Beautiful Specimen Creek Trail to Crescent Lake - Yellowstone National Park

This is always a beautiful hike up the Specimen Creek trail to Crescent Lake in Yellowstone National Park. You can also hike to Shelf Lake which is just a nice. There are several backcountry camp sites along the way if you wanted to make it a multi-day hike. It is a little over 17 miles round trip and about 2,700 vertical feet on the trail.

[@BluestemMemories]

So thankful for you, Stan, and the hikes you share with us. Unbelievable amount of grizzly tracks! Yet not a single one in the fresh snow.

[@didibolter9362]

The rivers and creeks always sound so relaxing and inviting. 😪😴

[@suejones8076]

Beautiful.. especially in the snow and having it all to yourself...thanks for sharing

[@ellp152]

❄️ SNOW!!!!!

[@garyag45]

As always THANK YOU for the trip. 👍👍🦬🫎🦌😎🦅🇺🇸

[@jovee9159]

Such a treat to see what you were seeing as you hiked in the newly fallen snow. I feel very thankful to see God's country.

[@chuckmorton8823]

WE6 looks like a gorgeous place to camp. Super.

[@marklalone3091]

Beautiful hike. I walked around Two Ocean Lake in August and was the first hiker on the trail since it rained hard the night before. I encountered grizzly tracks about half way… going in the same direction I was walking. It left the trail shortly after only a short distance but coming from the opposite direction were a set of black bear prints. They disappeared off the trail too. I figured they encountered each other and both left the trail. I learned to distinguish the two tracks from watching your videos. Being a solo hiker… I take extra precautions… most of the time I walk very quietly and slowly when I can’t see very far and look behind me as well. I didn’t step on the tracks either because I wanted other hikers to see the tracks and enjoy seeing them. Thanks Stan for another great video.

[@StanMills]

I wish you would put some videos on your channel. Thanks for your comment.

[@mikewanders]

That was great Stan. Watched the whole thing. Brought me back to Yellowstone. I could smell and feel that early morning, cold mountain air in the fall.

[@mtb4ever285]

Stan, Thank you for sharing your adventures. I remember someone "complaining" because your video was so short. (I'm not trying to "call them out"). I love ALL of your videos whether they are short or long. But do love the long ones a little better than the short ones. : ) Thanks again for sharing.

[@johneason6540]

Wow, beautiful, I was just there in Yellowstone days before this. Sunrise hike to Mt Washburn, also hiked slough creek and the canyon to see the falls. Alwayz a good time when I visit, also drive out Lamar Valley, so much road construction going on.

[@burkehollingsworth8585]

Thanks for sharing your hike Stan! This is so fun to watch the hike and listen to your thoughts as you teach us from your experience and knowledge.

[@chrismccord4475]

Snow in September? I’m ready for some fall but man I couldn’t imagine snow in September here in Tennesssee!

[@DaveKentLive]

Awesome location.

[@dadacool18]

This was a beautiful watch! love how it progressively got more and more snowy

[@jamess7576]

Very curteous grizzly to make sure he was off the trail before doing his business. Nice hiking and video!

[@benjeanettebooth1800]

Stan, you are totally amazing! To be able to cover that much ground in the amount of time you did it in. Great video, as always!

[@Cowboysdontcomplain]

Ps this was so beautiful I have to go to yellowstone now thanks to your videos !!!

[@janicericciuti9035]

Thank you

[@endymion8672]

As always, great filming and narrating! Anything more than 10 mi→, 2000 ft↑ is rated hard or challenging by Apps such as AllTrails. But you (with camera gear) do it calm and with a smile😅

[@heatherdawn545]

What a beautiful hike n lake . The snow n fog is also beautiful to see . Lots of grizzly tracks. Thanks for sharing. Such beautiful scenery

[@geniemedford9200]

Such a gorgeous place, always, but with the fall colors against the backdrop of snow and blue sky is just breathtaking. What a wonderful time to be there. Thanks again, Stan, for this wonderland trek!😍

[@marianfrances4959]

You ALWAYS blow my mind!! 🐾👍😎🇨🇦🌲

[@didibolter9362]

With snow on the the evergreen Trees, it sure looks like Christmas! 🎅☃🎄🎁😇

[@didibolter9362]

At timestamp 4:00, I can see this area being full of campers, people fishing, kids playing and dogs barking. NICE 😀

[@adventurelifewithbob2960]

Enjoyed your video. We have enjoyed numerous trips to the area.

[@barbaraberrier8840]

Beautiful. The lake was breathtaking. Thanks for sharing.

[@longwildernesswalks]

I'll be there in 2 days! Can't wait! Great episode Stan!

[@teresabarbao8593]

Beautiful fall hike, loved seeing the amazing bear tracks. A lot of nice tracks in the mud always exciting to see , Luke you said the wildlife is all around even if you don’t spot them seeing their tracks is always great. The lake views breathtaking! Thank you sure had a nice day out there in gods country backyard.

[@StanMills]

Thank you. Sometimes it feels like Heaven out here. Have a great day.

[@teresabarbao8593]

I know what you mean exactly. By the rivers and streams smoothly running sounds great. To sit by it in the meadows also with the deer close by. The quiet peaceful forest only sounds of birds an cool breez through the trees. Missing it now good peaceful place to have lunch enjoyed watching !

[@hgl2002]

Stan, thank you so much for the video. I hiked that area about a year after the fires and crossed so much fallen timber, but I had bears on my mind the much of the time because the Rangers had discouraged me from hiking alone. I camped the first night in WE6 there by the lake, and certainly had grizzlies on my mind. But I don’t regret the hike of course. In fact, it’s a most treasured memory. It was amazing, and I obviously made it out! But seeing the lake brings back such powerful memories. Thank you.

