Montana · Hiking · Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness

Carpenter Lake

0.5 mi
round trip
77 ft
climb
7,557 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Aug
best months

Is Carpenter Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Custer Gallatin National Forest. It doesn't name Carpenter Lake, so check the source for the area it covers (14 listed).

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

Carpenter Lake is an easy hike of about half a mile in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, within the Gardiner Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is a short out-and-back with a one-way climb of about 77 feet, from a low point of about 7,500 feet to a high of about 7,557 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Cooke City show July highs around 74°F with lows near 39°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s. The trail is on natural surface, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. Grizzly Creek and Red Rock Plateau are mountain biking routes within half a mile, and Grizzly Creek Cutoff is a hike about half a mile away. Hellroaring Meadows is about 1.4 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Jul–Aug

    Best time to visit Carpenter Lake

    Best months: July–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.

    1. Jan

      24° / 6°

      17 wet

    2. Feb

      29° / 7°

      13 wet

    3. Mar

      37° / 14°

      13 wet

    4. Apr

      43° / 21°

      13 wet

    5. May

      54° / 28°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      64° / 34°

      14 wet

    7. Jul

      74° / 39°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      71° / 38°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      62° / 31°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      47° / 24°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      31° / 13°

      14 wet

    12. Dec

      22° / 6°

      17 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cooke City 2 W, MT, 21.7 mi away at 7,483 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Telephone BasinPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Telephone Basin

~10 min drive

4.46-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 625 ft elevation gain.

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Coyote Creek Trailhead (2N1)

~11 min drive

This is a remote trailhead at the northern boundary of the park that is not accessible by road. From this trailhead, you can embark on the following trail within the park: Coyote Creek Trail

Buffalo ForkPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Buffalo Fork

~11 min drive

24.95-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,152 ft gain.

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Hellroaring Meadows

~2 min drive

2.48-mile out-and-back trail to Hellroaring Meadows in Montana with 165 ft of elevation gain.

Hidden LakePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Hidden Lake

~12 min drive

4.02-mile out-and-back trail to Hidden Lake in Montana with 103 ft of elevation gain.

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Upper Hellroaring Trailhead (2N5)

~12 min drive

This is a remote trailhead at the northern boundary of the park that is not accessible by road. From this trailhead, you can embark on the following trail within the park: Hellroaring Creek Trail

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Red Rock Plateau

Next door

11.20-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,227 ft elevation gain.

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Elk Creek Cutoff

~4 min drive

2.7-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 571 ft gain.

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Grizzly Creek Cutoff

Next door

4.16-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,103 ft gain/loss

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Buffalo Plateau Trailhead (2N2)

~12 min drive

This is a remote trailhead at the northern boundary of the park that is not accessible by road. From this trailhead, you can embark on the following trail within the park: Buffalo Plateau Trail