To access the trail head, turn east onto Portal Creek Road #984 and continue southeast for 6.8 miles. BULL TROUT. At this point, there is a decent sized parking area. Beautiful Alpine Lake. The last mile is pretty tough, but I’d label the rest as moderate. Another sign about half way will point you toward the Hidden Lakes parking area and trailhead. Eastern Sierra – Horseshoe Meadows Road (paved) leads up to high elevation meadows from the high deserts of Lone Pine, CA. Once you get to the beginning of the trail, the hike is a nice little workout until you reach the final location of Golden Trout Lakes. It is very small and offers only basic amenities. Quite a commitment to get to the trail though as a 6 mile dirt road takes about half hour to drive because it's so rough but it's worth it. The trailhead serves double duty as it's the jumping off place for two trails. Anyone who is interested in visiting Golden Trout Lakes can print the free topographic map and street map using the link above. The Hidden Lakes Trailhead is 6.0 miles from 191 and is located at approximately 8185 feet. Dogs are also able to use this trail. The original Big Creek Cabin was built in 1907 and it still stands on this site. For the last 3 miles it was very rough with rocks and pot holes. It is currently 8+ feet of snow! adventures and follow local regulations. Overview Golden trout have an interesting history in the state record books. Once you get to the beginning of the trail, the hike is a nice little workout until you reach the final location of Golden Trout Lakes. Bring bug spray! A fit hiker can probably make it to either destination in an hour or so. The Golden Trout Lakes sit in a basin at an elevation of 9,050 feet. Our group caught a total of 9 fish for the day before it got cut short by a mean rain/hail storm. When we got to the lake could maybe see ten feet out! The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. Fly-fishing for golden trout is a time-consuming, obsession-creating adventure of a time. Moderately trafficked with people at the destination. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until September. We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Few camp spots around the lake. Golden Trout Wilderness. They provide a unique opportunity to catch a beautiful fish in a pristine environment. Was a nice hike in a wooded area to the lake. Bring your fly rod, because some lakes hold a variety of fish like cutthroat trout or grayling. Beautiful short and easy hike. Great views. © 2020 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. Turned around .5 miles in on the trail due to snow. Here's a look at some excellent Montana Brook Trout we tracked down last summer. You might also find goldens scattered around in few other lakes, but they are not as widespread as many species of trout in Montana. The trailhead is easy to find, and has a vault toilet and a decently sized parking lot. If you’re still not sure where to begin your Big Sky fly fishing adventure, check out MontanaAngler.com or better yet, hire one of Big Sky country’s world class fly fishing guides. Great trail with a beautiful and quiet lake at the top. The largest of the Golden Trout Lakes is surrounded by forest, with good campsites above the north and east shores. Catfish is stocked May and September. Lots of evidence of bears being in the area so be on alert!!! The largest Golden on record is an 11-pound, 4-ounce fish that Great trail with nice reward at the end. The lake is calm and serene, tucked into the trees with several camp spots around its perimeter. Sylvan Lake’s golden population is so pure that the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks regularly uses the eggs laid by goldens at Sylvan Lake for stocking other lakes in Montana. Ran into hikers that made the mistake of following the arrow pointing right rather than straight and ended up in the wrong location. Some of the most beautiful fish I’ve ever held in my hands. The road in is really rocky but easily drivable with an appropriate car and tires- my explorer was fine- but plan on 30-45 minutes or so to drive the 6 miles from 191 to the trailhead. The last mile is rough - very steep. Like Cottonwood Lakes, the portion of the Kern River where golden trout can be found is extremely tricky to get to. Hiking to an alpine lake is a rewarding adventure. The portal creek road is challenging, best to have 4x4 or AWD with high clearance. Was much colder at the lake so didn’t stay long. Windy Pass Cabin was built in 1934. It was difficult driving up the road to get to the beginning of the trail, so I recommend a vehicle that can handle the rough road; preferably a truck or AWD. Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) access; Mount Whitney and John Muir Wilderness are to the north. The Golden Trout Lakes fishing map contains information about some of the best fishing spots this lake has to offer as well as the nearby cottages, campgrounds, and bait and tackle shops. Requires a 4WD vehicle for the road in -- very VERY rough. The 6 mile round trip to Lava Lake is a steady climb that runs beside Cascade Creek through the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. A few streams cross the trail but are easily maneuvered over via rocks. The map also shows hotspots where our fishing junkies have caught lunkers and posted photos and stories. Golden trout are most often found in remote, alpine drainages over 9,000 feet in elevation. Golden Trout Lakes Trail: Rough roads to the Golden Trout Lakes - See 4 traveler reviews, 3 candid photos, and great deals for Gallatin Gateway, MT, at Tripadvisor. Lots of shade. Go PRO to support our mission and get benefits like gear deals, no ads, and more! They spawn in the fall on the rocky substrate of the shoreline. The largest Golden Trout are located in high mountain lakes of Wyoming and Montana, but there are also fish in Utah and Idaho. But it’s well worth it when you get to the lake. The trail is a little flooded in places and a bit of a rough drive - worth it. Didn’t catch any trout, but saw plenty grabbing bugs off the surface. The trail starts at the Gallatin River and continues upward through dense evergreen forest. Not to be unexpected with all the snow! The road is in rough condition and is better suited for vehicles with a higher clearance. Throw the smallest fly you have out as far as you can cast and just sit there and wait. 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