Pony Lake
- 3.1 mi
- round trip
- 509 ft
- climb
- 6,770 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Sep
- best months
Is Pony Lake 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.
Pony Lake is a moderate, out-and-back hike of about 3 miles in the Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District of Idaho's Salmon-Challis National Forest. The trail rises roughly 500 feet from a low point of about 6,246 feet to a high point of about 6,770 feet, and the Forest Service manages the surrounding land. The trail is on natural surface and allows horses and bikes. It is not an accessible trail. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Jackson, Montana, put July highs around 77°F with lows near 42°F, and September highs around 66°F. Winter is cold, with January highs near 28°F. The Forest Service lists the open season as July 1 through September 30. That window may change, so check current conditions before you head out. Nearby, the North Moccasin Trail and the Trail Creek hike are both about 5 miles away. Wallace Lake Campground is about 7 miles off, and the Peña Boulder climbing area is about 10 miles away.
Best time to go · Jun–Sep
Best time to visit Pony 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
28° / 8°
6 wet
Feb
31° / 8°
6 wet
Mar
39° / 16°
8 wet
Apr
46° / 23°
9 wet
May
57° / 31°
10 wet
Jun
66° / 37°
9 wet
Jul
77° / 42°
6 wet
Aug
76° / 39°
5 wet
Sep
66° / 32°
4 wet
Oct
51° / 25°
5 wet
Nov
36° / 14°
7 wet
Dec
27° / 7°
7 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Jackson, MT, 37.5 mi away at 6,480 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
HIKE
North Moccasin Trail
~8 min drive
6.02-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,744 ft gain and 8,193 ft max elevation.
HIKE
Trail Creek
~8 min drive
9.34-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 450 ft gain and 3,606 ft loss.
HIKE
North Moccasin Spur 1
~9 min drive
2.78-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 222 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
HORNET CREEK
~13 min drive
9.56-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 2,305 ft elevation gain.
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DEEP CREEK RIDGE
~9 min drive
4.07-mile loop in Idaho with 1,643 ft gain and 8,094 ft max elevation.
HIKE
White Horse Basin Trail
~9 min drive
6.36-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 3,978 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Beartrack
~9 min drive
Beartrack is a 2.62-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 244 feet of elevation gain.
HIKE
Fritzer Gulch
~14 min drive
8.13-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 3,552 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Perreau Meadows
~9 min drive
4.2-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 788 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Williams Creek
~10 min drive
26.52-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 2,575 ft elevation gain.
