Overview
Barronette Peak is one of the prominent mountains on the northeast entrance road of
Yellowstone National Park. The peak is located about 7 miles southwest of Cooke City, Montana.
From the summit are views to the north of Montana's Absaroka Mountains, including a distant view of Montana's
Granite Peak, and to the south of Yellowstone's Soda Butte Valley.
Barronette Peak is named after Collins Jack Baronett, and is the only Yellowstone place name with an officially approved miss-spelled name.
Getting There
Yellowstone National Park occupies the northwest corner of Wyoming, as well as small portions of southern Montana and eastern Idaho. There are five major roads entering the park:
West Entrance - Highway 20 through West Yellowstone, MT
North Entrance - Highway 89 through Gardiner, MT
Northeast Entrance - Highway 212 through Cooke City, MT
East Entrance - Highway 20 through Cody, WY
South Entrance - Highway 89 through Grand Teton NP
The North entrance at Gardiner Montana is the only entrance which remains open during the winter. Refer to the
Operating Hours & Seasons page for complete details on road opening and closing dates in the park.
Additional information can be found on the Yellowstone
Plan Your Visit web page.
Red Tape
Yellowstone Entry Fees
Entering Yellowstone National Park requires purchase of a $25 7-day pass, available at any of the five entry stations entering the park. This pass allows entry into both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park to the south. Alternatively, an annual
America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass may be purchased for $80. This pass provides access to, and use of, Federal recreation sites that charge an entrance or amenity Fee, for a period of one year.
Backcountry Permits
A backcountry camping permit is required for all overnight trips into the Yellowstone backcountry. Backcountry camping permits may be reserved in advance for a $20 fee. Backcountry permits may also be obtained on a walk-in basis, (subject to availability) no more than 48 hours prior to the hike - there is no charge for walk-in permits.
Permits may be obtained from most ranger stations in the park. When picking up backcountry permits you will be required to view a short video on regulations and safe travel in the Yellowstone backcountry. The Yellowstone
Backcountry Camping & Hiking page contains complete details and regulations on backcountry trips in the park.
Camping and Lodging
There are numerous options for camping within Yellowstone National Park. Regulations and available facilities varies among the campgrounds. Visit the
Campgrounds in Yellowstone page for complete details.
There are also a number of lodging facilities within the park, ranging from rustic cabins to luxurious lodges and inns. Lodging in Yellowstone is administered by
Xanterra Parks & Resorts, the primary concessioner in Yellowstone. Refer to their website for complete details on locations, reservations, etc.
The campgrounds nearest to Barronette Peak include
Pebble Creek,
Slough Creek, and
Tower Fall.
Bear Precautions
Both grizzly and black bears are found in the park. Several of the most important precautions for safe travel in bear country include the following:
Do not hike alone; travel in groups and stay together
Stay on the trail
Announce your presence by making loud noise as you hike
Do not hike at night
Never store food in a tent; suspend food from a tree or bear pole
Never approach wildlife; keep a safe distance
Visit Yellowstone's Minimizing the Dangers of a Bear Encounter web page for additional information on hiking in bear country.When to Climb
Snow free climbing of Barronette Peak can be found during a fairly limited timeframe from approximately July through September, although this may vary considerably depending on weather conditions.Weather and Climate
Yellowstone's weather is characterized by its unpredictability. Always be prepared with warm clothing and rain gear, even on warm and sunny summer days.
Weather related links:
Yellowstone forecast and current conditions.
Yellowstone weather information.South Ridge Route
Due to the remote nature of this peak, I've elected to post a route description in the main page, rather than a separate route. Other routes certainly exist, so feel free to post them and I will modify this section accordingly. There are no trails on this peak, so please climb the peak by a route before posting.
In addition to the South Ridge, the North Ridge also appears to offer a potential route to the summit. The Northwest ridge approached from Pebble Creek also appears to offer a longer but reasonable route to the summit.
There are no maintained trails on this peak. All ascents will require some degree of route finding and bushwhacking. For Spring ascents an ice axe and crampons will be required.
South Ridge
This route ascends to the prominent south ridge of the peak, which can then be easily followed to the summit. UTM coordinates appear in blue.
Park on the east side of the road at the Soda Butte Creek bridge crossing (12 T 0572426E 4977291N), and begin following the west bank of the creek northward. After approximately 1/2 mile begin looking for a suitable spot to head west. Aim for the lowest point on the south ridge of the peak.
The ascent to the south ridge will be quite steep in places, but maneuvering across streams and over downed timber will be the primary obstacle. Continue upward until the south ridge is reached (12 T 0571150E 4979800N), at approximately 8,930 feet el.
From the point at which the ridge is reached the summit (12 T 0571857E 4980608N) is still 2/3 of a mile and 1,500 vertical feet away, but this section of ridge can be crossed with no difficulty.
Round-trip hiking distance - ±5.6 miles
Elevation gain - ±3,320 feet Acknowledgements
Thanks go to Thomas Turiano, author of Select Peaks of Greater Yellowstone, who provided valuable tips on ascending the peak.