Follow this road for about 3.5 miles until the road ends. It had some steeper inclines but we were able to stop and rest by a beautiful stream. The golden trout is a California species that was introduced in Montana in 1907. For those of you that are up there for the fishing! Was a nice hike in a wooded area to the lake. The lake is beautiful in a nice place to relax. Not sure when this trail will be ready to use but not anytime soon! Beautiful hike! But for those who make the trip, catching a golden trout, the state fish, is worth the effort. Starting in Bozeman, travel south of Gallatin Gateway about 5 miles on Hwy 191 and turn left on to Storm Castle Creek Road. Recommend bait is half a worm on a small hook with a weight 20-26 inches up your line. Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) access; Mount Whitney and John Muir Wilderness are to the north. This was a great trail! The ponds at Hidden Lakes are stocked in April and October with trout. 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. Great views. 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. Fishing too. Pack only the necessities if you're going to fish! Some people were fishing, not sure if they were having any luck. 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. The trailhead for Golden Trout Lakes is located off of US Highway 191 south of Bozeman, Montana… A fit hiker can probably make it to either destination in an hour or so. 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. Once we go to the actual trail head it stated 2.5 miles to the lake. Lots of evidence of bears being in the area so be on alert!!! Golden Trout Wilderness. 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. Others are the perfect place for a … Eagle Head Mountain borders the lake to the south and provides a nice backdrop to this beautiful scene. Beautiful Alpine Lake. 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 trail starts off easy and winds past a few small ponds before reaching the cutoff to Hidden Lakes Trail (approx. 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. Equestrian corrals and horse trails. Beautiful hike, but uncertain footing along much of the rock-strewn trail. I made it to the lake in an hour. The view is stunning and is a very nice place to escape to, even if just for an hour or so. There are currently about 20 golden trout populations in the high mountain lakes of western and southcentral Montana. Bring bug spray though!! 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!!! The trail starts at the Gallatin River and continues upward through dense evergreen forest. The golden trout populations started from the Sur- prise Lake stock had a low occurrence of the variant allele. But it’s well worth it when you get to the lake. The Golden Trout Lakes sit in a basin at an elevation of 9,050 feet. To get to Golden Trout Lakes, head north out of Big Sky on highway 191 for 5.1 miles. Golden Trout Lakes is displayed on the Lone Indian Peak USGS quad topo map. Few camp spots around the lake. Generally you can’t just do a quick day trip for these ornate fish. 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. The high-mountain lakes rest in a cirque on the northern slope of Eaglehead Mountain, a three-peaked mountain with a rounded, grassy ridge. Lots of shade. Beautiful fish! As golden lakes go, this one was nirvana. The thing that didn’t make it worth doing again was the road to the trailhead. 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. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including brown trout, northern pike, rainbow trout and whitefish here. My Outback did just fine. The last mile is pretty tough, but I’d label the rest as moderate. 0.8 miles). They spawn in the fall on the rocky substrate of the shoreline. Glad I borrowed a friends truck. Great trail with nice reward at the end. Turned around .5 miles in on the trail due to snow. 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. Eastern Sierra – Horseshoe Meadows Road (paved) leads up to high elevation meadows from the high deserts of Lone Pine, CA. Unfortunately, a storm blew in sent us back down the hill about a quarter-mile from the lakes. We did the entire thing just so our dogs could explore. Overview Gorgeous views make this fairly strenuous climb worth it. Do NOT GO ON THIS TRAIL RIGHT NOW! https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/montana/golden-trout-lakes We walked 1 1/2 + miles from the closed road to the sign that states 3 miles to trail head. Continue left for the Golden Trout Lakes. The trail is rough if you have a lot of weight on you. All adults age 16 and older are required to have a Hidden Lakes permit. Good hike, rough road getting up there. The trailhead is easy to find, and has a vault toilet and a decently sized parking lot. Veer right for Hidden Lakes. Golden trout are most often found in remote, alpine drainages over 9,000 feet in elevation. In the Gallatin Range lies a constellation of lakes, and all of their secrets, which can be found by you. They provide a unique opportunity to catch a beautiful fish in a pristine environment. The Golden Trout Lakes trail (Trail #89) is located up Portal Creek in the Gallatin Canyon near Big Sky. Worth the drive and hike. Not true. Stay on the trail marked NFS 83 at the bifurcation to hidden lake cutoff. 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. Definitely more than that... once we got there it was completely frozen over. The trail leaves from right next to the toilets, and is very easy to follow. 