Grouse Lakes Trail 219 - Wise River

Length: 4 miles

Use: Light

Difficulty: High

Trail Begins: Road 186

Trail Ends: Grouse Lakes

The access road to the start of the Grouse Lakes Trail is not obvious as it appears as a two track road. A sign points the way but it occasionally gets vandalized. Trail is maintained yearly.

The trail starts to climb steeply for the first .5 mile. Many wildflowers such as Sego lily, shooting star, lupine, and others grow on this drier hillside early in the season. Near the top of the slope panoramic views of Pattengail Creek and the Wise River Valley below can be seen. After the first .5 mile the trail levels out somewhat and heads back towards Grouse Creek, then follows the stream closely for the next three miles. The vegetation is lush near the creek and spruce becomes common. The trail climbs sharply again about 3.25 miles in and switch-backs slightly and is rocky. About 0.5 miles later it levels out as it comes in Lower Grouse Lake, a granite basin lake. Here the forest is largely made up of whitebark pine and sub-alpine fir.

Area Map: Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Visitors Map

USGS Map1: Stine Mountain

Township 2S; Range 12W; Section 10

http://www.fs.usda.gov/bdnf

Mailing Address
Not Available

Street Address
Not Available

Phone: 406-832-3178
Fax: 406-832-3311

The trailhead may be difficult to find. Short access road on south side of Grouse Creek. Take left hand fork. There is a small sign on a tree that shows trail. Travel 9 miles south of Wise River on Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway, then 1.5 miles west on Road 186 to Grouse Creek.

Season
June - October

Hours
Not Available

Payments
Not Available

Reservations
Not Available

Trail

Hiking, Lake Fishing