Timberline Lakes

Difficulty: Moderate
Trip Type: Day Hike
Distance: ~9 miles round trip
Elevation: 9,632 feet
Coordinates: 45.13599, -109.50477
Time: ~5 hours round trip
Access: Maintained trail past Lake Gertrude. Departs from Timberline trailhead.
Bugs: Minimal (little to no bugs)

Getting there

Park at the Timberline trailhead located in the Rock Creek area to begin the hike.

The hike

From the trailhead, follow the main trail past Lake Gertrude. Pushing past Gertrude, you will continue on the main path to reach Timberline Lake and Little Timberline Lake, which sit directly adjacent to one another. The total outbound trek to reach this upper basin is exactly 4.5 miles from the trailhead, gaining a total of 2,000 vertical feet. Much of the approach cuts through an exposed old burn area that can get incredibly warm.

Tips & safety

• Terrain Warning: The lengthy initial stretch through the burned forest offers no sun protection, making the trail highly exposed and very warm on summer days.

• Camping: While Lake Gertrude offers more impressive campsites, Timberline Lake features plenty of quality, available camping spots situated close to the water. Keep in mind that this basin is a popular destination; during an Independence Day visit, we shared the area with two other camping groups.

• Fishing: FWP and GNIS data listed for Brook Trout. Unlike the slow fishing at Gertrude, fishing at Timberline Lake was decent during our visit, with most catches averaging around 10 to 12 inches in size.