Idaho · Hiking

Rock Lake

0.8 mi
round trip
742 ft
climb
9,156 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Rock 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.

Rock Lake is a short hike in the Middle Fork Ranger District of Idaho's Salmon-Challis National Forest. The trail runs 0.78 miles on a natural surface and is rated easy, with about 390 feet of climbing one way and roughly 740 feet round trip as an out-and-back. This is high country. The route starts around 9,080 feet, tops out near 9,160 feet, and drops to a low point of about 8,750 feet. The steepest pitch comes early, around 0.15 miles in, where the grade reaches about 31 percent. Despite the easy rating, that short, sharp section is worth taking slowly, especially on the climb back out. Horses are allowed on the trail, but bikes are not. Martin Mountain is just 0.4 miles away. Cabin Creek and Sleeping Deer Lo are each about 0.6 miles off, and Liberty Creek Ridge is roughly 1.4 miles away, which makes it easy to pair this outing with a longer day in the area.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.