gardiner. That of course that is 14 miles away from the trailhead.

---

Services in the Tower / Roosevelt Area

Roosevelt Lodge - Run by Amfac - Open Summer only

Roosevelt Dining Room - Run by Amfac - Open Summer only

Tower Fountain - Run by Hamilton - Open Summer only

General Store at Tower - Run by Hamilton - Open Summer only

General Store at Roosevelt - Run by Hamilton - Open Summer only

Gas Station - Run by Amfac and Hamilton features Conoco Gasoline - Open Summer and Winter

Tower Campground - NPS - Open Summer only

Slough Creek Campground - NPS - Open Summer only

Ranger Station - NPS - Open all year

---

Remember... If you take the hike down to the bottom of Tower Falls be sure to take water and take your time comming back up. Stay at least 100 yards from the bears and 25 yards from the bison, elk and big horn sheep. Remember that you need a fishing license to fish in the area and you need to have back country permit if you wish to spend the night camping in the back country and you can get both of these at Tower Ranger Station. Say hi to David if you actually visit Tower Ranger Station.

---

Yellowstone National Park
PO Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
307-344-7381

Entire contents & copy;1997-2001 David Rothenburger (Parkee@worldnet.att.net).

You are the to visit my site since December 8, 1999.

---

Page hosted by Att.com