[@StanMills]

Glad to hear you had a great backpacking trip. But, you are not alone solo hiking. I’ve been doing it a large portion of my life, nearly 100% in grizzly country, and have never come close to using bear spray. I have never had a bad encounter with a bear so my point of view is different than most people’s. I can only talk about what I know based on my experiences. I’ve been doing it for so long that it is not quite as exciting as it use to be but I still go out. Thanks for your comments.

[@wendingourway]

Such a beautiful area, but those paw prints would be enough to freak me out! lol And snow too...no, no, much too early! lol Oh my, what great peace to be found at the lake...perfect! Bruce and Otis

[@sjohnson4882]

Thanks for doing this. I was due to be up there on the 23rd but had to cancel due to health issues. This gives me a little, at least.

[@LindaG858]

Beautiful trail hike…

[@mcteton17]

Have to check that out Stan...i live in Jackson and I hike Shoshone trails a lot because they are close and awesome...i was hiking in late October and ran into huge Grizzly tracks in the sand..turned around and realized I had been following tracks for a mile...now I look!!

[@StanMills]

If you are talking about Shoshone lake, the same thing happened to me. I also ran into a huge pile of hot grizzly scat! There are a lot of grizzlies around there and you can’t see them because of the trees.

[@Cowboysdontcomplain]

I couldn't imagine getting lost out there and at night time beautiful yet terrifying

[@ericcomp7032]

Thanks for sharing 😊

[@colleencarmichael6917]

Nice views Stan! I enjoy looking for tracks as well. I heard you guys got some snow!

[@michaelgutkoski6584]

Nice Stan. I tip my hat to your willingness to endure 17 miles of mud and snow. Thanks for showing the tracks. Where are the elk and moose? What are the grizzlies eating now?

[@sissyensor988]

Hi Stan. Many thanks for the beautiful hike you went on. I was there for 8 days from late August until Sept 3rd. Yellowstone and the Tetons are my happy place. I remember driving on hwy 191 and seeing specimen trailhead. Do you ever see mountain lion tracks? I know they are rarely seen but was wondering. That would be a fabulous sight to see. Didn't see any bears nor moose this time and barely any deer which I read that so many died from last winter due to heavy snow (maybe 2/3 of the total herds)! Keep up the great hiking!!

[@StanMills]

I have not see mountain lions or tracks on the specimen trail. In fact, I almost never see mountain lion tracks. Thanks for your comments.

[@PaulAmdahl]

Fresh Snow

[@Dave_M44]

When do the Grizzlies in Yellowstone start to hibernate and when do they emerge? I would guess mid-November to mid-March. Thanks for the enjoyable video! Always fun to watch.

[@montanaguy51]

You talked a little about the backcountry camp sites. What do you think of those backpacking electric fences? I think it’s either UDAP or Counter Assault that makes them. Do you think they offer any advantage regarding bear safety?

[@StanMills]

Not sure how well they work although I use them sometimes. Here is one of my videos where I use one and talk about it. Thanks for your comments. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHKagpmqqLh0rKcsi=Vn0B_QBrNvIAQ6sy

[@marthaj67]

Beautiful and SO peaceful! What was the temperature when you were there? One thing I'm curious about: are there wolves in Yellowstone? We live on the SE Coast of the U.S., and I've never been further west than Chicago, other than to fly into and out of L.A. on the way to Australia. I'd SO love to visit the western part of our nation some day, which is why I love your channel so much. Thank you! 🥰 (Actually, I did spend a week in Seattle and Vancouver, WA, and wow! Is it ever BEAUTIFUL out there! I can't believe I forgot about that! But it was twenty years ago, so...I guess I'm old 😂)

[@StanMills]

Yes there are wolves. At the end of this video is a link to one of my wolf videos. Temp was about 25F to 50F. Thanks for your comments.

[@coleholloway2523]

Are there any fish in the lake that you saw?

[@rossbideon]

I love your videos. I’m wondering how the trails you walk are created. I doubt they are just created by wildlife. Can you clarify?

[@StanMills]

This trail has been established in the park for a long time. Not sure how they originally made a trail but I know that all they would have to do is put up their little orange markers where they want the trail to go and then put it on their maps and then you would have a trail. That is a good question and my guess is no better than yours.

[@rossbideon]

Thanks Stan, I imagine they were established from game trails and improved by the park many years ago. 👍

[@StanMills]

@@rossbideon yes, that sounds reasonable to me also.

[@randeezy3914]

Hello Stan. I've seen you wear a poncho an a bunch of videos and would like to ask you which one you use and what you think about it? Thanks.

[@StanMills]

It is from REI.

[@chrisanngianoli2206]

Just needed some park time - so despite the fact it is February, I think I will go look for some spring walk time next. Cheers

[@StanMills]

Perfect attitude.

[@didibolter9362]

Watch out for Bigfoot Stan! 😆😅😄😃😂😊😉

[@michellecolson3901]

Zoom out a little to the woodline at the right starting @11:12

[@wandermt4315]

As always, thanks Stan. What is NPS current policy on filming - they seem to change as often as I change underwear?

[@simonstrane]

Do you get blisters, Stan? I do all the time.

[@PEDALSnPROJECTS]

Where were the grizzlies? So many tracks but none.. sometimes I wonder if living things go in and out of realms like spirit form and back into physical form..I believe that's possible 😕

[@PEDALSnPROJECTS]

No mountain lions there ?

[@PEDALSnPROJECTS]

Do you think grizzlies notice HUMAN tracks !? ..half joking/ half curious 😃

[@didibolter9362]

People destroy nature just by walking in it and being there.

[@jago76]

People who go out and enjoy nature respectfully are the ones who protect it from development and exploitation.

[@user-cs5up9qx8s]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 🤡 🌎