Easy Day Hikes
Author: chris | Category: Easy Day Hikes, Hiking Trails in the Beartooth Mountains, Montana Hiking Trails | Tags: Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Beartooth Mountains, Easy Day Hikes
Quinnebaugh Meadows
Quinnebaugh Meadows is a gorgeous mountain meadow that is surrounded by spectacular views of the Silver Run Plateau, and nearby Whitetail Peak. Wildflowers blanket the meadows, and line the trail all the way to Quinnebaugh Meadows. Nearby Rock Creek thunders down two waterfalls along the trail, with side trails leading to both falls. Once you reach the meadows, the number of people that you passed on the trail all seem to disappear- the meadows are so expansive that they easily swallow large and small parties alike.
Hiking to the meadows is rather straightforward, as the trail gains only 1,000 feet in 5 miles. The trail itself is well built, well maintained, and well traveled. You can expect to see company on this trail, but that won’t bother you much once you reach Quinnebaugh Meadows. There are also no turns on this trail, other than a left turn at the trailhead.
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04 Aug 2015
Author: chris | Category: Easy Day Hikes, Hiking Trails in the Madison Range, Montana Hiking Trails | Tags: Easy Day Hikes, Lee Metcalf Wilderness, Madison Range, Spanish Peaks
Lava Lake, located in the Spanish Peaks section of the Madison Range
It’s hard to find a good mountain lake that is close to a city, but yet is still surrounded by untouched wilderness. Lava Lake is located just minutes from Bozeman, but is still a scenic destination in the wilderness. Although the traffic on the trail is heavy (expect plenty of company on the trail), the condition of the trail has been kept clean by the forest service- and it shows. On a typical summer day, 30+ parties are not uncommon. The large nearby parking lot ensures that unless you hike this trail in February, you can expect to bump into quite a few people on this trail. However, the fishing and beautiful scenery more than make up for the busy trail. The trail is rather straightforward as well, although it is uphill all the way.
The trail to Lava Lake gains 1600 feet in 3 miles, making it a short but strenuous hike. I’ve rated it as easy, but the trail is really somewhere between easy and moderate, given the steep grade. That being said, the trail does have a few straight runs, and offers plenty of scenic spots to take a break at. The biggest challenge of this hike isn’t the trail, but instead finding somewhere to park.
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31 Jul 2015
Author: chris | Category: Easy Day Hikes, Hiking Trails in the Beartooth Mountains, Montana Hiking Trails | Tags: Beartooth Mountains, Easy Day Hikes
Upper Basin Creek Lake
Nestled under the scenic Silver Run Plateau lies one of the most popular hiking destinations in the Beartooths- Upper Basin Creek Lake. Although the trail gains more than 2,000 feet in the short 4 miles to Upper Basin Creek Lake, that doesn’t stop hundreds of hikers from enjoying this trail. In fact, this trail’s popularity led the forest service to designate it a National Recreational Trail. The traffic won’t keep you from enjoying the two lakes on this trail however, as this trail does an impressive job of splitting the traffic between Upper and Lower Basin Lakes.
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14 Jul 2015
Author: chris | Category: Easy Day Hikes, Hiking Trails in the Beartooth Mountains, Montana Hiking Trails | Tags: Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Beartooth Mountains, Easy Day Hikes
Calamity Falls
If you’re looking for a short day hike that allows you to see two spectacular waterfalls, look no further than Calamity Falls and Sentinel Falls. These two waterfalls are located a short distance from Red Lodge, making them a perfect short day hike. This hike is only 3.6 miles long, and gains only 511 feet, making it a good first wilderness hike for young hikers. The trail begins on the north side of the trailhead parking lot, which is clearly marked.
This is a well maintained trail, which you will notice immediately as you head down the trail. This trail is very popular in the Red Lodge area, and many boots have worn a nice trail. Try and do a good deed here, and pick up any trash that you might see on the trail. Although this trail is well groomed, it’s heavy use makes cleanup harder for the forest service. It only takes a little garbage to ruin the pristine appearance of the wilderness, which is reached after the first quarter mile of the trail.
