Idaho · Hiking

Golden Trout Lake

1.2 mi
round trip
17 ft
climb
8,480 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Golden Trout Lake open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Salmon-Challis National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Salmon-Challis National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Golden Trout Lake is a short, easy hike in Idaho's Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District of the Salmon-Challis National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 1.2 miles long and rises roughly 17 feet from its low point of 8,148 feet to a high of 8,480 feet, making it a gentle out-and-back. The route is natural-surfaced and allows no bikes. It stays open year-round, so it works as a quick outing in any season. Several other hikes sit close by. Crags Horse Alternate is about a mile away, Upper Yellowjacket Cr. is about 1.8 miles off, and Gant Ridge and Waterfall are both within about 2.5 miles.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

WaterfallPhoto: Mario Hains, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Waterfall

~4 min drive

32.21-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 665 ft elevation gain.

Harbor LakePhoto: Mario Hains, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Harbor Lake

~6 min drive

3.40-mile out-and-back trail to Harbor Lake in Idaho with 848 ft of elevation gain.

BEAGLE CREEKPhoto: Bplewe, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

BEAGLE CREEK

~13 min drive

18-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 4,385 ft elevation gain/loss

HIKE

Crags Horse Alternate

~2 min drive

4.08-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 484 ft of elevation gain.

Mirror LakePhoto: Mario Hains, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mirror Lake

~6 min drive

7.93-mile out-and-back trail to Mirror Lake in Idaho with 1,238 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

HOODOO TRAIL

~7 min drive

5.22-mile out-and-back hike in Idaho with 1,934 ft elevation gain and loss.

HIKE

Elkhorn

~19 min drive

5.82-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 637 ft gain and 2,899 ft loss.

HIKE

Upper Yellowjacket Cr.

~3 min drive

4.95-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 854 ft elevation gain.

Upper Yellowjacket Cr.Photo: Bplewe, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Upper Yellowjacket Cr.

~12 min drive

Upper Yellowjacket Cr is a 17.23-mile out-and-back hike in Idaho with 1,696 feet of elevation gain.

HIKE

Lick Creek

~13 min drive

5.06-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,851 ft of elevation gain.