Sioux Charley Lake

Difficulty: Little Legs

Trip Type: Day Hike

Distance: 3.5 miles

Elevation gain: ~350 ft

Trailhead: Sioux Charley Trailhead

Fishing: Brook trout (abundant), rainbow trout (rare) — self-sustaining

One of the first lakes you'll reach when you head up the Stillwater drainage is Sioux Charley and it's a great one for families.

A couple of things worth knowing: there's an old foundation about a hundred yards from the lake's inlet, though it's tricky to spot. If you find yourself pushing through a bunch of small young trees, you've gone too far and need to turn back. And because of past flooding you can't walk the riverbank directly anymore — take the higher trail that starts right behind the outhouse.

The historic June 2022 flood reshaped this whole drainage and wiped out the old riverbank route. You can no longer walk directly along the river — the journey now starts from a different spot, with the new trailhead up near the restrooms.