Buffalo Lakes
Photo: Sam Beebe, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 2.8 mi
- round trip
- 338 ft
- climb
- 5,448 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Is Buffalo Lakes open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists an alert for Rocky Mountain Ranger District.
Camp Creek Fire Trail Closure
Agency alert covering Rocky Mountain Ranger District · Order 01-10- · USFS · Rocky Mountain Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Rocky Mountain Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Buffalo Lakes is an easy out-and-back hike of about 2.8 miles in the Rocky Mountain Ranger District of Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana. The trail rises from about 5,000 feet to about 5,450 feet, with a total elevation gain of 338 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at E Glacier, which sits a few hundred feet lower, show July and August highs around 74°F with lows in the mid-40s. Winter is cold, with January and February highs near 30°F. The trail is natural-surface and allows both horses and bikes. It is not an accessible trail. Lubec Buffalo is about 0.8 miles away, and Lower Two Med is about 2.1 miles away. Paddlers can reach the South Fork Two Medicine River about 3.5 miles off, and Summit Campground is about 6.5 miles away.
Local outfitters
- North American RV Park & Yurt Village36 mi away
- Sunset RV Park45 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Buffalo Lakes
Best months: May–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
30° / 13°
Feb
30° / 13°
Mar
37° / 19°
Apr
46° / 27°
May
56° / 34°
Jun
64° / 41°
Jul
74° / 46°
Aug
74° / 44°
Sep
63° / 38°
Oct
50° / 29°
Nov
36° / 22°
Dec
29° / 15°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at E Glacier, MT, 4.2 mi away at 4,806 ft. The station sits about 600 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.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Sam Beebe, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Lubec Buffalo
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