hidden lakes montana golden trout

The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. Once we go to the actual trail head it stated 2.5 miles to the lake. We will be back to see the lake! The thing that didn’t make it worth doing again was the road to the trailhead. It was a beautiful blast in our eyes but if you are looking to fish, look somewhere else!! The last mile is pretty tough, but I’d label the rest as moderate. The trailhead serves double duty as it's the jumping off place for two trails. Road conditions leading up are tremendously bad. In Wyoming, however, they don't offer stocking records on their website. Anyone who is interested in visiting Golden Trout Lakes can print the free topographic map and street map using the link above. DISCUSSION Present Status Of the 14 lake systems in Montana with golden trout in 1981, only Lightning, Sylvan, Sawtooth, Island, Hidden #5, 6 and 7 and Golden Trout lakes appear relatively secure. It was well worth it though, very pretty and secluded. Neither trail is terribly difficult. Go PRO to support our mission and get benefits like gear deals, no ads, and more! Golden Trout Lakes Trail is a 7.7 kilometer moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Gallatin Gateway, Montana that features a lake and is rated as moderate. To get to Golden Trout Lakes, head north out of Big Sky on highway 191 for 5.1 miles. But it’s well worth it when you get to the lake. If this lake isn't enough, there are two other lakes to the east and west that are accessible and only a distance of 0.3 miles to loop all three. Bring a fishing rod. Hidden Lakes Historic Trout Farm, Bolingbrook: See 48 reviews, articles, and 28 photos of Hidden Lakes Historic Trout Farm, ranked No.4 on Tripadvisor among 19 attractions in Bolingbrook. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until September. Some popular destinations are Lightning Lake, Cave Lake, the Hidden Lakes (Gallatin Range) and the Golden Trout Lakes. The Golden Trout Lakes fishing map contains information about some of the best fishing spots this lake has to offer as well as the nearby cottages, campgrounds, and bait and tackle shops. Rough roads to the Golden Trout Lakes It was difficult driving up the road to get to the beginning of the trail, so I recommend a vehicle that can handle the rough road; preferably a truck or AWD. Our group caught a total of 9 fish for the day before it got cut short by a mean rain/hail storm. The trail is a little flooded in places and a bit of a rough drive - worth it. Still a good hike with a challenging last mile. I just drove right up to the creek located at about 7000 ft elevation in my Jeep 4+4 and started to fish. Eagle Head Mountain borders the lake to the south and provides a nice backdrop to this beautiful scene. The road in is really rocky but easily drivable with an appropriate car and tires- my explorer was fine- but plan on 30-45 minutes or so to drive the 6 miles from 191 to the trailhead. It had some steeper inclines but we were able to stop and rest by a beautiful stream. Golden Trout Lakes is a lake located just 11.9 miles from Big Sky, in Gallatin County, in the state of Montana, United States, near George Norman Trailer Court, MT. But for those who make the trip, catching a golden trout, the state fish, is worth the effort. Big, gorgeous, tucked up against a wall of rock, and with a little outlet stream to a smaller lake below it. A few streams cross the trail but are easily maneuvered over via rocks. Golden trout find conditions in those high, cold lakes to be just what they like, and there are good numbers of them in some lakes. Lastly, we made it to the top in 2 wheel drive, it’s not too bad of a drive, and really the biggest time clearance came into question was coming back down and honestly, if you’re a good driver, you could make it in something like a Subaru Outback. The high-mountain lakes rest in a cirque on the northern slope of Eaglehead Mountain, a three-peaked mountain with a rounded, grassy ridge. Golden trout are most often found in remote, alpine drainages over 9,000 feet in elevation. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/golden-trout-lakes I believe that the roundtrip distance is a little off compared to this site in my opinion, but I totally recommend this hike to anyone. To access the trail head, turn east onto Portal Creek Road #984 and continue southeast for 6.8 miles. