Agate Creek Out-and-Back

The Agate Creek Trail is reached by taking the first 2.3 miles of the Specimen Ridge Trail from its western side. Once Agate Creek Tr leaves the Specimen Ridge Trail, it gradually ascends 500 feet through open sagebrush meadows high above the Yellowstone River canyon.To the southwest, the skyline is dominated by Mount Washburn. At the 1.6 mile mark the trail crosses Quartz Creek just before it plunges down an eroded ravine to join the Yellowstone. Soon the trail skirts the edge ridge above the river and views up and down the river are outstanding. Up river you see into the reaches of the Grand Canyon. Down river you can see a distinctive light-colored rock outcropping towering above the river. This is the Narrows near Tower Falls.The final 1.4 miles of the trail precipitously drops over 1300 feet to the river at the bottom. Here the slopes are covered with trees and does not display multi-colors like it does at the beginning of the canyon some 15 miles up river. But the gorge still has a wild sprit and affords adventuresome hikers an intimate experience. Thanks to guidebook author, Tom Carter, for sharing this trail description. To learn more about visiting Yellowstone, check out his book, Day Hiking Yellowstone.