Finger Lake
Difficulty: Moderate
Trip Type: Day Hike / Multi-Day Side Trip
Distance: ~5.5 miles from starting trailhead / ~0.3 miles from Splinter Lake Basecamp
Elevation: 9,755 feet
Coordinates: 45.08904, -109.84854
Time: ~20 minutes from Splinter Lake Basecamp
Access: Unmaintained off-trail navigation. Departs via cross-country from the Splinter Lake area.
Bugs: Minimal (little to no bugs)
Getting there
The multi-day backpacking route departs from the Lady of the Lake Trailhead. Please note that this is a thru-hike itinerary; our group dropped one vehicle off at the Beaten Path Trailhead first, then jumped in the truck and drove over to the Lady of the Lake Trailhead to begin hiking. This ensures a vehicle is waiting for pickup at the other side when you finish the trip.
The hike
If you are traveling straight from the vehicle turnaround, the route to Finger Lake spans roughly 5.5 miles from the starting trailhead and involves almost 1,700 vertical feet of elevation gain. For backpackers tracking from your multi-day basecamp, this destination sits just about 0.3 miles away from your campsite at Splinter Lake.
The approach requires entirely off-trail cross-country navigation. Finger Lake sits tucked slightly lower down the bench from your basecamp area. To find the shoreline, you will travel southeast from the Splinter Lake outlet, following the natural fall line down into the upper fringe of the Sky Top Creek drainage. [1]
Tips & safety
Core Drainage Route: The outlet of this small water body drains directly into Sky Top Creek near the confluence of lower Aero Creek. This makes it a great topographical landmark when map-reading your way around the lower edge of the high plateau. Some alternative maps and books may list this destination as Hunger Lake. [1]
Thru-Hike Logistics: Because this extended itinerary finishes at a completely different exit point, ensure your logistics are arranged with a shuttle vehicle waiting at the final trailhead before you set out. [1]
Fishing: FWP and GNIS data listed for Brook Trout.
