Bailey Lake
- 2.0 mi
- round trip
- 614 ft
- climb
- 6,639 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Sep
- best months
Is Bailey Lake open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Bitterroot National Forest.
Pile burning on West Fork Ranger and Darby-Sula Districts Nov. 3
Agency alert covering Bitterroot National Forest · USFS · Bitterroot National Forest
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.
Bailey Lake is an easy, 2-mile out-and-back hike in Idaho's Bitterroot National Forest, within the Darby Ranger District. The trail rises about 614 feet from a low point of 6,023 feet to a high of 6,639 feet, and its natural surface makes it a straightforward walk for anyone looking to spend a few hours on foot in this part of the forest. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs around 81°F with lows near 40°F and only about eight wet days a month, while winter highs stay in the low 30s. Several other trails sit close by. Bear Lake and Bear Creek are each about 0.8 miles away, and Bear Lakes is about 0.9 miles off. For an overnight stay, Schumaker Campground is about 1.5 miles away.
Best time to go · Jun–Sep
Best time to visit Bailey Lake
Best months: June–September. 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
31° / 10°
13 wet
Feb
35° / 12°
12 wet
Mar
43° / 20°
13 wet
Apr
50° / 25°
13 wet
May
61° / 32°
13 wet
Jun
70° / 37°
12 wet
Jul
81° / 40°
8 wet
Aug
81° / 38°
8 wet
Sep
70° / 32°
9 wet
Oct
54° / 26°
11 wet
Nov
38° / 18°
13 wet
Dec
29° / 10°
13 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sula 14 Ne, MT, 39.3 mi away at 5,155 ft. The station sits about 1,500 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.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
HIKE
BEAR LAKE
~1 min drive
6.14-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 2,808 ft elevation gain and loss.
HIKE
BEAR CREEK
~1 min drive
43.94-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 5,564 ft elevation gain
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Bear Lakes
~2 min drive
6.62-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 2,320 ft elevation gain and loss.
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Lick Creek Trail
~21 min drive
1.96-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 395 ft elevation gain
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Battle Creek Crossing Trail
~16 min drive
7.92-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 3,103 ft gain/loss and a max elevation of 6,857 ft.
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SPRUCE CREEK
~2 min drive
16.98-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 4,291 ft elevation gain and loss.
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North Fork Lost Horse Creek Trail
~16 min drive
6.28-mile out-and-back hike in Montana with 2,080 ft gain and 6,184 ft max elevation.
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Como Lake Loop National Recreation Trail
~22 min drive
14.58-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 65 ft elevation gain.
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Rock Creek
~19 min drive
21.38-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,369 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Lost Horse Trail
~4 min drive
26.61-mile point-to-point trail in Idaho with 3,990 ft gain and 8,053 ft loss.
