Sedge Lake

Drainage: Clarks Fork (MT)
Approaches: Clarks Fork Trailhead — 6.5 mi, 4 on trail with 2.5 mi off-trail; 1,200 ft up, 100 ft down · From Aquarius Lake — about 490 yd southwest, cross-country

Elevation: 9,099 feet
Fish: Yellowstone cutthroat (FWP)
Coordinates: 45.05394, -109.81664
Bugs: Minimal on our visit

Getting there

From the Clarks Fork Trailhead it is about 6.5 miles, with the last 2.5 off trail and 1,200 feet of climbing.

We came the long way. Sedge opened the fourth day of a thru hike that started at the Lady of the Lake Trailhead. A thru hike takes two vehicles. We left one at the Clarks Fork end of the Beaten Path, drove around to Lady of the Lake in the other, and started walking. Set the shuttle rig before you leave, not after.

The hike

We camped below Aquarius on the third night and broke camp on the fourth morning to start the push out. Sedge is about 490 yards southwest of where we were, ten minutes of easy walking across an open timbered shelf with barely any change in elevation. Flat, straightforward country even with everything packed up.

Sedge is 5.7 acres. FWP lists Yellowstone cutthroat.

From here the shelf carries southwest to Dollar, then ends. Everything past that is a two and a half mile descent to the valley floor with no tread on it.

Tips & safety

• Fishing: FWP lists Yellowstone cutthroat.

• Route: no trail between Aquarius and Sedge. The walking is easy, but you are navigating on your own, and that holds for the whole shelf.

• Camping: Sedge sits at 9,099 feet on an open timbered shelf, below treeline, with scattered trees for wind shelter rather than a solid stand. The ground is duff and the shelf is flat. We did not scout the shoreline for sites, so take this as terrain description rather than a report on what is available.

• Thru hike logistics: this is point to point, not a loop. Your ride has to already be parked at the exit trailhead.