Margaret Lake

Drainage: Clarks Fork (MT)
Approaches: Russell Creek trailhead — 2.5 mi one way, on trail past Lillis then 0.2 mi off-trail; about 546 ft up

Elevation: 8,167 feet
Fish: Yellowstone cutthroat (FWP)
Coordinates: 45.01632, -109.82992
Bugs: Extreme, heavy mosquito pressure

Getting there

Park at the Russell Creek trailhead.

The hike

Five miles round trip, about two and a half hours.

Watch for the Vernon Lake trail split at 1.2 miles. Miss it and you head toward Kersey instead. Same junction that catches people on the Vernon and Reed hikes.

From there the trail climbs a slightly steep section to Lillis Lake. Past Lillis it flattens out for another four tenths of a mile and about 228 feet of gain.

Then you leave the trail. The last two tenths of a mile is your own line straight through timber to the lake, and it is the part that makes Margaret harder to reach than Vernon or Reed despite being closer.

Margaret holds Yellowstone cutthroat. Lillis, which you pass on the way, holds brook trout. We did not catch anything at either.

Tips & safety

• Heavy bear sign on the off-trail stretch. That final two tenths of a mile runs through timber with poor sightlines, and there is a lot of sign in there. Carry spray, make noise, and do not push through quietly.

• Bring serious repellent. The mosquitoes on this trail are extreme. Head net weather.

• The 1.2 mile split is the mistake to avoid.

• The last stretch is off trail. No tread, straight through timber. You must pass Lillis to get here, so Lillis is your last confirmed landmark.

• Fishing: FWP lists Yellowstone cutthroat in Margaret and brook trout in Lillis. We caught neither.

• Camping: Margaret sits beyond the end of the trail in timber, which gives real wind shelter, but the bear sign in that stretch is worth weighing before you plan a night. Vernon and Reed, both on trail, are the easier overnights on this system.

• Little Legs: we walked this one with our own young kids and they finished it on their own feet. That is a record of one day with our kids, not a rating. Read what Little Legs means.