Yellowstone: Sportsman Lake and Electric Pass

August 24, 2024  •  Leave a Comment

Hey everyone!

We finally made it up to Sportsman Lake and Electric Pass after years of talking about it. During our initial planning, we had always looked at going in from the Glen Creek Trailhead, but after asking around and looking at the maps, we decided that going in from Highway 191 made more sense. It's a mile or two shorter, plus you don't have to hike over the pass both ways.

After we ate second breakfast in West Yellowstone, we drove up to the Fawn Pass Trailhead. While putting the finishing touches on packing we saw another group getting ready to hike in for the night with a few llamas. Since Corrie used to pack llamas in Colorado, I had to make sure and get a photo for her.

Fan Creek Trail: Llama outfitters crossing the Gallatin RiverFan Creek Trail: Llama outfitters crossing the Gallatin RiverNPS / Jacob W. Frank

Not too far from the road, we arrived at our junction. Apparently we weren't the only "hikers" in the area. It rained the night before so there were lots of tracks on the trail, including a sow grizzly and her cub.

Fan Creek Trail: hikers heading eastFan Creek Trail: hikers heading eastNPS / Jacob W. Frank Fan Creek Trail: grizzly tracks in the mud (2)Fan Creek Trail: grizzly tracks in the mud (2)NPS / Jacob W. Frank

Eventually, we arrived at our first creek crossing. It didn't look very deep so I tried to rock hop across, unsuccessfully. That meant I was hiking with wet feet the rest of the day. This was also the first big trip for us after being sick from COVID for 2 months, so my feet weren't tough yet. Perfect recipe for blisters...

Fan Creek Trail: hikers at the Fan Creek crossingFan Creek Trail: hikers at the Fan Creek crossingNPS / Jacob W. Frank Fan Creek Trail: meadow viewsFan Creek Trail: meadow viewsNPS / Jacob W. Frank

The trail takes you along Fan Creek the entire way up. There are plenty of places to filter water, and the views of the meandering creek are great.

Fan Creek Trail: Fan Creek oxbowsFan Creek Trail: Fan Creek oxbowsNPS / Jacob W. Frank Fan Creek Trail: Fan Creek oxbows (2)Fan Creek Trail: Fan Creek oxbows (2)NPS / Jacob W. Frank Fan Creek Trail: views of Fan CreekFan Creek Trail: views of Fan CreekNPS / Jacob W. Frank Fan Creek Trail: Hikers cross a Fan Creek tributaryFan Creek Trail: Hikers cross a Fan Creek tributaryNPS / Jacob W. Frank

You're slowly gaining elevation the entire way up, but the last couple miles of the trail there's a bit of a climb. Eventually, you're looking down on the bowl where Sportsman Lake sits. After a few switchbacks and a short trail through the trees, you arrive at the lake with great views of Electric Peak in the distance.

View of Mulherun Creek drainageView of Mulherun Creek drainageNPS / Jacob W. Frank Sportsman Lake: last light on Electric PeakSportsman Lake: last light on Electric PeakNPS / Jacob W. Frank

The following morning it was a beautiful sunrise. After breakfast, we planned to hike to Electric Pass and back. It's only about three miles to the top, but you gain around 2,500 feet.

Fireweed blooming near Sportsman LakeFireweed blooming near Sportsman LakeNPS / Jacob W. Frank

So we climbed and climbed.

Electric Pass Trail: hiker climbing south through treelineElectric Pass Trail: hiker climbing south through treelineNPS / Jacob W. Frank Electric Pass Trail: hiker switchbacks through treelineElectric Pass Trail: hiker switchbacks through treelineNPS / Jacob W. Frank Electric Pass Trail: views to the north, north side of the passElectric Pass Trail: views to the north, north side of the passNPS / Jacob W. Frank Electric Pass Trail: views of Electric Peak, north of the passElectric Pass Trail: views of Electric Peak, north of the passNPS / Jacob W. Frank

And climbed a bit more.

Electric Pass Trail: hiker on the ridgeElectric Pass Trail: hiker on the ridgeNPS / Jacob W. Frank Electric Pass Trail: views of the ridge to Electric PeakElectric Pass Trail: views of the ridge to Electric PeakNPS / Jacob W. Frank

At the pass, you have a great view in almost all directions. We topped out just over 10,000 feet.

Electric Pass Trail:Electric Pass Trail:NPS / Jacob W. Frank Electric Pass Trail:Electric Pass Trail:NPS / Jacob W. Frank

Electric Peak is only another 1,000 feet higher than the pass, but it's another three miles (six total) and the route goes down and up a few times before you reach the summit. 

Electric Pass Trail: Views of Electric Peak from the passElectric Pass Trail: Views of Electric Peak from the passNPS / Jacob W. Frank Electric Pass Trail: Views of the pass to the westElectric Pass Trail: Views of the pass to the westNPS / Jacob W. Frank Electric Pass Trail:Electric Pass Trail:NPS / Jacob W. Frank

If we were to come back here and weren't coming off a long illness, it could be fun to attempt a summit from this route.

Electric Pass Trail: hiker on the ridge (2)Electric Pass Trail: hiker on the ridge (2)NPS / Jacob W. Frank

But it wasn't in the cards for this trip, so we headed back down towards the lake.

Electric Pass Trail: hiker on the ridge headed westElectric Pass Trail: hiker on the ridge headed westNPS / Jacob W. Frank Electric Pass Trail: views of Sportsman Lake from the TrailElectric Pass Trail: views of Sportsman Lake from the TrailNPS / Jacob W. Frank Electric Pass Trail: hiker headed back below treelineElectric Pass Trail: hiker headed back below treelineNPS / Jacob W. Frank

That night we were greeted to one of the best sunsets on the year, and without any wind there was a great reflection in the lake.

Sportsman Lake: sunset from shorlineSportsman Lake: sunset from shorlineNPS / Jacob W. Frank Sportsman Lake: fallen tree sunsetSportsman Lake: fallen tree sunsetNPS / Jacob W. Frank

The following morning we woke up early to beat the heat. We saw a few critters including marmots and whitetail deer.

Marmot sunning on a fence post (2)Marmot sunning on a fence post (2)NPS / Jacob W. Frank Hoodoos above Sportsman LakeHoodoos above Sportsman LakeNPS / Jacob W. Frank Sportsman Lake Trail: headed west from patrol cabinSportsman Lake Trail: headed west from patrol cabinNPS / Jacob W. Frank
Sportsman Lake Trail: headed west towards passSportsman Lake Trail: headed west towards passNPS / Jacob W. Frank

Trip details: In total, we hiked just shy of 30 miles with 5,000 ft elevation gain. The majority of the trail is well graded so you don't notice the elevation, except from the lake to the pass. You definitely notice that. We didn't see anyone once we got past mile 7ish, which meant that we had the entire lake to ourselves and didn't see another person for almost two days. Overall great trip and I highly recommend the area. Bring a rod if you like to fish!


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