Bear Lakes
- 5.6 mi
- round trip
- 1,491 ft
- climb
- 5,929 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Bear Lakes open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Kootenai National Forest. It doesn't name Bear Lakes, so check the source for the area it covers.
Kootenai Flood Event & Inaccessible Areas
Agency closure covering Kootenai National Forest · USFS · Kootenai National Forest
Updated Skillet Fire Area, Road, Trail Closure
Agency alert covering Kootenai National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Kootenai National Forest
Trail Advisory-Alexander Mountain Trail near Timber Harvest Activities
Agency alert covering Libby Ranger District · USFS · Libby Ranger District
Timberlane Campground Closure
Agency alert covering Libby Ranger District · Order 01-14-05-26-03 · USFS · Libby Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Kootenai National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Bear Lakes is a moderate out-and-back hike in the Libby Ranger District of Montana's Kootenai National Forest, about 5.6 miles long with a one-way elevation gain of 1,491 feet. The trail starts at Bear Lakes TH 178, and the route rises from a low point of about 3,730 feet to a high of about 5,929 feet. The trail is open from June 1 through November 30, and the Forest Service manages the land. The route is natural-surfaced, and both horses and bikes are allowed. Several other trails sit close by. Iron Meadows is about 0.7 miles away, Waloven Tie about 0.9 miles, and Baree Creek about 1.1 miles. For an overnight stay, Lake Creek Campground is about 5.5 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Kootenai River Campground42 mi away
- CDA River RV49 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
HIKE
Waloven Tie
~2 min drive
2.64-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 30 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Baree Creek
~2 min drive
6.63-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,917 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Silver Butte Ridge
~2 min drive
5.66-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,114 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
West Fork Canyon Creek
~11 min drive
9.71-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,786 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Divide Trail 6 (Silver Butte)
~5 min drive
1.04-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 8 feet of elevation gain.
HIKE
Divide Cutoff Trail
~5 min drive
6.32-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 3,299 ft elevation gain and loss.
HIKE
Trapper Creek
~3 min drive
3.83-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 633 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
20 ODD PEAK
~13 min drive
8.58-mile out-and-back hike in Montana with 4,729 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Baree Lake
~5 min drive
0.61-mile out-and-back trail to Baree Lake in Montana.
HIKE
Cabinet Divide East
~6 min drive
20.18-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,869 ft elevation gain.