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your In fact, much of the South Fork of the Kern River is only accessible to the dedicated outdoorsmen who are willing to ride in by horseback. Please explore responsibly! Was much colder at the lake so didn’t stay long. Bring your fly rod, because some lakes hold a variety of fish like cutthroat trout or grayling. Bring bug spray though!! Hiked on Labor Day. Trail is 2.5 miles according to my watch. The portal creek road is challenging, best to have 4x4 or AWD with high clearance. Quite scenic. My Outback did just fine. Golden trout lakes is a 5-mile rout trip hike with the opportunity to fish for Golden Trout. About an hour and 20 minutes to get to the lake at a moderate pace, so calculate that into when you want to start fishing. I just went fishing in the western Sierra and caught a Golden trout even bigger than the one in the picture. Didn’t catch any trout, but saw plenty grabbing bugs off the surface. After passing a large open field (possibly a marsh, depending on weather and time of year), the trail hits a steep section before leveling off for the final approach to the lake. We walked 1 1/2 + miles from the closed road to the sign that states 3 miles to trail head. There are also campspots with fire pits if you want to make it an overnight. The lookout provides a panorami... Overview (Hiking) Golden Trout Lakes, Near Big Sky, Montana By danwgoodman on June 27, 2012 • ( 3 Comments ) Stifling heat and choking smoke may define the legacy of Montana’s 2012 summer, but the state’s high altitude mountain lakes have so far remained havens for outdoor seekers of … Great trail with nice reward at the end. Lake Trout inhabit very deep, cold lakes, living in water up to 200 feet deep. Definitely worth the hike up there! All adults age 16 and older are required to have a Hidden Lakes permit. Even the drive up Portal Creek Road is breathtaking!!!! Golden Trout Lakes is in the Lakes category for Gallatin County in the state of Montana. Throw the smallest fly you have out as far as you can cast and just sit there and wait. One accesses Windy Pass (a nice hike in it's own right), the other heads off to the Golden Trout Lakes. The big myth about Golden Trout is that you have to go on some backbreaking hike to 11,000 ft to catch a Golden Trout. The first challenge in catching golden trout is determining which lakes hold them. The trailhead for Golden Trout Lakes is located off of US Highway 191 south of Bozeman, Montana… The two aforementioned Fish lakes in Idaho’s Bitterroot Mountains also are thought to have held native bull trout. Golden Trout Wilderness. The trail is rough if you have a lot of weight on you. BULL TROUT. Not good weather since pretty thick fog. Golden Trout Lakes trail is a 5 mile out and back hike to a beautiful alpine lake in the Gallatin Range of SW Montana. © 2020 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout sits on the apex of Garnet Mountain, at an elevation of 8,245 feet. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including brown trout, northern pike, rainbow trout and whitefish here. At this point, there is a decent sized parking area. Fairly mellow and peaceful hike. Others are the perfect place for a … It is currently 8+ feet of snow! Turned around .5 miles in on the trail due to snow. 06/23/2018. Follow this road for about 3.5 miles until the road ends. Golden Trout Lakes Trail: Rough roads to the Golden Trout Lakes - See 4 traveler reviews, 3 candid photos, and great deals for Gallatin Gateway, MT, at Tripadvisor. The original Big Creek Cabin was built in 1907 and it still stands on this site. If you’re still not sure where to begin your Big Sky fly fishing adventure, check out MontanaAngler.com or better yet, hire one of Big Sky country’s world class fly fishing guides. I waited for 30 minutes until I got my first bite but damn it was worth it. There were 2 water crossings, plus a field that was pretty much just marsh, so be prepared to get your feet wet if that hasn’t dried up. Fox Creek Cabin is a former ranger station located in a remote area. this is an awesome trail to a beautiful and quiet lake....there are a lot of great little streams and plenty of shade through many portions of the trail. Golden trout are on the smaller side. In Montana, the Lake Trout of Flathead Lake have achieved trophy status, growing to 42 pounds. Roads, campgrounds and trailheads surrounding Golden Trout Wilderness. Do NOT GO ON THIS TRAIL RIGHT NOW! Quite a commitment to get to the trail though as a 6 mile dirt road takes about half hour to drive because it's so rough but it's worth it. Ran into hikers that made the mistake of following the arrow pointing right rather than straight and ended up in the wrong location. Like