Bonanza Lakes
- 0.7 mi
- round trip
- 105 ft
- climb
- 6,366 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jul–Sep
- best months
Is Bonanza Lakes 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.
Bonanza Lakes is an easy hike of about 0.7 miles in the Superior Ranger District of Lolo National Forest in western Montana, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is short and gentle, with a one-way climb of about 105 feet from a low point of 6,255 feet to a high of 6,366 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs around 70°F with only about six wet days a month, while winter highs stay near 28°F. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows both horses and bikes. Several other hikes sit within a few miles, including Missoula Lake at about 1.3 miles and Bonanza Gulch at about 1.7 miles. For an overnight stay, Heller Creek campground is about 4.4 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Granite Peak RV Resort48 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jul–Sep
Best time to visit Bonanza Lakes
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.
Jan
28° / 19°
19 wet
Feb
28° / 19°
17 wet
Mar
34° / 22°
19 wet
Apr
40° / 27°
17 wet
May
50° / 36°
15 wet
Jun
58° / 42°
13 wet
Jul
70° / 52°
6 wet
Aug
69° / 51°
6 wet
Sep
59° / 44°
8 wet
Oct
44° / 32°
13 wet
Nov
32° / 23°
17 wet
Dec
27° / 18°
18 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mullan Pass Vor/Dme, ID, 35.2 mi away at 6,028 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
HIKE
Missoula Lake
~2 min drive
0.77-mile out-and-back trail to Missoula Lake in Montana with 1,243 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Bonanza Gulch
~3 min drive
5.72-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,871 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Yankee Bar
~7 min drive
4.03-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 1,658 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
BOUNDARY CREEK
~16 min drive
5.94-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 3,580 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Missoula Lake Cg - Stateline
~4 min drive
0.57-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 171 ft gain.
HIKE
Dry Creek
~4 min drive
12.15-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 639 ft gain.
HIKE
Simmons Creek Trail
~11 min drive
6.2-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 2,490 ft elevation gain/loss
HIKE
Oregon Lakes
~5 min drive
1.93-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 662 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Sherlock Creek Trail
~5 min drive
7.22-mile out-and-back trail in Idaho with 2,819 ft gain and 6,488 ft max elevation.
HIKE
Montreal Gulch
~11 min drive
Montreal Gulch is a 3.47-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 5,799 feet of elevation gain.
