Montana · Hiking

Coffin Lakes

5.7 mi
round trip
1,139 ft
climb
8,433 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Aug
best months

Is Coffin Lakes open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Custer Gallatin National Forest. It doesn't name Coffin Lakes, so check the source for the area it covers (16 listed).

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

Coffin Lakes is a moderate out-and-back hike in Montana's Custer Gallatin National Forest, within the Hebgen Lake Ranger District. The trail runs about 5.7 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 1,139 feet, from a low point of 7,294 feet to a high of 8,433 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Old Faithful, Wyoming, show July highs around 76°F with lows near 39°F, and the station sits roughly 1,000 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the summit run cooler. The trail is natural-surface and allows both horses and bikes. West Fork Watkins is about half a mile away, and Watkins Creek and Lionhead are within 2 miles. For an overnight base, Spring Creek Camp Area is about 2.5 miles off.