Tag Archives: Red Lodge

The Beartooth Recreational Trail: Beartooth Mountains

Author: chris | Category: Hiking Trails in the Beartooth Mountains, Moderate Day Hikes | Tags: Beartooth Highway, Beartooth Recreational Trail, Moderate Day Hikes, Red Lodge

The Beartooth Recreational Trail: Beartooth Mountains

The Beartooth Recreational Trail leads through some of the most scenic country in the Beartooth Mountains. Three different trailheads form an approximately 9 ¼ mile long loop, running by beautiful lakes and scenic alpine vistas– all of which are within a day hike of the Beartooth Highway. The Beartooth Recreational Trail gives a hiker many options; the three different trailheads allow you to choose your own adventure. You can make this trail a classic lollipop loop, a shuttle, or a true loop. Your options are numerous, which also makes this trail a good trail to get lost on.

(more…)

17 Aug 2019

Gardner Lake- Beartooth Mountains

Author: chris | Category: Easy Day Hikes, Hiking Trails in the Beartooth Mountains, Montana Hiking Trails | Tags: Beartooth Highway, Beartooth Mountains, Red Lodge

Gardner Lake- Beartooth Mountains

Gardner Lake

If you’re traveling along Highway 212 (The Beartooth Highway), and need a quick stop to stretch your legs, stop by Gardner Lake. This trailhead is one of the highest in the Beartooths, at 10,550 ft above sea level, so be prepared to be winded on this short trail. In addition to the altitude taking your breath away, the view certainly will as well. Gardner Lake sits at the bottom of a bowl, and the hike down to the lake allows you to see Tibbs Butte and Littlerock Creek. The scenery is beautiful any time of the year, but it’s wise to hike to Gardner Lake in the late summer, due to the rampant mosquitoes. Leaving the trailhead, and hiking straight down, your quick hike to Gardner Lake begins.

(more…)

12 Feb 2018

Red Lodge Creek Trail- Beartooth Mountains

Author: chris | Category: Easy Day Hikes, Hiking Trails in the Beartooth Mountains, Montana Hiking Trails | Tags: Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Beartooth Mountains, Easy Day Hikes, geology, Red Lodge

Red Lodge Creek Trail- Beartooth Mountains

Red Lodge Creek Trail #14

Red Lodge Creek Trail #14 is a quick day hike through a mature forest. This hike is mostly traveled by local residents, so the traffic is usually lighter than other day hikes near Red Lodge. The trail traffic is exceptionally light in the late fall (where about half of the upper trail is inaccessible), which makes Red Lodge Creek Trail a nice late season or early season day hiking trail. If you’re looking for the possibility of an uninterrupted day in the mountains, Red Lodge Creek Trail might have what you’re looking for.

(more…)

10 Nov 2017

Keyser Brown Lake- Beartooth Mountains

Author: chris | Category: Easy Day Hikes, Hiking Trails in the Beartooth Mountains, Montana Hiking Trails | Tags: Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Beartooth Mountains, Red Lodge

Keyser Brown Lake- Beartooth Mountains

Keyser Brown Lake

Keyser Brown Lake is a beautiful mountain lake that is easily accessible from Lake Fork Trail #1, in the Beartooth Mountains. This forested lake is at 8,700 feet, making it one of the easiest to access lakes along the Lake Fork Trail. The trail to Keyser Brown Lake only climbs 1,600 feet along the seven mile trail, which is what makes this lake so easy to reach. Keyser Brown Lake also excels as a base camp, supports a good brook trout fishery, and will help you escape the busy crowds on their way to Lost Lake. Leaving the paved parking lot, and crossing a sturdy bridge over the Lake Fork of Rock Creek, your trip to Keyser Brown Lake begins.

(more…)

27 Jul 2017

Lost Lake- Beartooth Mountains

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- Beartooth Mountains

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