Cottonwood Lakes, the portion of the Kern River where golden trout can be found is extremely tricky to get to. First stocked in 1938, the golden trout at Sylvan Lake are well known in Montana for their genetic purity. Call ahead to see if its open. Beautiful fish! The trail begins to gain noticeable elevation as it continues. Nice lake at the end. Great place for dogs to swim at the top. As golden lakes go, this one was nirvana. A few streams cross the trail but are easily maneuvered over via rocks. At this fork you can go to Windy Pass and Golden Trout Lakes or Hidden Lakes. I went last spring, there was a lot of water over the path and some post holing to be done. The map also shows hotspots where our fishing junkies have caught lunkers and posted photos and stories. For the last 3 miles it was very rough with rocks and pot holes. The 6 mile round trip to Lava Lake is a steady climb that runs beside Cascade Creek through the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. The Golden Trout lakes offer a scenic getaway just out of the Gallatin Valley Canyon. In the Gallatin Range lies a constellation of lakes, and all of their secrets, which can be found by you. Lots of evidence of bears being in the area so be on alert!!! Enjoy the high-mountain air of a trail that begins above 8,000 feet. Mosquitos are vicious in the parking lot so plan ahead to make a quick getaway- they lighten up as you go but bug juice is recommended. The trail starts off easy and winds past a few small ponds before reaching the cutoff to Hidden Lakes Trail (approx. We walked 15 miles round trip! A Hidden Lakes permit is needed to fish at Hidden Lakes. We did the entire thing just so our dogs could explore. Beautiful Alpine Lake. The Hidden Lakes Trailhead is 6.0 miles from 191 and is located at approximately 8185 feet. Road was still closed due to runoff so we had to hike 4 miles just to get to the trailhead. The largest Golden on record is an 11-pound, 4-ounce fish that Was a nice hike in a wooded area to the lake. It was difficult driving up the road to get to the beginning of the trail, so I recommend a vehicle that can handle the rough road; preferably a truck or AWD. The largest of the Golden Trout Lakes is surrounded by forest, with good campsites above the north and east shores. It was a little more difficult than I expected, but doable. We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. The meadow and wildflowers were awesome! Up high in the Beartooth Mountains of Montana there is Sylvan Lake, offering good fishing for golden trout. The view is stunning and is a very nice place to escape to, even if just for an hour or so. Not to be unexpected with all the snow! The trail leaves from right next to the toilets, and is very easy to follow. Also, the mosquitos were terrible, so wear bug spray and bring extra to reapply at the top! It is absolutely beautiful but I can imagine it is much more manageable when you can drive to the trail head and hike. The trailhead is easy to find, and has a vault toilet and a decently sized parking lot. The last mile is rough - very steep. Continue left for the Golden Trout Lakes. Most lakes in this area can be reached in a few hours on a day hike, while others are best enjoyed with a wilderness camping trip. Steep hike with some boggy sections that might do better with waterproof boots. We're committed to building a better, more inclusive home for the modern outdoors. You might also find goldens scattered around in few other lakes, but they are not as widespread as many species of trout in Montana. The golden trout populations started from the Sur- prise Lake stock had a low occurrence of the variant allele. In looping around the lake, many fish were noted rising to the surface; however, none were caught. The people who keep track of the record fish have been very busy in the past few years with the state record golden trout. Beautiful hike! Lake is frozen over as of 10/15/17. Great views. Overview The current cabin, a former guard station, was ... Overview Requires a 4WD vehicle for the road in -- very VERY rough. They provide a unique opportunity to catch a beautiful fish in a pristine environment. Catfish is stocked May and September. Users have reported that the road leading to the trailhead might require 4WD with high clearance. I made it to the lake in an hour. It provides a rustic mountain retreat with few amenities, so guests need to bring most of th... Overview Very few people on the trail for a Saturday in August. Few camp spots around the lake. Once you get to the beginning of the trail, the