Upper McKnight Lake
Drainage: Boulder
Approaches: Approximately 12 miles round trip from Pine Creek Campground on Trail #47, with roughly 4,850 feet of climbing. Two hours from a camp at Pine Creek Lake.
Elevation: 9,200 feet
Fish: Golden trout, common and stocked. Montana FWP.
Coordinates: 45.48847, -110.4475
Bugs: Nothing that stood out.
Getting there
We came over from a camp at Pine Creek Lake. From the east shore it is a bit over half a mile east and 851 feet up to the ridge at 9,883 feet, which took us an hour, and we had mountain goats up there. From the top it is another two thirds of a mile northeast and about 680 feet down.
Upper McKnight and Lake McKnight are a quarter mile apart and you can see both from the bench between them. We were at the two of them at the same time, two hours out from camp.
FWP warns off the obvious line. They say the McKnight lakes can be reached directly up the outlet stream, but that it is very steep with lots of deadfall and rock slides to negotiate. Their other listed way in is Davis Creek on Trail #38, at 12.5 miles with 3,584 feet of climbing.
The hike
Upper McKnight is the small one, 3.4 acres against Lake McKnight's 10.8, and shallow at 20 feet in the deepest spot and 9 on average. It sits 19 feet higher than the lower lake and a quarter mile southwest.
FWP describes the pair together as beautiful, isolated and hard to get to.
The golden trout are here too and they run about the same. FWP took 17 in 2017 averaging 10.6 inches with the biggest at 16.5, and 41 in 2009 averaging 12.1. Their note is that the goldens seem to be self-sustaining.
There are good camp spots with some firewood.
Tips & safety
Navigation: Over the ridge east from Pine Creek Lake at 9,883 feet, then northeast down. No trail on the crossing. FWP says the direct line up the outlet stream is very steep with heavy deadfall and rock slides.
Camping: Good spots with some firewood, per FWP.
Fishing: Self-sustaining golden trout around 11 to 12 inches with fish to 16.5 in FWP's nets.
Bugs: Nothing that stood out.
Goats: We saw mountain goats on the ridge above the lakes.
