Opportunities abound for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the Flagg Ranch area of the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway. Trails follow scenic terrain and range from easy to difficult.
Wildlife in Winter
Because of the Snake River and nearby thermal pools, a wide variety of animals spend winter in the Flagg Ranch area. Mammals encountered in winter include moose, elk, coyotes, pine martens, weasels, river otters, beavers, red squirrels and mice. Birds include trumpeter swans, Canada geese, mallards, bufflehead, goldeneye ducks, bald eagles, great horned owls, ravens, gray jays, Clark's nutcrackers, mountain chickadees and dippers.
To aid their survival, animals possess a myriad of fascinating winter adaptations: Beavers and red squirrels store food, while moose and elk subsist on body fat stored during summer. Snowshoe hares and pine martens have big feet that allow them to float on the snow's surface. The white winter pelage (fur) of weasels and hares provides camouflage.
Staying warm in winter presents a major challenge. Moose and elk have hollow hair that insulates their bodies. Moose and waterfowl have a type of circulation in their legs that serves to retain heat rather than lose heat to the environment. Small animals like mice remain active under the insulating snow.
Adaptations do not guarantee survival. Please do not add to the stress that animals endure each winter—view wildlife from a distance or detour to avoid disturbing an animal. When animals are forced to flee, they burn precious body fat that they depend upon for survival.
Trail Descriptions
Polecat Creek Loop Trail
Easy. Round-trip: 2.2 miles.
This level trail begins on the north side of the Grassy Lake Road near the Flagg Ranch Information Station. Take the trail in either direction. The west side of the trail follows a bench above Polecat Creek. Thermal activity keeps the creek open and attractive to waterfowl and other wildlife. Look for trumpeter swans, goldeneye ducks and occasional river otters. Coyotes and moose also frequent this riparian area.
The north and east sides of the loop trail traverse a dense conifer forest consisting of mature lodgepole pines, sub-alpine firs and Engelmann spruce trees. At the approximate mid-point of the loop, the trail crosses the powerline corridor; small buildings in this section are associated with water treatment.
A temporary sign marks the trail junction at the northeast corner of the Polecat Creek Loop. To reach the Flagg Canyon trail, travel east from the junction. To return to the parking area, follow the trail south through conifer forest.
Flagg Canyon Trail
Difficult. Round-trip: 5 miles.
Begin on the north side of the Grassy Lake Road near the Flagg Ranch Information Station, the same location as the start of the Polecat Creek Loop Trail. Take the east (right) side of the loop and travel north 0.5 mile to the junction marked with a temporary sign. Turn right (east). The trail crosses the groomed snowmobile trail—use caution and watch for snowmobiles and snowcoaches. The marked trail continues on the east side of the road and leads to the Flagg Canyon Trail, which follows the Snake River. To reach the boundary of Yellowstone National Park, turn left (north). The terrain is gently rolling with a few short steep sections that can easily be avoided. Use caution and avoid cornices where the trail follows the edge of the cliff above the Snake River.
The trail ends at the groomed snowmobile trail—be alert for snowmobile and snowcoach traffic. To reach the South Gate of Yellowstone, turn right (north) and ski/snowshoe 0.3 mile on the snowmobile trail; sometimes a ski trail may be broken on the east side of the snowmobile trail. Additional trails lead north and west from South Gate. Check at the South Gate ranger station for trailhead locations and conditions. Return to Flagg Ranch on the same trail or by taking the snowmobile trail.
The Flagg Canyon Trail can also be reached from the north side of the Snake River bridge near Flagg Ranch's riverside motel units. Ski/snowshoe on the east side of the highway to the Snake River, then follow the trail along the river north for 1.2 miles to join the trail from Flagg Ranch. This section of trail is at river level for a short distance, then climbs on to the bench above the river.
The Flagg Canyon trail affords spectacular views of cliffs composed of rhyolite, volcanic rock that flowed from Yellowstone about 600,000 years ago, lining the west side of the canyon. In winter the Snake River hosts waterfowl, especially Barrow's and common goldeneye ducks and Canada geese. Bald eagles often perch on snags above the river. Look and listen for dippers, small gray birds that favor rocky stretches of the river where they search underwater for insect larvae adhered to rocks. River otters occasionally cavort in the Snake River and otter slides may be seen on the snowy banks of the river.
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