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. adventures and follow local regulations. I just went fishing in the western Sierra and caught a Golden trout even bigger than the one in the picture. A few streams cross the trail but are easily maneuvered over via rocks. A great hike. Neither trail is terribly difficult. The hike and the lake are breathtaking. We're committed to building a better, more inclusive home for the modern outdoors. In early July 2012, my mom and I headed up into the Gallatin Mountains for our next hiking adventure: Golden Trout Lakes. 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. The trail begins to gain noticeable elevation as it continues. Was much colder at the lake so didn’t stay long. Very few people on the trail for a Saturday in August. 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. 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. Big, gorgeous, tucked up against a wall of rock, and with a little outlet stream to a smaller lake below it. Great place for dogs to swim at the top. Definitely worth the hike up there! Beautiful short and easy hike. Fox Creek Cabin is a former ranger station located in a remote area. The trail is a little flooded in places and a bit of a rough drive - worth it. Even the drive up Portal Creek Road is breathtaking!!!! The largest Golden on record is an 11-pound, 4-ounce fish that 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 road is in rough condition and is better suited for vehicles with a higher clearance. Go PRO to support our mission and get benefits like gear deals, no ads, and more! 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 map also shows hotspots where our fishing junkies have caught lunkers and posted photos and stories. Some of the most beautiful fish I’ve ever held in my hands. 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. Golden trout are on the smaller side. Nice lake at the end. Roads, campgrounds and trailheads surrounding Golden Trout Wilderness. We will be back to see the lake! One of the best in Big Sky. Golden Trout Lakes trail is a 5 mile out and back hike to a beautiful alpine lake in the Gallatin Range of SW Montana. 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. 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. Also, the mosquitos were terrible, so wear bug spray and bring extra to reapply at the top! At this fork you can go to Windy Pass and Golden Trout Lakes or Hidden Lakes. A Hidden Lakes permit is needed to fish at Hidden Lakes. There are only about 20 lakes or groups of lakes in the state that hold good numbers of golden trout. The fly fishing options in Big Sky country are endless. The lake is calm and serene, tucked into the trees with several camp spots around its perimeter. Another sign about half way will point you toward the Hidden Lakes parking area and trailhead. Five of the lakes contain golden or rainbow trout (or both). In Wyoming, however, they don't offer stocking records on their website. Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout sits on the apex of Garnet Mountain, at an elevation of 8,245 feet. Nice n easy hike. Golden trout have an interesting history in the state record books. The current cabin, a former guard station, was ... Overview The largest Golden Trout are located in high mountain lakes of Wyoming and Montana, but there are also fish in Utah and Idaho. 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. 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. The trailhead serves double duty as it's the jumping off place for two trails. I went last spring, there was a lot of water over the path and some post holing to be done. First stocked in 1938, the golden trout at Sylvan Lake are well known in Montana for their genetic purity. Catfish is stocked May and September. Bring bug repellent. Bring bug spray! Requires a 4WD vehicle for the road in -- very VERY rough. The last mile is rough - very steep. Hidden Lakes from Mapcarta, the free map. It is very small and offers only basic amenities. Steep hike with some boggy sections that might do better with waterproof boots. 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. The first challenge in catching golden trout is determining which lakes hold them. (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 … The largest of the Golden Trout Lakes is surrounded by forest, with good campsites above the north and east shores. Some of the best spots to cast a fly include Spanish Lakes, Hidden Lakes, or Golden Trout Lakes. This is actually a collection of three lakes, though we just went to the main one. The two aforementioned Fish lakes in Idaho’s Bitterroot Mountains also are thought to have held native bull trout. A few streams cross the trail but are easily maneuvered over via rocks. 0.8 miles). Lake is frozen over as of 10/15/17. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Great trail with a beautiful and quiet lake at the top. It is currently 8+ feet of snow! One accesses Windy Pass (a nice hike in it's own right), the other heads off to the Golden Trout Lakes. We were just hiking in for fun! Road conditions leading up are tremendously bad. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until September. We did it in my 4Runner and had zero issues. Moderately trafficked with people at the destination. To access the trail head, turn east onto Portal Creek Road #984 and continue southeast for 6.8 miles. Golden Trout Lakes is in the Lakes category for Gallatin County in the state of Montana. 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. Lake Trout inhabit very deep, cold lakes, living in water up to 200 feet deep. BULL TROUT. 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