Elk Lake
- 2.1 mi
- round trip
- 100 ft
- climb
- 6,426 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Is Elk Lake open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Flathead National Forest.
Camp Creek Fire Updated Trail Closure
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
FK&L Area Closed to Public Access Starting July 22, 2026
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
Trail 800 Tally-Ashely Closure
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
Ryan Creek Occupancy and Use Order
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 1-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
Logan Creek Hoke Creek Closure
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Flathead National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Elk Lake is an easy, 2.1-mile out-and-back hike in the Great Bear Wilderness, part of the Hungry Horse Ranger District of Flathead National Forest in western Montana. The trail runs on natural surface and climbs about 100 feet from a low point of 6,222 feet to a high of 6,426 feet. Horses are allowed, and bikes are not. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July and August highs reach about 74°F with lows in the mid-40s, based on averages from a nearby weather station at E Glacier. That station sits roughly 1,600 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the hike run cooler. The trip is open year-round. Several other outings lie within a few miles. Bradley Mtn. is about 1.9 miles away, Devil Creek about 2.4 miles, and Edna Creek Trail about 2.6 miles. Devil Creek Campground is about 3.1 miles away.
Local outfitters
- North American RV Park & Yurt Village31 mi away
- Rocky Mountain Outfitter39 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Bradley Mtn.Hiking1.9 mi
- Devil CreekHiking2.4 mi
- Edna Creek TrailHiking2.6 mi
Devil Creek CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain3.1 mi- Twenty-Five Mile CreekHiking3.3 mi
- Bear CreekCanoeing4.4 mi
- Zips Place CabinCamping4.6 mi
- Challenge CabinCamping6.5 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Castle LakeHiking · ~9 min drivePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
Java Mtn.Hiking · ~9 min drivePhoto: Loco Steve, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Elk MountainHiking · ~10 min drivePhoto: JimsFlicker, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Edna Creek TrailHiking · ~5 min drive
Autumn CreekHiking · ~16 min drivePhoto: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Ole CreekHiking · ~13 min drivePhoto: GlacierNPS, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)- Java CreekHiking · ~10 min drivePhoto: Loco Steve, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Logan-DirtyfaceHiking · ~9 min drive
- Grizzly CreekHiking · ~7 min drive
- South BoundaryHiking · ~13 min drivePhoto: GlacierNPS, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
Best time to visit Elk Lake
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, 20.1 mi away at 4,806 ft. The station sits about 1,600 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.