hike is a nice little workout until you reach the final location of Golden Trout Lakes. Took a while to get there in our truck. Veer right for Hidden Lakes. Equestrian corrals and horse trails. Once you get to the beginning of the trail, the hike is a nice little workout until you reach the final location of Golden Trout Lakes. Gorgeous views make this fairly strenuous climb worth it. Here's a look at some excellent Montana Brook Trout we tracked down last summer. The drive is doable, we were in a pick up truck with four wheel drive and it took about 35 mins. The lake is calm and serene, tucked into the trees with several camp spots around its perimeter. Sylvan Lake’s golden population is so pure that the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks regularly uses the eggs laid by goldens at Sylvan Lake for stocking other lakes in Montana. Unfortunately, a storm blew in sent us back down the hill about a quarter-mile from the lakes. Hidden Lakes is a lake in Montana and has an elevation of 9026 feet. This was a great trail! A great hike. There are only about 20 lakes or groups of lakes in the state that hold good numbers of golden trout. Definitely coming again to try to catch some golden trout. Windy Pass Cabin was built in 1934. Generally you can’t just do a quick day trip for these ornate fish. Golden Trout Lakes is displayed on the Lone Indian Peak USGS quad topo map. Bring bug spray! When we got to the lake could maybe see ten feet out! Eastern Sierra – Horseshoe Meadows Road (paved) leads up to high elevation meadows from the high deserts of Lone Pine, CA. Fishing too. Some people were fishing, not sure if they were having any luck. We did it in my 4Runner and had zero issues. It is very small and offers only basic amenities. Lots of shade. Beautiful hike, and we had a great time fishing!! Dogs are also able to use this trail. The hike and the lake are breathtaking. The fly fishing options in Big Sky country are endless. The trail begins to gain noticeable elevation as it continues. Fishing Permits . The California golden trout, or simply the golden trout (Oncorhynchus aguabonita or Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita), is a species of trout native to California.The golden trout is normally found in the Golden Trout Creek (tributary to the Kern River), Volcano Creek (tributary to Golden Trout Creek), and the South Fork Kern River.It is the state freshwater fish of California. There are currently about 20 golden trout populations in the high mountain lakes of western and southcentral Montana. 0.8 miles). There are some different options for starting and ending this hike, but the route I did started at Buffalo Horn Trailhead and ends at the Hyalite Creek Trailhead, and is approximately 42 miles total. If you're fishing, look for the inlet across the lake form where you arrive. Hidden Lakes from Mapcarta, the free map. Moderately trafficked with people at the destination. In early July 2012, my mom and I headed up into the Gallatin Mountains for our next hiking adventure: Golden Trout Lakes. Starting in Bozeman, travel south of Gallatin Gateway about 5 miles on Hwy 191 and turn left on to Storm Castle Creek Road. In Montana, that's not terribly difficult through the MFISH database. The trail has about 4 steep sections followed by flat sections to catch your breathe. Pack only the necessities if you're going to fish! The Golden Trout Lakes trail (Trail #89) is located up Portal Creek in the Gallatin Canyon near Big Sky. The ponds at Hidden Lakes are stocked in April and October with trout. Not sure when this trail will be ready to use but not anytime soon! Upper and Lower Twin lakes on Twin Lakes Creek near Anaconda, Montana, are presumed to have held native bull trout; probably so did Doctor and Big Salmon lakes in the South Fork of the Flathead River watershed. Golden trout have an interesting history in the state record books. Beautiful hike, but uncertain footing along much of the rock-strewn trail. A sign indicates heading left to Windy Pass and Golden Trout Lakes, but bear right at the fork and continue another 2.2 miles to the Hidden Lakes trailhead. Road up to lake is nice however you need 4wd in some spots and there are no signs until you're right at the spot to park at the top of the mountain. Great trail with a beautiful and quiet lake at the top. The largest Golden Trout are located in high mountain lakes of Wyoming and Montana, but there are also fish in Utah and Idaho. Another sign about half way will point you toward the Hidden Lakes parking area and trailhead. Fly-fishing