Frenco Lake

Difficulty: Hard
Trip Type: Multi-Day Backpacking / Day Hike
Distance: ~9.4 miles from trailhead / ~1.2 miles from Silver Lake
Elevation: 9,194 feet
Coordinates: 45.21347, -109.88383
Time: ~1.5 hours from Silver Lake
Access: Maintained but very steep trail. Departs from Silver Lake basecamp area.
Bugs: Minimal (little to no bugs)

Getting there

Drive along West Rosebud Road past Emerald Lake and West Rosebud Lake. The trailhead parking lot is located just before you reach the power plant near the end of the road, providing ample parking space for standard vehicles.

The hike

If you are traveling straight from the vehicle turnaround, the route to Frenco Lake spans roughly 9.4 miles one way and involves almost 3,100 vertical feet of elevation gain. For hikers tracking sequentially from your multi-day basecamp, this destination sits about 1.2 miles past Silver Lake.

Unlike some of the unmaintained basins nearby, there is an actual trail that leads all the way up to Frenco Lake. However, the path is notably steep as it climbs out of the main valley floor, making for a rigorous and taxing uphill push.

Tips & safety

• Camping: Frenco Lake is an exceptional spot and stands out as a top pick for camping in the upper drainage. There is a quality campsite available where we found an old grill and enjoyed cooking up a fresh catch over the fire.

• Fishing: FWP and GNIS data listed for Yellowstone Cutthroat. The lake offers good fishing, with plenty of trout active in the eight to twelve-inch range.