Definitely worth the hike up there! Go PRO to support our mission and get benefits like gear deals, no ads, and more! The trailhead for Golden Trout Lakes is located off of US Highway 191 south of Bozeman, Montana… adventures and follow local regulations. 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. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/golden-trout-lakes 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. The largest Golden Trout are located in high mountain lakes of Wyoming and Montana, but there are also fish in Utah and Idaho. We did it in my 4Runner and had zero issues. The trail has about 4 steep sections followed by flat sections to catch your breathe. 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. Lake is frozen over as of 10/15/17. The first challenge in catching golden trout is determining which lakes hold them. Bring bug spray though!! The hike and the lake are breathtaking. Up high in the Beartooth Mountains of Montana there is Sylvan Lake, offering good fishing for golden trout. I just went fishing in the western Sierra and caught a Golden trout even bigger than the one in the picture. I went last spring, there was a lot of water over the path and some post holing to be done. 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. Bring bug spray! At this fork you can go to Windy Pass and Golden Trout Lakes or Hidden Lakes. Some of the best spots to cast a fly include Spanish Lakes, Hidden Lakes, or Golden Trout Lakes. Continue left for the Golden Trout Lakes. Bring a fishing rod. Easily in anything higher than that, I would say. Road was still closed due to runoff so we had to hike 4 miles just to get to the trailhead. As golden lakes go, this one was nirvana. The golden trout populations started from the Sur- prise Lake stock had a low occurrence of the variant allele. 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. A fit hiker can probably make it to either destination in an hour or so. Ran into hikers that made the mistake of following the arrow pointing right rather than straight and ended up in the wrong location. Continue left for the Golden Trout Lakes. We will be back to see the lake! The road is in rough condition and is better suited for vehicles with a higher clearance. The largest Golden on record is an 11-pound, 4-ounce fish that Follow this road for about 3.5 miles until the road ends. Five of the lakes contain golden or rainbow trout (or both). Lots of shade. The lake is beautiful in a nice place to relax. The view is stunning and is a very nice place to escape to, even if just for an hour or so. Gorgeous views make this fairly strenuous climb worth it. 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. Fox Creek Cabin is a former ranger station located in a remote area. The last mile is pretty tough, but I’d label the rest as moderate. Moderately trafficked with people at the destination. It is absolutely beautiful but I can imagine it is much more manageable when you can drive to the trail head and hike. The road gets a bit bumpier for another 2.2 miles. All adults age 16 and older are required to have a Hidden Lakes permit. 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. The trail leaves from right next to the toilets, and is very easy to follow. To access the trail head, turn east onto Portal Creek Road #984 and continue southeast for 6.8 miles. This is actually a collection of three lakes, though we just went to the main one. The golden trout is a California species that was introduced in Montana in 1907. 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. Dogs are also able to use this trail. The Golden Trout lakes offer a scenic getaway just out of the Gallatin Valley Canyon. The thing that didn’t make it worth doing again was the road to the trailhead. Another sign about half way will point you toward the Hidden Lakes parking area and trailhead. 0.8 miles). The ponds at Hidden Lakes are stocked in April and October with trout. The trail head is equipped with adequate parking. We were just hiking in for fun! Unfortunately, a storm blew in sent us back down the hill about a quarter-mile from the lakes. The original Big Creek Cabin was built in 1907 and it still stands on this site. Was a nice hike in a wooded area to the lake. For those of you that are up there for the fishing! It provides a rustic mountain retreat with few amenities, so guests need to bring most of th... Overview 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. Permits are … © 2020 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. Beautiful short and easy hike. 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. You might also find goldens scattered around in few other lakes, but they are not as widespread as many species of trout in Montana. Turned around .5 miles in on the trail due to snow. But for those who make the trip, catching a golden trout, the state fish, is worth the effort. Didn’t catch any trout, but saw plenty grabbing bugs off the surface. Golden trout lakes is a 5-mile rout trip hike with the opportunity to fish for Golden Trout. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. There are only about 20 lakes or groups of lakes in the state that hold good numbers of golden trout. In Montana, the Lake Trout of Flathead Lake have achieved trophy status, growing to 42 pounds. 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. They spawn in the fall on the rocky substrate of the shoreline. Here's a look at some excellent Montana Brook Trout we tracked down last summer. Some popular destinations are Lightning Lake, Cave Lake, the Hidden Lakes (Gallatin Range) and the Golden Trout Lakes. Beautiful fish! We walked 15 miles round trip! Trail is 2.5 miles according to my watch. One accesses Windy Pass (a nice hike in it's own right), the other heads off 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. 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. Catfish is stocked May and September. 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!!! Not to be unexpected with all the snow! The trail starts at the Gallatin River and continues upward through dense evergreen forest. The lookout provides a panorami... Overview Golden Trout Lakes trail is a 5 mile out and back hike to a beautiful alpine lake in the Gallatin Range of SW Montana. Do NOT GO ON THIS TRAIL RIGHT NOW! Roads, campgrounds and trailheads surrounding Golden Trout Wilderness. 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. Neither trail is terribly difficult. We walked 1 1/2 + miles from the closed road to the sign that states 3 miles to trail head. For the last 3 miles it was very rough with rocks and pot holes. Overview Not true. Golden trout are on the smaller side. Beautiful hike! Enjoy the high-mountain air of a trail that begins above 8,000 feet. Great trail with nice reward at the end. Fishing Permits . 