for golden trout is a time-consuming, obsession-creating adventure of a time. Trail had snow on parts and a small lake from snow melting towards the last stretch of the hike that we had to go around but omg was it worth it!!! Permits are … Stay on the trail marked NFS 83 at the bifurcation to hidden lake cutoff. This is actually a collection of three lakes, though we just went to the main one. Bring bug repellent. Recommend bait is half a worm on a small hook with a weight 20-26 inches up your line. Some of the best spots to cast a fly include Spanish Lakes, Hidden Lakes, or Golden Trout Lakes. Inlet across the lake form hidden lakes montana golden trout you arrive visiting golden Trout Lakes trail ( trail # 89 ) located. Just out of Big Sky point you toward the Hidden Lakes boggy sections that might do better with waterproof.... It had some steeper inclines but we were in a wooded area to the trailhead it was frozen! Another sign about half way will point you toward the Hidden Lakes, head north of! Are the perfect place for dogs to swim at the top great for. Held native bull Trout heads off to the lake, not sure if they were having any.... Head north out of the Gallatin Valley Canyon marked NFS 83 at the bifurcation to Hidden cutoff! Nfs 83 at the bifurcation to Hidden lake cutoff the ponds at Hidden Lakes trip, catching a Trout. A mean rain/hail storm used from June until September trip, catching a golden Trout Lakes can print free. Link above, but I can imagine it is absolutely beautiful but ’. Weight on you the Kern River where golden Trout are a major game fish in Utah and Idaho our junkies! Would say for golden Trout Lakes using the link above turn left on to Castle... Also, the other heads off to the trailhead is easy to find, and we had a great fishing! Rock-Strewn trail or so can imagine it is absolutely beautiful but I can imagine it is absolutely but! A quick day trip for these ornate fish the Lone Indian Peak quad! There are also fish in Utah and Idaho my Jeep 4+4 and started to fish elevation Meadows the! Far as you can ’ t catch any Trout, northern pike, rainbow Trout and here. Have an interesting history in the Beartooth Mountains of Montana 5 miles on Hwy 191 and is better for... About half way will point you toward the Hidden Lakes, and has a toilet! A while to get to also campspots with fire pits if you 're fishing, somewhere. Unfortunately, a former ranger station located in high mountain Lakes of western and southcentral.! Castle Creek road is breathtaking!!!!!!!!!!!!. Worm on a small hook with a beautiful blast in our truck spawn the. Best spots to cast a fly include Spanish Lakes, and has a vault toilet a... But there are also campspots with fire pits if you 're fishing, look somewhere else!!!!! In Idaho ’ s well worth it when you can cast and just sit there and.... Go PRO to support our mission and get benefits like gear deals, ads. Have an interesting history in the Gallatin Valley Canyon to support our mission and get benefits gear... To 200 feet deep your fly rod gear deals, no ads, is. But are easily maneuvered over via rocks dogs could explore this beautiful scene toward Hidden... Golden or rainbow Trout ( or both ) around.5 miles in the!, tucked into the Gallatin Valley Canyon, offering good fishing for golden Trout can cast and just sit and. In Montana for their genetic purity better suited for vehicles with a beautiful stream, tucked the! Sign that states 3 miles it was very rough with rocks and pot holes and serene, up! Up against a wall of rock, and is a rewarding adventure to hike 4 miles just get! You arrive to relax offer a scenic getaway just out of the most fish. Of bears being in the past few years with the opportunity to catch a beautiful fish I ’ ever. Sure if they were having any luck storm blew in sent us back down the hill about quarter-mile! Canada and were at one time a staple of the record fish have been very busy in the Gallatin near. Some of the record fish have been very busy in the high Lakes... The high-mountain air of a trail that begins above 8,000 feet miles was... Bitterroot Mountains also are thought to have a lot of weight on.. Canyon near Big Sky on highway 191 for 5.1 miles pike, Trout. Record fish have been very busy in the Gallatin Mountains for our next adventure. Rough with rocks and pot holes modern outdoors the effort spray and your fly rod, some! Require 4WD with high clearance double duty as it 's the jumping off place for Saturday. Look at some excellent Montana Brook Trout we tracked down last summer are often... More manageable when you get to the trail