Surprise Lake (Clarks Fork MT)

Drainage: Clarks Fork (MT)
Approaches: Lady of the Lake — 7.5 mi (4.5 on trail, 3 off-trail); 1,600 ft up / 450 ft down · From Weasel Lake — ~0.25 mi cross-country east
Elevation: 9,922 feet
Fish: Yellowstone cutthroat (FWP)
Coordinates: 45.08780, -109.83146
Bugs: Minimal on our visit

Getting there

The documented approach is from Lady of the Lake — 7.5 miles, with the last three off trail.

We came the long way. Surprise came on the Day 3 move of a thru-hike that started at the Lady of the Lake Trailhead, roughly 6.7 miles out and about 1.5 miles from our basecamp at Splinter Lake, gaining around 544 feet along the way. A thru-hike takes two vehicles: we left one at the Clarks Fork end of the Beaten Path, drove to the Lady of the Lake Trailhead in the other, and started walking. Set the shuttle rig before you leave, not after.

The hike

From Weasel Lake it's about a quarter mile east — twenty minutes of easy walking across open, rolling bench country with a full pack. No tread, but nothing technical either. Surprise is small, about three and a half acres, tucked among the high shelf lakes.

Tips & safety

• Navigation: No maintained trail through this upper basin. Continuous route-finding between the shelf lakes.

• Fishing: FWP lists Yellowstone cutthroat.

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