About Me > Privacy Policy, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Beautiful trail, fairly easy with only one spot that is potentially difficult. It must have felt strange returning after 30 years. Is is so amazing, Donna. The drive in to the trail head is gravel/dirt for about 30 minutes which got tiring but isn’t anything that most cars can’t handle, we had 4WD but likely not required. I do recommend hiking boots that are moderately water proof, there’s a part of the trail that has a stream going over it. Their photos of the backcountry were stunning. It was doable. So glad to have prompted your memory and yes, I can picture the photo of the two of you there–on a bridge. Easy trail. Elk lake is absolutely stunning, it felt rather magical. FEATURED: East Rosebud Horse Trail Montana June 26, 2016 Northwest of Red Lodge in the Custer National Forest, the 28 mile East Rosebud Trail rides along the Beartooth Plateau past waterfalls, lakes and meadows full of huckleberries. Rebuilding took place and there’s a scattering of non-winter homes located around the area. East Rosebud is considered one of the more scenic drainages in the Beartooths and the campground is a short distance from the East Rosebud Trail (#15), Spread Creek Trail (#13), and Phantom Creek Trail (#17). The views on the drive in look like Switzerland. Not enough snow for snowshoes but did use traction cleats. But only 3 1/2 when we woke up and hiked out again the next day! And I love the quote about getting off the paved roads. Pay attention to the fire danger warnings and do not, ever, leave a fire unattended. Love this hike! Best time to go: spring to autumn, but that’s because I don’t like being cold. This hike description will assume that you are hiking from the East Rosebud Trailhead, which is a shorter hike into Echo Lake than from the Clarks Fork Trailhead (11 miles vs. 17 miles). Rather like any big state … or province. This drive approaching the canyon is gorgeous, breathtaking, God-given, and every other descriptive word of beauty that you can dream up. East Rosebud Campground is nestled in the trees, not far from East Rosebud Lake. Marquita, I figured that Montana, from Billings west at least, would be too your liking. The Ultra Beaten starts at East Rosebud, runs to Clarks Fork Trailhead (near Cooke City), and then back to East Rosebud, turning a common 3-5 day one way backpacking trip into The Ultra Beaten (53 miles - 85 kilometers). Someday! It took them four days and was worth every arduous step that their booted feet took. Such was the case when we hiked the East Rosebud Trail to Elk Lake. The East Rosebud Trailhead is another option which will also put you on the FTD Plateau. This is the hike to take when you’d like to get away from it all for a few days. They just tend to fly around a lot once you make it to the lake itself. Of course, being me, we drove in – no hiking! It’s definitely doable with microspikes but we didn’t try to cross it with two medium sized high energy dogs that were afraid of it. How Do We Reinvent Ourselves After Fifty? Very consistent trail, steady elevation to elk lake. Starting at the East Rosebud Trailhead, the trail meanders through the charred aftermath of the Shepard Mountain Fire. My favorite hike yet, stunning views. It gives you a little bit of everything. Well trafficked. We camped at the lake which was great. Ice cream? At an elevation of 6,200 feet, the campground encompasses 8 acres. Meet on top of Froze-to-Death Fishing may be enjoyed at the Rosebud Lake. If you hike from Clarks Fork to Rosebud, you’ll start on the Russell Creek trail (#3), until it becomes the East Rosebud Trail (#15), marked by a large cairn near Fossil Lake.The trail was a wide, well-traveled trail right from the start. #Montana-You learn when driving in the west that paved roads aren’t necessarily the ones that get you where you want to go. A visit to East Rosebud sounds lovely, and I’ll keep it on my list of someday places to visit. Just never been a fan of the desert. Took the family and the dog on August 11, 2020. In some sections, there is a small amount of snow covering the ice that lies below but it enough that you don’t go slipping and sliding. It is no where near half the trip like the above paragraph states. Loved it! Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The 26 mile hike sounds like a challenge with a reward of nature at her finest. Great hike for dogs. The hike was definitely better than the camping however, since most sites are in the trees and don’t provide unobstructed views of the lake. I’ve never seen a real moose but I would love to see one in real life (from afar, of course.) Make sure your shoes are waterproof. From Fishtail, we took a local shortcut to Roscoe, home to the Grizzly Restuarant and not much else, for the approximately 14-mile drive to Alpine and East Rosebud Lake. As of the writing of this blog, (9/15/17), over 1.2 million acres have been destroyed—homes, ranches, livestock, wild animals, forests—gone. Quinnebaugh Meadows and Sundance Lake via West Fork of Rock Creek Trail, September Morn Lake via West Fork and Lake Fork Trail, Lower Lake Fork Trail to September Morn Lake. Heart Mountain, Wyoming is more than a lovely