Montana · Hiking

Beaver Lake

2.1 mi
round trip
185 ft
climb
5,775 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Sep
best months

Is Beaver Lake open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Lolo National Forest.

  • East Fork Big Creek Road & Trail Closure- Superior Ranger District

    Agency alert covering Lolo National Forest · Order 26-003- · USFS · Lolo National Forest

As of · Source: USFS · Lolo National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Beaver Lake is an easy, 2.1-mile out-and-back hike in the Seeley Lake Ranger District of Lolo National Forest in western Montana. The trail gains about 185 feet in elevation, from a low point of about 5,588 feet to a high of about 5,775 feet, and its natural surface makes it a straightforward walk for hikers and riders alike. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July and August highs reach about 78°F with lows near 50°F, and those months see the fewest wet days of the year, according to averages from a nearby weather station at Lindbergh Lake. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the hike run cooler. The trail is open year-round. Bikes are allowed, so it works well as a short outing on foot or on a mountain bike. Rainy Lake Campground and the West Fork Clearwater River are both within about 3 miles. For an overnight stay, Rainy Lake Campground and the Lake Alva Campground Complex sit a little farther out, around 3.6 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit Beaver Lake

    Best months: July–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.

    1. Jan

      31° / 16°

      19 wet · 17 snow

    2. Feb

      34° / 17°

      16 wet · 14 snow

    3. Mar

      42° / 23°

      16 wet · 11 snow

    4. Apr

      50° / 30°

      14 wet · 6 snow

    5. May

      60° / 38°

      14 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      68° / 45°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      78° / 50°

      7 wet

    8. Aug

      78° / 49°

      7 wet

    9. Sep

      67° / 41°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      51° / 32°

      12 wet · 3 snow

    11. Nov

      38° / 24°

      16 wet · 10 snow

    12. Dec

      29° / 16°

      19 wet · 16 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lindbergh Lake, MT, 5.4 mi away at 4,320 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive