Vernon Lake
Montana
Free — you'll pick up right here.
2.9 mi
Distance
118 ft
Gain
1h 2m
Time
No verdict for this trail
We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.
What we do know
Inside Custer Gallatin National Forest
2 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.
Boundary data
What's missing
No access route mapped
We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.
Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.
Why you'll love it
Here's your day, mapped
Vernon Lake
Suggested plan · check conditions before you go
Meals
Gear for the day
Elevation & route
- Distance
- 2.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 118 ft
- Highest point
- 8,214 ft
- Lowest point
- 7,866 ft
Photos
Directions & GPX
Permits & access
- Managing agency
- Forest Service
- Bikes
- Not allowed
- Horses
- Allowed
- Surface
- Natural
Source for bikes, horses, surface: USDA Forest Service National Forest System Trails (EDW)
About this trail
Vernon Lake is a 2.92-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 118 feet of elevation gain. The trail follows an out-and-back route and is managed by the Forest Service.
Facts about this trail
The climb
- High point
- 8,214 ft
- Length (round trip)
- 2.9 mi
- Shape
- Out and back
Source: Roamze elevation profile and trail geometry (DEM samples along the mapped route)
Where it is
- Gardiner Ranger District · Ranger district
- Custer Gallatin National Forest · National forest
- Managed by
- Forest Service
Conditions
Active alerts for Gardiner Ranger District as of Oct 9, 2026:
Beattie Gulch Area Shooting Closure
critical · posted Aug 24, 2026
Jardine Road Area Campfire Restrictions
critical · posted Aug 24, 2026
critical · posted Aug 24, 2026
Source: USFS forest alerts
Nearby
- Rock Island LakeHiking1 mi
- Broadwater RiverHiking1.5 mi
- Fox LakeHiking2 mi
- ColterCamping2.6 mi
- Fox Creek CampgroundCamping3 mi
- Soda Butte CampgroundCamping3.4 mi
- Pilot CreekCanoeing4.8 mi
- Clarks Fork Yellowstone RiverCanoeing7.8 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Add to a trip & share
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: richsandroid, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Soda Butte Creek Trail
~5 min drive
1.14-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 278 ft of elevation gain
Photo: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Black Warrior Trail
~9 min drive
3.5-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,419 ft elevation gain
Photo: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)Wolverine Pass Cutoff
~14 min drive
2.48-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 452 ft gain
Widewater
~4 min drive
9.70-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 533 ft gain.
Rock Island Lake
~2 min drive
Rock Island Lake is a 1.33-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 39 feet of elevation gain.
Photo: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Sheep Creek Basin
~10 min drive
5.44-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 927 ft of elevation gain.
Warm Creek Trailhead (3K4)
~16 min drive
From this trailhead you can embark on the following trail: Pebble Creek Trail Parking is available at the trailhead. Vault toilets are available nearby at the Warm Creek Picnic Area. Pebble Creek Trail A 12-mile (19-km) strenuous, one-way hike that begins at the Pebble Cre…
Lower Lady of the Lake
~5 min drive
7.09-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,091 ft elevation gain.
Broadwater River
~3 min drive
3.88-mile out-and-back trail at Broadwater River in Montana with 409 ft of elevation gain.
Woody Creek
~6 min drive
4.28-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 944 ft of elevation gain.