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01 Jul 2015
Author: chris | Category: Easy Day Hikes, Hiking Trails in the Beartooth Mountains, Montana Hiking Trails | Tags: Beartooth Mountains, Easy Day Hikes
Kersey Lake
You will rarely find a lake that offers fishing, good wildlife viewing opportunities, and is close to a major highway. Kersey Lake, located near Cooke City, Montana, is a relaxed day hike with the all of these features. The hike is an easy hike (3 miles round trip), and gains less than 200 feet of elevation. This makes the hike a perfect first hike for small children, or a quick hike for travellers passing through the area. The road to the trailhead is paved, so any motor vehicle can make the drive- something that is rare for a lake next to the Beartooth Absaroka Wilderness.
Driving to the trailhead can be considered an adventure itself. Whether if you are headed from Red Lodge, Yellowstone National Park, or Cody, you will pass trout filled lakes along the way, scenic alpine vistas, and glacier fed streams. Access to the trailhead is possible most of the time from late May to early October, but it is always best to check the Montana Road Conditions Map before you head out. The well signed Clarks Fork Trailhead is located 58.1 miles from Red Lodge, or 3.4 miles from Cooke City, on US 212.
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06 Jun 2015
Author: chris | Category: Easy Day Hikes, Hiking Trails in the Absaroka Range, Montana Hiking Trails | Tags: Absaroka Range, Easy Day Hikes
Passage Falls
Standing beneath the falls, a whirlwind of mist covers you. The mist clings to anything that isn’t already wet, and the roar of the falls deafens you. Looking up, it’s hard to imagine how many hundreds of gallons of water are pouring over the falls, or how this waterfall managed to drastically change the volcanic outcrops that you cling to. Passage Creek beneath the falls becomes a torrent, as the water rushes out of the narrow valley. This place is Passage Falls, a popular hiking destination in the Absaroka Range, and a great place for a short day hike.
Located South of Livingston, Passage Falls is an easy to find hike that offers a spectacular waterfall. The short length (4.2 miles), easy to follow trail, and low gain in elevation (490 ft) makes Passage Falls an excellent hike for hikers of any level. Although this is an excellent trail most of the year, the best times to visit are between mid-May and mid-June, when the water levels are at their highest. In addition, the trail is quite busy later in the summer, so spring tends to be my preferred season for hiking this short trail.
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26 May 2015
Author: chris | Category: Easy Day Hikes, Hiking Trails in the Beartooth Mountains, Montana Hiking Trails | Tags: Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Beartooth Mountains, Easy Day Hikes
Glacier Lake
Glacier Lake offers an afternoon of fishing, hiking, and photography. Located close to Red Lodge, Glacier Lake is also an extremely popular lake- so expect some company on the trail. The trail is short (but steep), the scenery beautiful, and the trout willing. Thankfully, the road to the trailhead (forest service road 421) helps limit the traffic on the trail. To be sure, your car will take more abuse on the ride to the trailhead, than you will on the trail itself.
If your truck or SUV can handle the road, you’ll be rewarded with the opportunity to hike to four different lakes in the basin. Anglers will love the fishing opportunities in these lakes. Climbers will love the seemingly endless supply of boulders, spires, and peaks to climb. Photographers will enjoy the stunning scenery. All of these lakes are located near each other, so this makes for a great day of exploring an alpine paradise.
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01 Feb 2015
Author: chris | Category: Easy Day Hikes, Hiking Trails in the Absaroka Range, Montana Hiking Trails | Tags: Absaroka Range, Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Easy Day Hikes
Boulder Meadows
Located south of Big Timber, the north end of the Absaroka Range is best described as a typical western mountain range. Instead of the numerous lakes, and tall, jagged peaks of the Beartooth Mountains; the northern end of the Absaroka Range’s peaks are much lower in elevation, and few lakes are present. The lakes that have formed in this part of the Absaroka Range are usually high elevation lakes, and usually involve quite the hike to reach. For these reasons, most anglers and hikers in the Absaroka Range tend to hike and fish near streams and rivers. A popular destination in all seasons, the West Boulder Meadows is an excellent choice for hiking, snowshoeing, wildlife photography, climbing, or fishing- whatever suits your fancy.