name, it’s history. The trail is mostly a mild incline with a steeper switch back section but nothing intense. But go in the summer unless you’re taking up snow skiing! During this hike, there are no large hills to cross, no tiresome switchbacks, and the trail is in immaculate condition. The trail begins at the southern end of East Rosebud Road (Forest Road 2177) and climbs steadily for 16 miles to Fossil Lake. That said, it was more like 7 3/4 miles—more than we expected. The East Rosebud is a place for day hikes, overnight treks, and fishing. To find the trailhead, find the town of Roscoe, Montana, halfway between Red Lodge and Absarokee on Hwy 78. Amazing pay off at the end. Bear sighting at Dewey Lake on 8/15. Whether you are just hiking a small section in the Rosebud area or pairing the Russel Creek Trail into The Beaten Path for its entirety you'll not be let down. Backpack, Camp, Canoe, and Hike A scenic backpacking trip through some of the most beautiful areas in the Beartooth Mountains of Montana, East Rosebud trail takes hikers into some of the more secluded parts of Montana. Some of the best hiking I've ever done in Montana. Wear sunscreen and bug spray, not much shade on the trail and the lake is a little buggy. The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness is part of the greater Yellowstone ecosystem and spans 944,000 acres of Montana and Wyoming. The Beaten Path travels 26.6 miles from East Rosebud to Cooke City. The road to the trail passes Emerald and West Rosebud Lakes just before arriving at the spacious parking area with available restrooms. If you forgot to bring some vital treat, never fear, there is a charming and surprisingly well-stocked store not far from the trailhead. We hiked a bit of the Elk trail and passed serious backpackers headed up the steep hills to Cooke City and, incongruously, a guy carrying nothing but a Subway bag—the nearest of those is more than twenty-five miles away. East Rosebud Lake Campground is located in the Custer Gallatin National Forest in southwest Montana. We came to Nye for 3 weeks to escape the stress and craziness of the East and didn’t expect there to be views like this on trails near by. The drive is just plain beautiful. Coffee? The views were amazing!!! I would rate the trail on the easier side of moderate. The lake is almost completely frozen but there are still open sections of water so who knows how thick the ice is right now. Easy hike...would not class as moderate. I’d like to get a camper and then spend a week there hiking. The trail follows the lake for about 0.5 miles then continues following the East Rosebud Creek through a steep canyon with large mountain peaks on each side. It was a beautiful easy hike considering my 8-year old niece completed it. I loved watching them eat–even when it was my spirea bush–but I gave them a large berth. Outstanding scenery. At least we drive them and walk them! That was tricky to avoid. This trail has everything ! In anticipation of my 2018 hike of the Appalachian Trail, I went on two spectacular backpacking trips in July and September 2017. This hike is a perfect choice for such a plan. Montana is so big that from east to west and north to south the terrain can be very different. We want to come back and do the whole 26 miles to US 212 one day! Although there was a significant amount of horse poop on the trail, which my dog loves. Mother nature really is no joke. For info on this approach, click on the SummitPost.org link. Starting at East Rosebud Lake will lead you on about a 20 mile uphill journey in which you'll only be going down for the last 6 miles. Keep your eyes fixed dead ahead and your mouth shut so that every time it drops open at another awe-inspiring view you can let it have its way. It’s incredible throughout the whole hike, giving views almost instantly, and without too much elevation gain required. It's fall and the colors were amazing. Snow on about half the trail, but it was packed down with little ice. A bit icy and a good amount of snow. Heading there the next time you go west? The hike to Rainbow Lake was rigorous though, uphill the whole way, but downhill the whole way back! Even if you think you have tough skin, the western sky is so clear that it’s easy to get burnt. Although you could probably pop a kayak onto the lake and enjoy some laps around, the upper branch of water leading into it is tough and not intended for recreational use. We did try to make it Rimrock and Rainbow Lake but we’re met with thick, slippery slabs of ice about a half mile prior. Beauty, wilderness, animals, river, a wonderful waterfall & an amazing lake at the top !! Amenities include tables and fire-rings at each of the 14 campsites. I only wish I could have stayed out longer. Mouths would definitely drop open! After a short walk you exit the wide open basin where Alpine sits and you'll quickly become swallowed up by massive faces of rock who's heights are measured in the thousands of feet. Join our subscribers & share the conversations. Moderate incline with more difficult areas past Elk Lake—a bit of a rocky scramble. The two access points to "The Beaten Path" are at East Rosebud Trailhead (about 15 miles from Roscoe, Montana) and the Clark Fork Trailhead (a couple miles East of Cooke City, Montana). Even better, talk some friends into a "trade keys" hike. The scenery was so stunning that it required many photo stops, making the journey to the trailhead slow going. At 26 miles, it can be done in one day by experienced hikers—but to enjoy a more relaxed pace, plan to camp for a night or two. There were big fires where I lived last month. I was near tears on this drive, too, wondering why it’d been so long since we’d all been there. