Piper Lake

Piper Lake is a hard hike in the Swan Lake Ranger District of Montana's Flathead National Forest, about 12.7 miles long with a total elevation gain of 2,137 feet. The trail is an out-and-back, starting and ending at the Piper Creek Trailhead #119, which is open year-round. The route rises from a low point of about 4,205 feet to a high of about 6,498 feet. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows horses, so riders can take it as well as hikers. The Forest Service manages the land. For timing, plan on a full day. The climb is steep, and the high point is well above 6,500 feet, so expect the upper stretch to be the most demanding. Nearby, Cedar Lake is about 4 miles away and Cold Lakes about 5 miles. Van Lake campground sits roughly 7 miles off, and the Lion - Palisade hike is about 7 miles away.