Specimen Creek Trail - Yellowstone National Park

Length: 8 mile round trip

Trail Begins: Highway 191, Specimen Creek

Trail Ends: Shelf Lake

The Specimen Creek Trail offers good opportunities to see wildlife. Elk are gathered in this valley from October to June. Moose may be seen anytime along the creek and bighorn sheep frequent the slopes of Meldrum Mountain. For the first 6 miles the Specimen Creek Trail climbs slowly through the forest and meadows along Specimen Creek and the North Fork. At the junction with the Crescent Lake Trail the grade increases; and by the time you reach Shelf Lake two miles away, you will have climbed 1,100 feet. With Sheep Mountain looming above, Shelf Lake is a pleasant spot to rest, enjoy the scenery and refill your water bottles. It's now about a 0.5 mile hike up to the boundary ridge and the Sky Rim Trail. The view from the boundary is well worth the extra effort.