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22 Jun 2014
Author: chris | Category: Easy Day Hikes, Hiking Trails in the Gallatin Range, Montana Hiking Trails | Tags: Gallatin Range
Blackmore Lake, as seen from the North side of the lake.
Blackmore lake is an easy, albeit mostly uphill, hike located near scenic Bozeman, Montana. Located just 30 minutes outside of town, Blackmore Lake is a beautiful lake back dropped by a jagged peak. Although Blackmore Lake has little to offer fishermen, it does offer the opportunity to observe wildlife, and rockhound.
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18 Jun 2014
Author: chris | Category: Easy Day Hikes, Hiking Trails in the Beartooth Mountains, Montana Hiking Trails | Tags: Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness
Lady of the Lake
An easy day hike in the Beartooth Mountains, Lady of the Lake is a great hike for small children or beginners. The trail climbs very little elevation (the high point in the trail is only a few hundred feet above the trailhead), and the lake rests at nearly the same altitude as the trailhead. Despite the short length, this trail has a couple of small creek crossings, so make sure that you are wearing a good pair of boots.
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07 Feb 2014
Author: chris | Category: Easy Day Hikes, Hiking Trails in the Beartooth Mountains, Montana Hiking Trails | Tags: Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Beartooth Mountains, Easy Day Hikes
Woodbine Falls
Woodbine Falls is a fun hike for everyone! Its short length, low elevation gain, and well engineered trail all help to make this one of the most popular day hikes for small kids, elderly, and beginner hikers. At .8 miles one way (1.6 miles out and back) and an elevation gain of only a couple hundred feet, it’s easy to see why this hike is so popular. This hike is also rare in that it is relatively low (5,300 feet), so it is clear of snow early in the year. Because of this, you can usually enjoy this trail from May until November.
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27 Jan 2014
Author: chris | Category: Easy Day Hikes, Hiking Trails in the Beartooth Mountains, Montana Hiking Trails | Tags: Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Beartooth Mountains, Red Lodge
Lost Lake
The Lake Fork of Rock Creek offers beautiful waterfalls, gorgeous scenery, abundant wildlife, and pristine mountain lakes. Lost Lake is no exception to this, and is the first lake along the Lake Fork of Rock Creek that I recommend exploring. Lost Lake is an excellent day hike, which offers a little of something for everyone. Although the hike is a little long for a day hike, the trail is rather flat (gaining 1,300 feet in 5 miles), and it is easy to make very good time on this trail.
Starting at the large trailhead parking lot (it’s hard to fill this lot), the trail winds it’s way through mature stands of Lodgepole Pine and Aspen trees. The trail itself is professionally built, and that makes a huge difference in speed on this trail. The packed dirt, rocks, and wooden beams all add to the structure of this trail, and make this trail such a pleasure to hike. Make sure to keep a sharp eye out though, this trail is full of surprises! (more…)
07 Jan 2014
Author: chris | Category: Easy Day Hikes, Hiking Trails in the Beartooth Mountains, Montana Hiking Trails | Tags: Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Beartooth Mountains
Elk Lake
Rising from the sleepy vacation homes in Alpine, Montana, the trail to Elk Lake is a beautiful hike that is sure to impress all. Surrounded by jagged peaks and rough canyon walls the area is breathtakingt. Starting from the trailhead, the trail follows the East Rosebud Creek for three miles. During this hike, there are no large hills to cross, no tiresome switchbacks, and the trail is in immaculate condition. As expected on any easy day hike, the traffic on the trail is high, particularly in Summer. In the Winter, however, you can easily have the valley to yourself. (more…)
31 Dec 2013
Author: chris | Category: Easy Day Hikes, Hiking Trails in the Beartooth Mountains, Montana Hiking Trails | Tags: Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Beartooth Mountains
Mystic Lake- Beartooth Mountains
Nowhere else in the Beartooths offers the unique opportunity to see a hydroelectric dam in action, while at the same time enjoying the surrounding wilderness. Although the lake itself is not within the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, most of the trail and surrounding area is. That won’t stop you from enjoying Mystic Lake, the power company that controls the dam has had minimal impact on the lake itself. Other than the dam, and a small house by the dam, the lake is in the same condition that Mother Nature left it (albeit a little bigger). (more…)
31 Dec 2013
