Nelson Lake
- Jun–Aug
- best months
Is Nelson Lake open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Bitterroot National Forest.
Pile burning on West Fork Ranger and Darby-Sula Districts Nov. 9 to 12
Agency alert covering Bitterroot National Forest · USFS · Bitterroot National Forest
Pile burning on West Fork Ranger District end of October
Agency alert covering West Fork Ranger District · USFS · West Fork Ranger District
Pile burning on West Fork Ranger District Oct. 26
Agency alert covering West Fork Ranger District · USFS · West Fork Ranger District
Two Prescribed Burns Planned for the week of Oct. 5 - Piquett Creek & Cameron Gap
Agency alert covering Bitterroot National Forest · USFS · Bitterroot National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Bitterroot National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Nelson Lake is a 39-acre lake near Darby, Montana, at about 7,239 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
- Soda Springs CreekHiking2.1 mi
- Soda Spirngs CreekHiking2.2 mi
- Boulder PointSummit3.3 mi
- Nez Perce ForkCanoeing4.3 mi
- Trapper PeakSummit4.9 mi
- West Fork Boat LaunchBoat launch5.2 mi
RomboCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain5.9 mi
Fales Flat CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain7.2 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Kerlee LakeLake fishing · ~18 min drive
- Lookout LakeLake fishing · ~29 min drive
- Lower Twin LakeLake fishing · ~40 min drive
- Upper Twin LakeLake fishing · ~41 min drive
- Canyon LakeLake fishing · ~49 min drive
- Battle LakeLake fishing · ~50 min drive
- Hauf LakeLake fishing · ~55 min drive
- Nimphaea LakeLake fishing · ~59 min drive
- Jeanette LakeLake fishing · ~59 min drive
- Hidden LakeLake fishing · ~1h 3m drive
Best time to visit Nelson Lake
Best months: June–August. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
26° / 3°
8 wet
Feb
29° / 3°
8 wet
Mar
39° / 12°
8 wet
Apr
49° / 21°
9 wet
May
59° / 28°
12 wet
Jun
67° / 35°
11 wet
Jul
78° / 38°
8 wet
Aug
77° / 34°
7 wet
Sep
68° / 28°
7 wet
Oct
53° / 21°
8 wet
Nov
36° / 10°
9 wet
Dec
25° / 3°
9 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Wisdom, MT, 46.2 mi away at 6,060 ft. The station sits about 1,200 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
