Cutthroat caught near the upper
part of the Black Canyon
part of the Black Canyon
Black Canyon of theYellowstone River:
| ............................Fly Fishing Yellowstone National Park |
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The beginning of the Black Canyon:
This is probably the easiest place to
access the canyon.
This is probably the easiest place to
access the canyon.
The Black Canyon of the Yellowstone River is about 20 miles long. The canyon
gets its name from the dark color of the canyon walls. The Yellowstone River Trail
follows the river the entire distance of the Black Canyon. At several locations, the
trail is far above the river because sheer cliffs make it impossible for the trail to
follow along at the same elevation of the river. There is a lot of water in the Black
Canyon that will never be fished because of this. In many places the trail is very
near the river.
Except at its upper and lower ends, the black canyon is between one and four
miles from the road. It is a relatively easy hike that takes between an hour or less
to two hours to make. You can easily fish the river at the lower and upper ends of
the Black Canyon during a day trip. Some trails to the Yellowstone River Trail
would require an overnight trip if you wanted to get a good day of fishing in.
Most of the water is pocket water. It consist of fast runs, large plunges and rapids,
deep pools with fast water and some cascades. You do not need to carry your
waders.
Above Knowles Falls, about 7 miles above Gardner, the fish are most cutthroats
with a few cutbows, rainbow trout and whitefish. Below the falls brown trout are
also present.
Tributary Streams:
There are three major tributary steams to the great Black Canyon of the
Yellowstone River.
Hellroaring Creek:
Only a short section of Hellroaring Creek, a tributary of the Yellowstone River in
the Black Canyon, is inside the national park. The Hellroaring Trailhead is about 4
miles West of Tower Junction, down an access road just over a quarter of a mile.
The trail drops about 600 feet in less than a mile to reach the Yellowstone River
Trail. The stream has a population of small cutthroats and a few rainbow trout.
Blacktail Deer Creek:
See this under the Blacktail Deer Page.
Gardner River:
The Gardner River is a tributary of the Yellowstone River. See the Gardner River
page.
Comments:
The black canyon offers one of the best opportunities to fish a remote location for
native cutthroat without having to camp at a remote site or travel by horseback. It is
within a reasonable distance to hike to the river and return the same day, yet far
enough of the beaten path to limit those that visit this part of the great river..
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
gets its name from the dark color of the canyon walls. The Yellowstone River Trail
follows the river the entire distance of the Black Canyon. At several locations, the
trail is far above the river because sheer cliffs make it impossible for the trail to
follow along at the same elevation of the river. There is a lot of water in the Black
Canyon that will never be fished because of this. In many places the trail is very
near the river.
Except at its upper and lower ends, the black canyon is between one and four
miles from the road. It is a relatively easy hike that takes between an hour or less
to two hours to make. You can easily fish the river at the lower and upper ends of
the Black Canyon during a day trip. Some trails to the Yellowstone River Trail
would require an overnight trip if you wanted to get a good day of fishing in.
Most of the water is pocket water. It consist of fast runs, large plunges and rapids,
deep pools with fast water and some cascades. You do not need to carry your
waders.
Above Knowles Falls, about 7 miles above Gardner, the fish are most cutthroats
with a few cutbows, rainbow trout and whitefish. Below the falls brown trout are
also present.
Tributary Streams:
There are three major tributary steams to the great Black Canyon of the
Yellowstone River.
Hellroaring Creek:
Only a short section of Hellroaring Creek, a tributary of the Yellowstone River in
the Black Canyon, is inside the national park. The Hellroaring Trailhead is about 4
miles West of Tower Junction, down an access road just over a quarter of a mile.
The trail drops about 600 feet in less than a mile to reach the Yellowstone River
Trail. The stream has a population of small cutthroats and a few rainbow trout.
Blacktail Deer Creek:
See this under the Blacktail Deer Page.
Gardner River:
The Gardner River is a tributary of the Yellowstone River. See the Gardner River
page.
Comments:
The black canyon offers one of the best opportunities to fish a remote location for
native cutthroat without having to camp at a remote site or travel by horseback. It is
within a reasonable distance to hike to the river and return the same day, yet far
enough of the beaten path to limit those that visit this part of the great river..
Copyright 2007 James Marsh
