Lost Lake

Difficulty: Hard
Trip Type: Day Hike
Distance: ~6 miles round trip
Elevation: 9,680 feet
Coordinates: 45.10152, -109.58507
Time: ~5 hours round trip
Access: Maintained trail to Shadow Lake, then a steep drainage and massive boulder field. Departs from East Rosebud.
Bugs: Minimal (little to no bugs)

Getting there

Park by the bridge at East Rosebud. The road leading out of the neighborhood is marked with a no trespassing sign, but walking on it is permitted as long as you do not drive a vehicle through.

The hike

Follow the trail up past Shadow Lake. To continue to Lost Lake, follow the drainage that connects the two lakes. This connecting section is relatively pleasant to walk along, although it is notably steep in sections. As you approach Lost Lake, the terrain transitions into a massive field of substantial boulders that completely dot the landscape.

Tips & safety

• Terrain: The final approach is dominated by massive boulders. These rocks are so large that older dogs or pets will likely need to be physically carried through numerous challenging spots to navigate around them.

• Navigation: The connecting drainage is steep but straightforward to track up, up, and up until you catch your first glimpse of the lake.

• Fishing: No fish were caught during our visit.