Two Lakes at the Top of the World

The name Silt Lakes refers to two separate water bodies stacked one above the other in the same cirque: Upper Silt Lake covers 4.4 acres at an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet, while Lower Silt Lake sits just below it at 9,794 feet and spans 3.2 acres. Both are small by alpine standards—each barely more than a few hundred yards across—but their cold, clear water and the towering mountains that ring them give them a drama that dwarfs their size.↗↗

Lower Silt Lake has a curious feature: its outlet is blocked by talus, meaning water seeps through the rock debris rather than flowing freely. The surrounding mountains cast long shadows that shorten the growing season and keep the water icy even in midsummer. These conditions make the lakes demanding habitats, but that harshness is part of what makes them feel genuinely wild.↗

Getting There on the West Fork Trail

The journey to Silt Lakes begins at the West Fork Trailhead on the Custer Gallatin National Forest, about 12.7 miles from the town of Red Lodge via a road that transitions from pavement to dirt. The trail follows the West Fork of Rock Creek for approximately 9.5 miles on a maintained path, passing Calamity Falls at mile 1.3, Sentinel Falls at mile 1.8, and the broad, flower-filled meadow at Quinnebaugh Meadows at mile 4.5. Beyond the meadows, the trail climbs steadily toward Sundance Lake at mile 8, and from there it is another mile and a half on a good path before the final approach to the lakes.↗↗↗

Upper Silt Lake sits slightly farther and higher: the last 1.5 miles beyond the maintained trail become a boot-path scramble. Hikers approaching from the south often find Silt Lakes by scrambling up from nearby Shadow Lake, a small pristine tarn at the foot of Castle Mountain and Whitetail Mountain. The scramble between Shadow Lake and the Silt Lakes is short but steep—just enough to earn the arrival.↗↗

The full round trip is a 19-mile-plus undertaking that most hikers complete as an overnight or multi-day backpacking trip rather than a single-day push. The route continues over Sundance Pass at 11,000 feet, making Silt Lakes a natural side destination along a classic Beartooth traverse.

Fishing the Wilderness Waters

Silt Lakes hold Yellowstone cutthroat trout—the iconic native salmonid of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Lower Silt Lake is stocked at roughly 50 fish per acre every four years by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The cold water and short growing season mean fish grow slowly, so anglers typically find small to moderate-sized fish, but the setting more than compensates: standing at 10,000 feet with a wilderness lake before you is fishing as it was meant to be.↗↗

Upper Silt Lake presents a more uncertain fishery. A 2023 survey caught no fish during sampling, though FWP notes that fish do survive here and angler use indicates a need for a sustained fishery. For dedicated anglers, the nearby Sundance Lake—just 1.3 miles away—receives regular stockings and offers a more reliable bet.↗↗

The Beartooth Experience

What makes Silt Lakes worth the effort is not any single feature but the cumulative effect of the entire approach. The trailhead sits at about 7,900 feet in lodgepole pine forest; by the time you reach the lakes you are climbing through increasingly open terrain where views of the Beartooth massif—home to more than thirty peaks above 12,000 feet—unfold at every turn. The meadows at Quinnebaugh are spectacular in August with wildflowers, and the final approach crosses terrain where mountain goats can sometimes be spotted on distant cliff faces and moose frequent the creek bottoms.↗↗

The lakes themselves sit in a high-altitude amphitheater, surrounded by rock walls that define the Beartooth Plateau. Unlike the more crowded destinations near the Beartooth Highway, this section of the wilderness sees relatively few visitors on any given day, and the 9.5-mile approach ensures that by the time you arrive, solitude is nearly guaranteed.↗↗

Planning Your Trip

The West Fork Trailhead is reached from Red Lodge by heading west on West Fork Road off Highway 212. The first 4.5 miles are paved, after which the road becomes dirt for the remaining 5.5 miles to the trailhead. A vault toilet is available at the trailhead.↗

This is grizzly bear country. The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness requires that all food, toiletries, and scented items be stored in bear-resistant containers or hung at least 10 feet off the ground and 4 feet from any tree trunk. Fines for improper food storage start at $225 and can reach $5,000. Carry bear spray and know how to use it.↗

Snow can linger at high elevation well into July. The reliable window for accessing Silt Lakes is late July through mid-September. Above treeline, afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August—plan to be below the final climb by early afternoon. Nights at 10,000 feet can drop into the 30s even in August.↗

No wilderness permit is required for day hiking or overnight camping along the West Fork Trail, though camping within 200 feet of a lake or 100 feet of flowing water is prohibited. Maximum stay at any one campsite is 16 days and groups are limited to 15 people.

Beyond Silt Lakes

Silt Lakes are one destination on what can become a magnificent multi-day circuit. The West Fork Trail continues to Sundance Pass at mile 11, where the 57-switchback climb gains 1,500 feet in a short distance and rewards you with a panoramic view of the Beartooths. Beyond the pass, September Morn Lake is a deep-blue alpine jewel with waterfalls on either side, and the descent leads to other named lakes before connecting to the Lake Fork Trail on the south end of the loop.↗↗

For those who want to push deeper into the Beartooth Plateau, this area connects to routes that traverse chains of alpine lakes across high granite terrain. The entire region rewards a multi-day commitment with sustained high-country scenery and fishing that few places in the lower 48 can match.↗