Twin Lakes (Hard Butte)
- 0.6 mi
- round trip
- 146 ft
- climb
- 7,178 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Aug
- best months
Is Twin Lakes (Hard Butte) open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Payette National Forest.
Over Snow Vehicle Closure
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-638 · USFS · Payette National Forest
Brundage Mountain Resort Snowcat Route Closure
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-637 · USFS · Payette National Forest
Lost Valley Log Hauling
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · USFS · Payette National Forest
Granite Mountain Over Snow Vehicle Closure
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-635 · USFS · Payette National Forest
Gordon Titus Upper Elevation Parking Lot Winter Restrictions
Agency alert covering Payette National Forest · Order 0412-543 · USFS · Payette National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Payette National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Twin Lakes (Hard Butte) is a short out-and-back hike in Idaho's Payette National Forest, within the New Meadows Ranger District. The trail is about half a mile long, with a low point of 7,033 feet and a high of 7,178 feet, and it is managed by the Forest Service. The route is natural-surfaced and allows bikes, and it is not an accessible trail. Parking is at a site called Twin Lakes, and the trail is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Warren run to highs around 79°F in July and August, with lows in the mid-30s. That station sits roughly 1,300 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the hike run cooler. Granite Mountain Trail is about half a mile away, and Duck Lake and Granite Mountain are both within about 2 miles. Grouse Campground, about 2.3 miles off, is the closest place to camp.
Local outfitters
- Black Bear RV Park15 mi away
- Arrowhead RV Park41 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jun–Aug
Best time to visit Twin Lakes (Hard Butte)
Best months: June–August. 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
35° / 7°
Feb
41° / 7°
Mar
46° / 17°
Apr
50° / 20°
May
59° / 27°
Jun
68° / 34°
Jul
79° / 37°
Aug
79° / 35°
Sep
69° / 30°
Oct
56° / 23°
Nov
41° / 16°
Dec
34° / 9°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Warren, ID, 26.8 mi away at 5,907 ft. The station sits about 1,300 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.
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