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Your email will be used in accordance with our privacy policy. But I can’t say enough good things about the hike itself. The trailhead (6,558') is located approximately 80 miles south of Billings in the Beartooth Absaroka Wilderness. More East Rosebud Trail to Elk Lake is a 6.9 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Roscoe, Montana that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. At my home in Montana, I had a mama and babies in my yard. We are also one of three finalists for a High Plains Book Award in non-fiction!Order NOW online While hiking, carry water and stay hydrated, with the dry air and the altitude, more body moisture can evaporate than you think. They are wicked when they want to be. Beautiful. Long Description: The 26 mile East Rosebud Trail in the Gallatin and Custer National Forests of the Beartooth Mountains is certainly one of the most spectacular in the northern Rockies. Posted by RoseMary Griffith | Montana, Travel Musings | 22 |. The Phantom Creek Trail, Trail 17, is located in the Beartooth Mountains near the tiny town of Roscoe (otherwise known as "Where Grizzly Bar is"). Although you could probably pop a kayak onto the lake and enjoy some laps around, the upper branch of water leading into it is tough and not intended for recreational use. We actually brought our gear and set up camp at Elk Lake, then hiked to Rainbow Lake and back in the same day, roughly~ 14 miles. Thirty years had passed since my first trek to the East Rosebud and that was far too long to miss out on visiting this gem. From Roscoe, drive westbound on East Rosebud Road for about 14 miles, half of which is on a dirt road. The section between the trailhead and Elk Lake, three miles away from the East Rosebud parking area, might now be the busiest section of trail in the … I had forgotten you were there, Nadine! Christmas: What does the Season Mean to You. We’ve hiked all over the US in many national parks and this one was as stunning as the views from places such as the Tetons and North Cascades. As always, heed the cautions of the locals and don’t get between the two animals or trouble will follow. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The Beaten Path is a trail in south Montana connecting the Wilderness around the town of Cooke City with the East Rosebud, a drainage on the eastern slope of the Beartooth Mountains. The weather was perfect!!! The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until October. as always great views and I always find some new detail I havent seen before. miles to the East Rosebud Trailhead. If I ever do I will ask you for advice on what to visit. OMG, was it beautiful. Absolutely beautiful scenery. It did get more busy on the way back, mid afternoon, but we were able to put a hammock up in the trees and enjoy some down time relaxing and eating before heading back. Hikes abound . You have to always be aware. I love Montana! Trailhead East Rosebud Trailhead - From the MT 308 and US 212 junction at the south end of Red Lodge, head north on US Highway 212 for 1.5 miles and turn left onto MT State Highway 78. With two locations located in Billings & Columbus Montana stocking the best brands in the industry puts East Rosebud Fly Shop in the position to offer our customers the best fly shop in Montana. So even if you are there during the spring and you’ve got blessed rain or spring runoff keeping the ground green and wet, be cautious of flames. The East Rosebud Trail – known by many as The Beaten Path – is one of Montana’s great hikes. Incredible - had everything - waterfalls, changing colors, amazing Mountain View’s. So many aspects are drawing me in; the land, open space. Thanks for the memory, Rose Mary. Thanks so much for sharing your journies with us! The trailhead (6,100') starts at East Rosebud Lake where there is a large parking area, vault toilet, and a nearby campground. The hike was a little rocky in some places, but was easy to maneuver. Gorgeous! The trail continues on the Russell Creek Trail (Gardiner Ranger District) for another 10 miles to the Clarks Fork Trailhead. A beautiful mountain neighborhood tucked back away from civilization. I love living off paved roads, Doreen, but husband is a city boy. About 7 miles from Roscoe, the road crosses East Rosebud Creek and forks. Excellent hike. The trail was fairly even and would suit a beginner who is up to it. This was an awesome hike with amazing views. It's a well made and maintained trail, with lots of people, and lots of beautiful scenery. The west gets ahold of your heart and never lets go. Good on your brother and niece for taking a four day trip – very brave. 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