Montana · Hiking · Bob Marshall Wilderness

Koessler Lake

1.5 mi
round trip
592 ft
climb
6,096 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 5 h ago

Is Koessler Lake open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Flathead National Forest.

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

Koessler Lake is an easy out-and-back hike in Montana's Bob Marshall Wilderness, within the Spotted Bear Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest. The trail is about 1.5 miles long, with a one-way elevation gain of 592 feet, taking you from a low point of about 5,500 feet to a high of about 6,100 feet. The route is on natural surface and is open year-round. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not, and the trail is not accessible. The Forest Service manages the land. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Gibson Dam show July highs around 79°F with lows near 45°F, and the station sits roughly 1,500 feet below the trail, so temperatures on the lake run cooler. Nearby, Doctor Creek is about a mile away and Holland-Gordon about 2 miles. Owl Creek Cabin offers camping about 5 miles off, and Holland Lake Campground is about 6.5 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Koessler 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.

    1. Jan

      36° / 12°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      36° / 12°

      6 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 18°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      50° / 25°

      7 wet

    5. May

      59° / 33°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      67° / 39°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 45°

      7 wet

    8. Aug

      78° / 43°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      67° / 36°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      54° / 29°

      6 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 20°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 13°

      5 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gibson Dam, MT, 36.3 mi away at 4,590 ft. The station sits about 1,500 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.