Montana · Hiking · Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness

Fox Lake

0.6 mi
round trip
345 ft
climb
8,230 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Fox Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Custer Gallatin National Forest. It doesn't name Fox 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.

Fox Lake is an easy, short hike in Montana's Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, inside the Gardiner Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest. It is managed by the Forest Service and sits just over half a mile from the trailhead, with a round trip of about 0.56 miles and a total climb of about 345 feet from the low point at 8,058 feet to the high at 8,230 feet. The trail is natural-surface and allows horses, so it works well for riders as well as hikers. Bikes are not permitted. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. July typically brings highs around 74°F and lows near 40°F, based on averages from a nearby weather station at Silver Gate. That station sits about 735 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the hike run cooler. The trip takes about half an hour and is open year-round. Nearby hikes include Russell Creek about 0.7 miles away and Rock Island Lake about 1.1 miles away. For an overnight stay, Colter Campground is about 4.2 miles away and Soda Butte Campground about 5.1 miles.