Saderbalm

Difficulty: Hard
Trip Type: Day Hike
Distance: ~10 miles round trip
Elevation: 9,017 feet
Coordinates: 45.34243, -110.01762
Time: ~6 hours round trip
Access: Extremely strenuous trail with unmaintained sections. Truck strongly recommended for trailhead access.
Bugs: Minimal (little to no bugs)

Getting there

The hike departs from the West Fork Stillwater drainage area. A truck or high-clearance vehicle is strongly recommended to safely reach the trailhead access point.

The hike

This hike is notably strenuous and ranks as one of the toughest routes to date. The trail spans roughly 5 miles one way and ascends 2,500 vertical feet. The route begins on a well-beaten path through a beautiful drainage featuring a picturesque waterfall. Near the waterfall, you must cross the creek. This crossing is tricky, and opting to go barefoot can provide a better grip on the rocks.

Once you climb past the waterfall, stay as close to the creek as possible to ensure you remain on the right track. The trail then enters a heavy burn area filled with a massive amount of downfall. From the start of the burn, you still have over a mile of hiking and an additional 1,000 vertical feet of climbing left to reach the lake. Once you locate the Saderbalm ponds, continue following the creek drainage straight upward to the lake.

Tips & safety

• Trail Hazards: The burn area contains a significant volume of downed timber. Navigating over and around the deadfall makes this upper section incredibly punishing and physically exhausting.

• Camping: Camping is strongly discouraged in this region due to a scarcity of suitable flat ground and the high presence of dangerous widowmakers throughout the burn area.

• Wildlife: There is a lot of bear sign along the creek drainage and through the burn area. Carry bear spray and stay highly alert.

• Fishing: No official FWP data is listed for this water, and we were unable to catch any fish during our June 2016 visit.