Snow Lakes

Drainage: East Rosebud
Approaches: East Rosebud Trailhead — 5 mi to Lower, about 2.5 to 3 on trail then off-trail up the drainage; 3,000 ft up · Upper Snow — 5.5 mi, 3,100 ft up

Elevation: 9,243 feet (Lower), 9,351 feet (Upper)
Fish: Rainbow trout, both lakes (FWP)
Coordinates: 45.15328, -109.64049 (Lower)
Bugs: Minimal on our visit

Getting there

Park at the East Rosebud Trailhead.

The hike

Eleven miles round trip and about seven hours, and it splits cleanly at one junction.

Follow the main East Rosebud trail for roughly two and a half to three miles to where it meets Snow Lakes Creek. That is where you leave the path. From there it is a grueling, steep climb up the drainage gaining about 3,000 feet.

Stay on the north side of the creek. There are only occasional signs of trail up this drainage, but the north side is the easiest ground to navigate and shows the most consistent footpath. That single decision is most of the route finding on this hike.

Lower Snow comes first, about five miles from the trailhead at 9,243 feet. Upper is another half mile to a mile further up the drainage at 9,351, which puts the full trip at five and a half miles one way and 3,100 feet of climbing.

FWP lists rainbow trout in both. We did not catch anything.

Tips & safety

• North side of the creek. It is the cleanest line up the drainage and the only navigation instruction that matters here.

• Upper Snow freezes early. Late in the season this basin gets cold fast and Upper starts icing over well before you would expect. Worth planning around if you are going in September or later.

• Three thousand feet off trail. The trail portion is the easy first act. Everything after the creek junction is sustained steep climbing with only intermittent tread.

• Fishing: FWP lists rainbow trout in both lakes. We caught nothing.

• Camping: the Snow Lakes sit at 9,243 and 9,351 feet up a steep drainage, so getting a full pack up there is the real cost. Lower is the more sheltered of the two and Upper is the one that ices over early, which makes Lower the better choice if you are staying.