Hike to the Blue Lakes

The drive out to the trailhead where this hike starts is an adventure in and of itself. As the Forest Service website describes it. "Silvertip Trailhead is accessed from Highway 2. From the town of Hungry Horse, drive east on Highway 2 for ½ mile to the East Side Reservoir Road #38. Turn right (south) onto Road #38 and drive on through the town of Martin City. After two miles the pavement ends and the gravel East Side Reservoir Road continues on 54 miles to the Spotted Bear River Road #568. Turn left (east) on Spotted Bear River Road and drive 14 miles until the end of the road and Silvertip Trailhead." The final three miles of the road are only open in July and August, so plan accordingly.  However the miles and mile of dirt roads you travel to get here are quite scenic.

Once you arrive at the trailhead, it is two relatively flat miles through lodgepole pines and huckleberry patches with glimpses of the Spotted Bear river. About a mile in you will pass the Silvertip Cabin, which is available to rent from the Forest Service for $50 a night and sleeps up to 8. It also includes a corral for any stock.

In another mile you will reach the Blue Lakes. The Lower Lake is visible first off to the right, but is not really accessible without some crazy bushwhacking. In another couple of hundred feet the Upper Lake becomes visible, but you will need to walk another couple of hundred feet to actually be able to access a path through the thick brush to the lake. Once you get there, you have a lot of open beach to enjoy the lake. These may not be the most scenic lakes in the world, but they are quite pleasant and the color unique, and you will likely not see anyone else there the entire day. I like my nature best when I have it to myself.

As with all of Northwestern Montana, this is Grizzly Bear country, so make sure that you bring bear spray.