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. Our group caught a total of 9 fish for the day before it got cut short by a mean rain/hail storm. Call ahead to see if its open. The last mile is rough - very steep. It was well worth it though, very pretty and secluded. In Wyoming, however, they don't offer stocking records on their website. I made it to the lake in an hour. The trail is rough if you have a lot of weight on you. Users have reported that the road leading to the trailhead might require 4WD with high clearance. 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. 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. Quite scenic. But it’s well worth it when you get to the lake. 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. At this point, there is a decent sized parking area. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including brown trout, northern pike, rainbow trout and whitefish here. 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. The portal creek road is challenging, best to have 4x4 or AWD with high clearance. Please explore responsibly! Lake Trout are a major game fish in much of Canada and were at one time a staple of the Great Lakes fishery. Hiking to an alpine lake is a rewarding adventure. 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. 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. Others are the perfect place for a … Veer right for Hidden Lakes. Not good weather since pretty thick fog. I waited for 30 minutes until I got my first bite but damn it was worth it. In looping around the lake, many fish were noted rising to the surface; however, none were caught. Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) access; Mount Whitney and John Muir Wilderness are to the north. The Golden Trout Lakes sit in a basin at an elevation of 9,050 feet. The people who keep track of the record fish have been very busy in the past few years with the state record golden trout. The map also shows hotspots where our fishing junkies have caught lunkers and posted photos and stories. Few camp spots around the lake. Very few people on the trail for a Saturday in August. Beautiful Alpine Lake. Less busy trail. Glad I borrowed a friends truck. In Montana, that's not terribly difficult through the MFISH database. 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. Bring bug repellent. It is very small and offers only basic amenities. Lots of evidence of bears being in the area so be on alert!!! Was much colder at the lake so didn’t stay long. Big, gorgeous, tucked up against a wall of rock, and with a little outlet stream to a smaller lake below it. 0.8 miles). Definitely coming again to try to catch some golden trout. The trail starts off easy and winds past a few small ponds before reaching the cutoff to Hidden Lakes Trail (approx. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until September. 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. Golden Trout Lakes is displayed on the Lone Indian Peak USGS quad topo map. Once we go to the actual trail head it stated 2.5 miles to the lake. Great trail with a beautiful and quiet lake at the top. The high-mountain lakes rest in a cirque on the northern slope of Eaglehead Mountain, a three-peaked mountain with a rounded, grassy ridge. Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout sits on the apex of Garnet Mountain, at an elevation of 8,245 feet. #NextTime, Buffalo Horn Pass from Tom Miner Campground, Bozeman, MT, to West Yellowstone, MT: the West Entrance, Levinski Ridge via Porcupine Creek Trailhead, Hyalite-Porcupine-Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area. It was a little more difficult than I expected, but doable. One of the best in Big Sky. Nice lake at the end. The meadow and wildflowers were awesome! Steep hike with some boggy sections that might do better with waterproof boots. The trail begins to gain noticeable elevation as it continues. To get to Golden Trout Lakes, head north out of Big Sky on highway 191 for 5.1 miles. Requires a 4WD vehicle for the road in -- very VERY rough. Stay on the trail marked NFS 83 at the bifurcation to hidden lake cutoff. 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. A few streams cross the trail but are easily maneuvered over via rocks. The largest of the Golden Trout Lakes is surrounded by forest, with good campsites above the north and east shores. Fly-fishing for golden trout is a time-consuming, obsession-creating adventure of a time. Beautiful hike, and we had a great time fishing!! This was a great trail! They provide a unique opportunity to catch a beautiful fish in a pristine environment. The trail starts off easy and winds past a few small ponds before reaching the cutoff to Hidden Lakes Trail (approx. Great views. When we got to the lake could maybe see ten feet out! First stocked in 1938, the golden trout at Sylvan Lake are well known in Montana for their genetic purity. A great hike. 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. Hidden Lakes is a lake in Montana and has an elevation of 9026 feet. 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. Eagle Head Mountain borders the lake to the south and provides a nice backdrop to this beautiful scene. We did the entire thing just so our dogs could explore. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your Starting in Bozeman, travel south of Gallatin Gateway about 5 miles on Hwy 191 and turn left on to Storm Castle Creek Road. Anyone who is interested in visiting Golden Trout Lakes can print the free topographic map and street map using the link above. The two aforementioned Fish lakes in Idaho’s Bitterroot Mountains also are thought to have held native bull trout. The 6 mile round trip to Lava Lake is a steady climb that runs beside Cascade Creek through the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. It was a beautiful blast in our eyes but if you are looking to fish, look somewhere else!! 06/23/2018. Pack only the necessities if you're going to fish! It had some steeper inclines but we were able to stop and rest by a beautiful stream. 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. My Outback did just fine. Golden trout have an interesting history in the state record books. The trail is a little flooded in places and a bit of a rough drive - worth it. Beautiful hike, but uncertain footing along much of the rock-strewn trail. Golden trout are most often found in remote, alpine drainages over 9,000 feet in elevation. Definitely more than that... once we got there it was completely frozen over. Hiked on Labor Day. The current cabin, a former guard station, was ... Overview The Hidden Lakes Trailhead is 6.0 miles from 191 and is located at approximately 8185 feet. Also, the mosquitos were terrible, so wear bug spray and bring extra to reapply at the top! 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. Equestrian corrals and horse trails. There are also campspots with fire pits if you want to make it an overnight. Golden Trout Lakes is in the Lakes category for Gallatin County in the state of Montana. BULL TROUT. It is currently 8+ feet of snow! Not sure when this trail will be ready to use but not anytime soon! 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