Vernon Lake

Clarks Fork (MT)
Written By senddevon .

Difficulty: Little Legs
Trip Type: Day Hike
Distance: ~5.2 miles round trip
Elevation gain: ~413 feet up
Time: ~2.5 hours round trip
Access: Maintained trail the entire way.
Bugs: Extreme (lots of mosquitoes)

Getting there

Park at the Russell Creek trailhead to begin the hike.

The hike

From the Russell Creek trailhead, follow the main trail past the junction before Kersey Lake and up to Lillis Lake. To continue to Vernon Lake, stay on the trail past Lillis Lake. Follow the flat trail for another 0.7 miles and roughly 95 vertical feet past Lillis Lake. The lake is roughly 2 miles from the trailhead, but it is slightly difficult to locate at the end, requiring some bushwhacking through thick brush to reach the water.

Tips & safety

  • Navigation: Missed turns early on will take you toward Kersey Lake instead. Watch closely for the Vernon Lake trail split at the 1.2-mile mark. Note that some guidebooks label this destination as Lower Vernon.

  • Bugs: Heavy bug pressure. Bring heavy-duty repellent and gear for extreme mosquito numbers.

  • Fishing: FWP and GNIS data listed for Brook Trout and Yellowstone Cutthroat at Vernon Lake, but we didn't catch any fish.

senddevon .
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Reed Lake (Lower Vernon)
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Margaret Lake