Lake Mountain
- 4.1 mi
- round trip
- 3,578 ft
- climb
- 9,264 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Lake Mountain open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists an alert for Salmon-Challis National Forest.
Stoddard Bridge Construction Closure
Agency alert covering Salmon-Challis National Forest · Order 0413-07-17 · USFS · Salmon-Challis National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Salmon-Challis National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Lake Mountain is a moderate hike in Idaho's Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District of the Salmon-Challis National Forest, about 4 miles from the district's boundaries. The trail is an out-and-back that climbs from roughly 9,200 feet to about 9,260 feet, with a total gain of about 3,578 feet over the round trip. The steepest stretch comes early, with a grade of about 26% at about 0.2 miles from the start. The trail is on natural surface and allows both horses and bikes, according to the Forest Service's trail records. That makes it a flexible option for riders and pack animals. Nearby, North Fork Iron Creek is less than a mile away, and Henry Creek and Thunder Mountain Historic are both within about 3 miles. For an overnight stay, Iron Lake Campground sits about 10 miles off.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: waterarchives, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Lime Creek
~16 min drive
10.55-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 2,555 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: Ben B Miller, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Goldbug Hot Springs Trail
~18 min drive
2.72-mile out-and-back hike in Idaho with 1,151 ft elevation gain and loss.
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Williams Lake Campground
~8 min drive
Williams Lake Campground is a 1.16-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 42 feet of elevation gain.
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Thunder Mountain Historic
~13 min drive
12.12-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 2,361 ft elevation gain.
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North Fork Iron Creek
~1 min drive
6.12-mile out-and-back trail on North Fork Iron Creek in Idaho with 7,948 ft gain.
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Powderhouse Gulch Trail
~7 min drive
6.68-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 2,341 ft elevation gain and loss.
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Williams Lake Handicapped
~9 min drive
0.53-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 4 ft of elevation gain.
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Henry Creek
~4 min drive
14.59-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 3,158 ft elevation gain.
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Goodluck Meadows
~9 min drive
4.28-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 142 ft gain and 1,348 ft loss.
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Wapiti Meadows Trail
~9 min drive
0.97-mile loop in Idaho with 124 ft gain and 7,469 ft max elevation.
Route details
- Distance
- 4.1 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 3,578 ft
- Summit
- 9,265 ft
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Season
Season: Year-round.
Questions about this route
How long is the Lake Mountain on Lake Mountain?
About 4.1 mi round trip.
How much elevation gain is on the Lake Mountain?
About 3,578 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Lake Mountain?
It is rated moderate.
When is the best time for the Lake Mountain?
Year-round.
Conditions and forecast on Lake Mountain
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
