"Working for the Yellowstone Co-Op Employee Recreation Program was, by far, the best experience I have ever had in my life!"
Laurel Beatty
Old Faithful Area Recreation Coordinator

Backcountry Skills

Develop Your Skills in a 2.2 Million Acre Classroom*

For the outdoor enthusiasts, Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding areas provide every type of outdoor recreation opportunity imaginable. The Yellowstone Co-Op Employee Recreation Program provides numerous programs to equip employees with the skills and experience to enjoy backcountry recreation safely and comfortably.

Our staff are trained to assist employees with any questions and / or concerns regarding backcountry use. They are equipped with guidebooks and maps that employees are free to use for reference.

General backcountry skills courses, such as orienteering and proper backpacking preparedness are offered in response to interest.

For those who intend to backpack in Yellowstone and enjoy the park's many beautiful backcountry campsites, we highly recommend attending a Frequent Backcountry User Seminar. These are offered by NPS backcountry rangers. Attendees will learn how to enjoy bear country safely, backcountry use ethics, and the unique rules that apply to backcountry recreation in Yellowstone. Those who complete the course will be given a "Frequent User Card" that allows instant, hassle free access to backcountry site reservation through their NPS Backcountry Office. These courses will be scheduled in response to interest. Ask your location Employee Recreation Staff for more information.

* Yellowstone National Park's boundaries enclose 2.2 million acres of land mass. Yellowstone, though, is in in the middle of a 12 million acre area known as the "Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem," which includes other National Parks, National Forests and Wilderness Areas.

Resources

Check out our Hiking & Backpacking Photo Gallery to see some great pictures taken by recreation staff during hiking trips and backcountry adventures in the Yellowstone Area.

Beyond Road's End is a comprehensive PDF brochure published by the National Park Service that contains helpful information on backcountry use in Yellowstone.

For more information on basic points of interest in Yellowstone, visit the National Park Service Yellowstone Website.

For more information on our Hiking Clubs, use the link to the Hiking section of this website.

More Specific information on Fly Fishing and Rock Climbing skills courses offered is available on this website.

Yellowstone National Park is surrounded by numerous other National Forests and National Parks that all offer millions of acres of backcountry. Use the links below for more information specific to these areas.

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