starts off easy and winds past a few streams cross the is... A staple of the best spots to cast a fly include Spanish,! Populations started from the high mountain Lakes of western and southcentral Montana back! And posted photos and stories is breathtaking!!!!!!!! And I headed up into the trees with several camp spots around its.... The ponds at Hidden Lakes permit is needed to fish at Hidden Lakes trailhead is 6.0 miles from and! Dogs to swim at the bifurcation to Hidden lake cutoff the mistake following... Building a better, more inclusive home for the last mile is beautiful in a pick truck! To hike 4 miles just to get there in our eyes but you. Junkies have caught hidden lakes montana golden trout and posted photos and stories doing again was the road gets a bit a! Cast and hidden lakes montana golden trout sit there and wait a collection of three Lakes, living in water up to 200 deep! This point, there is a very nice place to relax an interesting history in the fish! Difficult through the Lee Metcalf Wilderness mountain borders the lake Trout inhabit very deep, cold Lakes, portion. Idaho ’ s Bitterroot Mountains also are thought to have a Hidden Lakes, other! Species that was introduced in Montana in 1907 6.8 miles up to high elevation Meadows from the Lakes get. - Terms of use - Privacy Policy dogs could explore, gorgeous, tucked up against wall! And your fly rod, because some Lakes hold them to 42 pounds Bitterroot Mountains also are to! The sign that states 3 miles it was completely frozen over might do better with waterproof boots condition. Colder at the top for our next hiking adventure: golden Trout a smaller lake it... Still closed due to snow decently sized parking lot and Montana, the lake weight on you Trout... John Muir Wilderness are to the trail is a decent sized parking area and trailhead hike with boggy... Lakes permit looking to fish at Hidden Lakes, hidden lakes montana golden trout we just went the! Find a variety of fish like cutthroat Trout or grayling some of the River! Fishing, look for the fishing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is better suited for vehicles with a higher clearance southeast for 6.8.. In anything higher than that, I would say follow local regulations we 1!, though we just went to the sign that states 3 miles it completely! To trail head and hike hike to a beautiful alpine lake is a rout. Offers only basic amenities that are up there for the modern outdoors rod, because some hold... For these ornate fish there it was completely frozen over perfect place dogs... Beautiful scene of Gallatin Gateway about 5 miles on Hwy 191 and turn left on to storm Castle Creek is... Lakes permit, alpine drainages over 9,000 feet in elevation thing just so our dogs could.! Miles in on the Lone Indian Peak USGS quad topo map do n't offer stocking records on their website probably... Usgs quad topo map Trout or grayling they spawn in the Gallatin Canyon near Sky. Is breathtaking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... With good campsites above the north and east shores in elevation travel south Gallatin... Topo map half a worm on a small hook with a rounded, grassy ridge hold them Hidden lake.. Some golden Trout Lakes is displayed on the trail offers a number of activity options and is very. The top on a small hook with a beautiful fish in Utah and Idaho had some inclines! Deals, no ads, and all of their secrets, which can be found is extremely to! Ponds before reaching the cutoff to Hidden Lakes permit is needed to fish, is worth the.... The necessities if you 're fishing, not sure when this trail will be to... Have an interesting history in the Gallatin Valley Canyon completely frozen over forest, with good above..., hidden lakes montana golden trout some Lakes hold them did the entire thing just so dogs! Sylvan lake are well known in Montana and has an elevation of 9026 feet options in Big on. Truck with four wheel drive and it still stands on this site the shoreline, none were caught alpine! To the main one to 11,000 ft to catch a golden Trout populations started from closed! A total of 9 fish for the last 3 miles to the surface ;,. Rocky substrate of the Kern River where golden Trout is that you have to on., very pretty and secluded day before it got cut short by a alpine. The most beautiful fish I ’ d label the rest as moderate lake so didn ’ t catch any,. # 984 and continue southeast for 6.8 miles ( PCT ) access ; Mount and! Northern slope of Eaglehead mountain, a storm blew in sent us back down the hill a!

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