Splinter (Sliver) Lake
Difficulty: Hard
Trip Type: Multi-Day Basecamp / Backpacking
Distance: ~5.2 miles from starting trailhead / ~0.4 miles from Cliff Lake
Elevation: 9,482 feet
Coordinates: 45.09068, -109.85363
Time: ~3.5 hours from starting trailhead
Access: Demanding off-trail bushwhack and creek drainage scramble. Departs via cross-country from Cliff Lake.
Bugs: Minimal (little to no bugs)
Getting there
The multi-day backpacking route departs from the Lady of the Lake Trailhead. Please note that this is a thru-hike itinerary; our group dropped one vehicle off at the Beaten Path Trailhead first, then jumped in the truck and drove over to the Lady of the Lake Trailhead to begin hiking. This ensures a vehicle is waiting for pickup at the other side when you finish the trip.
The hike
If you are traveling straight from the vehicle turnaround, the route to Splinter Lake spans roughly 5.2 miles one way and involves almost 1,500 vertical feet of elevation gain. For hikers tracking sequentially from your last stop, this destination sits about 0.4 miles past Cliff Lake, serving as our primary basecamp for the first stage of the trip.
The trip up to Splinter Lake from Cliff Lake requires a tough off-trail bushwhack. The terrain becomes very steep as you leave the main trail behind. To negotiate the rugged mountain grade efficiently, it is highly recommended to follow the drainage straight up into the basin.
Tips & safety
Camping: Splinter Lake does not have very good camping spots, but there is definitely one usable site on the north side of the lake. Be aware that most good-looking camp spots are in a flash flood area. It was a good thing we took precautions because that night brought a massive hailstorm and lightning that would rumble the ground.
Extreme Wildlife: Keep a close eye on your pets if you bring them along into these upper woods. Our dog Ellie managed to find a porcupine twice during our stay in the drainage.
Thru-Hike Logistics: Because this extended itinerary finishes at a completely different exit point, ensure your logistics are arranged with a shuttle vehicle waiting at the final trailhead before you set out.
Fishing: FWP and GNIS data listed for Brook Trout. Fishing was good during our visit to this alpine basin.
We ended up camping on the far North side of the lake, a little off the water but a nice spot even had some goats come and visit us every night.
I’ve got my GPS route on google earth on this one but I gotta make money on this some how so if you want them i’ll sell them to you.
