This was my fourth trip to Republic Pass (9,957 ft.) and it remains one of the most scenic and rewarding destinations in northeast Yellowstone. It’s a   difficult hike of around 8.0 miles round-trip that’s best attempted during mid-to-late summer. It can be completed as a two or three day point-to-point backpacking trip by following the Cache Creek Trail to the Lamar River Trail.

The hiking is relatively easy over the first 3.0 miles and climbs gently through mature forests of spruce and fir trees to the top of the pass, gaining just over 1,700 ft. in elevation. At mile 1.3 the trail enters a large meadow where you'll have a spectacular view toward Republic Pass to the as well as the steep slopes of Woody Ridge to the east. At the southeastern end of this meadow there is a primitive campsite that could be used as a jumping-off point if you were interested in staying a night in this area before heading up to the pass. The food storage pole is just visible between two pine trees at the southeastern edge of the meadow. This portion of the trail is located within the Shoshone National Forest so backcountry permits are not required to camp here.

At around mile 3.0 the grade steepens considerably and before long your legs begin to feel the effects of the elevation. Fortunately, the scenery gets better with each step and you'll have the perfect excuse for taking regular breaks—at least that's what you can tell your hiking partners. To the north are the formidable granite peaks of the Beartooth Mountains and they create a sharp and jagged profile against the clear Montana skyline. The rocks of the Beartooth Mountains are some of the oldest rocks on the planet, dating back nearly 4 billion years. 

As you near the pass the trail cuts west across the steep northern face of this wide drainage. A large patch of snow was still present on the north side of the pass but in late August it was not large enough to cover the trail. On our previous trip to Republic Pass we hiked this trail in early July and we had to navigate a section of this snowfield which was more substantial in size. In July the wildflowers can cover nearly every square inch of the pass but during this visit there were only a handful of flowers still in bloom.

From the pass the views stretch for miles in nearly every direction. The tops of Index and Pilot Peak are just visible on the horizon to the east and if you look toward a long, uneven ridge directly to the south you'll notice a very small arch called the "Eye of the Needle." From the summit of Republic Pass mountains form layer upon layer in all directions.

In 1988 the gateway towns of both Cooke City and Silvergate were nearly destroyed by the historic 88' forest fires that overwhelmed Yellowstone National Park that year. The hillsides north of these two small towns still bear the scars of these devastating fires that consumed more than 793,000 acres within the park.

The Republic Creek Trailhead is located in the Shoshone National Forest just outside of Yellowstone National Park, 1.4 miles south of the old mining town of Cooke City. Finding the trailhead requires a great deal of faith because there are no signs. The parking lot for the trailhead can be found at the end of a narrow and winding 4WD road. The road climbs about 500 ft. to the trailhead which is just north of the Wyoming border. If you're heading east into Cooke City turn right on Republic Street just before the Yamaha dealership. The road dead ends at this very small gravel parking lot. There are a number of private residences in this area so be considerate if you park your vehicle below the trailhead.