Hyalite Lake (MT) 21-Aug-08

[VanMarmot]

As part of our big western roadtrip in August, we tried to do a "local" hike in each area we visted. While in Bozeman, MT we heard about the Hyalite Creek trail located only a few miles outside town. It offered a nice trail, 11 waterfalls, a lake, and a summit.

The trail starts as a road and then after a mile becomes an actual trail. At this point it passes beneath a basalt cliff, whose boulder field is home to numerous picas, one of whom actually came down to within 3 feet to check us out.

You soon come to the first waterfall, with 10 more to go.

As its name suggests, the water at Arch Falls actually cascades through an arch formed in the rock - look just to the right of the pine tree in the center.

The various falls are not all next to the trail (nor are they all identified) and detours of various lengths are required to view them. Although not apparent in the photo, this one has gouged out a large grotto at its base.

This one has cut a deep channel - which reminded me of a scaled-down version of parts of Eagle Creek.

The trail climbs gradually up the canyon until near its head, where it begins rapidly gaining more altitude through a large number of very long switchbacks.

High in the canyon, you pass a very long waterfall (which required two photos), of just the upper end

and of the whole falls.

After about 6 miles and 1900' of gain, you reach Hyalite Lake.

We thought about continuing on to Hyalite Peak but the weather broke as we reached the lake (photo doesn't show the hail that was hitting us) and we retreated to the car in a very Oregon-like drizzle. Although the weather could have been a little brighter, it was still a great hike in a beautiful area. It's apparently a popular local area, so we saw over a dozen other hikers even on a weekday.

[jimsiff]

Beautiful hike. What's the round trip mileage and elevation gain to the lake or the summit?

[anna in boots]

(sigh!) That last pic brought back fond memories of the Rockies. Thank you!

anna in boots

[VanMarmot]

Beautiful hike. What's the round trip mileage and elevation gain to the lake or the summit?

It's about 11 miles RT and 1900' of gain to the lake (with much of that coming in switchbacks just below the lake). Maybe another 4 mi RT and 1500' to Hyalite Peak (which is supposed to have good views) but we didn't make the attempt due to poor weather.