DESCRIPTION OF THE MAP  : The TerraTopo printed map (ISBN 0-9713501-0-8) covers a portion of the Absaroka-Beartooth wilderness, including Mystic lake, Island Lake, Granite Peak and the well-known 'Beaten Path' trail between Cooke City, Montana and Alpine (East Rosebud).  The map also reveals the regions surrounding Granite Peak, East and West Rosebud, Mystic Lake, and Alpine.  The map is folded on waterproof, tear-resistant paper and has an approximate dimension of 24 inches wide by 32 inches tall.  The map is folded with a size of approximately 4 inches x 6 1/2 inches.  The fold size is small enough to fit in your backpack. 

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MYSTIC LAKE, ISLAND LAKE and SILVER LAKE: To reach the trailhead, take the Columbus exit from Interstate 90, and take Montana Highway 78 through Absaroka and turn west (right) toward Fishtail (approximately 17 miles from Columbus). From Fishtail, drive west and south for 1 mile and turn south (left) on West Rosebud Road. Follow this paved road for 6.3 miles until reaching a fork in the road and a large brown Forest Service sign. The sign will indicate West Rosebud Lake Road #2072. Turn left here and follow the dirt road for 14.4 miles until reaching the trailhead.

 

Hiking to Mystic lake (from West Rosebud) provides the unique opportunity to see a hydroelectric dam in action.  The power-generation facility is located near the trailhead.  Island lake offers a getaway from the summer crowds that linger near Mystic lake though the trail to Island Lake is one of the busiest trails in the Beartooths.    Expect lots of crowds especially on weekends.

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From the trailhead and parking area, hike past the Mystic Lake hydroelectric plant.  Cross the bridge that crosses the piping conduit for the power plant and continue uphill.  The trail continues to climb through Lodgepole Pine forests.  The trail takes you over a bridge crossing the West Rosebud Creek, and leads you through more Lodgepole Pine stands, spotted with Aspen trees.   Next, the trail ascends through an impressive boulder field, with boulders the size of large trucks.  This boulder field is approximately a mile long and contains a good number of switchbacks.   Looking west, you can also see the pipeline structure that is used as a conduit to move water from Mystic lake down to the hydroelectric plant.  Crest the top of the trail and you are greeted with a beautiful overlooks of Mystic Lake.  During a "normal" year with average precipitation, Mystic Lake is the deepest lake in the Beartooths, at more than 300 feet.  In years of drought, the lake is much less impressive.  Mystic lake is considered the largest lake in the Beartooths, at over 2 miles long (during a "normal" year with average precipitation).   In drought years you can virtually walk across the lake, not far from Island lake.  The trail wraps around the lake for an additional three miles once you are down at the lake level.  Numerous camping sites are situated along the lake's shore.

HUCKLEBERRY LAKE, AVALANCHE LAKE and GRANITE PEAK

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The West Rosebud Trail (the same trail that leads to Mystic Lake and Island Lake) is the same trail that leads to Huckleberry Lake, Avalanche Lake and the base of Granite Peak, Montana's highest mountain peak.  To reach the Froze-to-Death Plateau, try this:  Once at the Mystic lake dam overlook, descend down to Mystic Lake and continue hiking for a half mile along the lakes south shore until reaching an intersection for the Phantom Creek Trail #17 branching to the left (south). The sign at this intersection is hard to spot.  Turn left and follow this trail up through the switchbacks until reaching a huge cairn above treeline. Just past the cairn, leave the trail to the south and head uphill to the plateau. On the plateau, you will see cairns in the distance heading southwest. 

 

To reach Huckleberry Lake, Avalanche Lake and the base of Granite Peak, try this:  Continue along the trail on the south side of Mystic Lake.  After hiking 2.5 miles from the Mystic Lake Dam, you'll be approaching the west-end of the lake.  There is a small wooden bridge that crosses Huckleberry Creek (if the bridge was damaged or washed away from spring runoff look for signs or rock carnes).  Turn left after crossing this bridge and head south along the trail.  The trail up Huckleberry Creek starts immediately.  Look for rock carnes to help you stay on the trail.  After the first half-mile of hiking, the trail crosses a large boulder field near Huckleberry lake (elevation 8380).  The trail follows an easy grade for the next 1.5 miles, just to the north of Princess Lake (elevation 9,172). 

 

There are two primary routes from Princess lake to Avalanche Lake.   Both routes are relatively easy to find and route.  Continue south to either Snowball Lakes or Cold (Goat) Lake, both of which should lead you to Avalanche Lake (elevation 9750).   A direct route follows a cascading stream which is an inlet at the southeastern end of Princess lake.  Some scrambling and a route up a gully is required near Cold lake (Goat lake).  From Cold lake it is a fairly easy climb to the north end of Avalanche lake.  

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The second route to Avalanche lake follows a trail up the ridge southwest of Princess lake to the lower region of Snowball lake.  Here too, a scramble involving talus and scree is required.  The rock walls and tall rick spires are striking.  Granite peak is clearly visible from Avalanche lake. 

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THE BEATEN' PATH TRAIL

Along with the Stillwater Trail, East Rosebud Trail (“The Beaten Path”) is one of two trans-Beartooth Mountain routes.  The Beaten Path 26-mile hiking trail leads through the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness of Montana and celebrates the East Rosebud Creek, Russell Creek and all the scenic beauty in between.  Along the trail, there are numerous waterfalls, alpine lakes, wildlife, alpine streams, wild trout, snow-covered terraces and beautiful vistas. The trail's defacto name is the 'Beaten Path'.  The trail's official name is the East Rosebud Trail.  The East Rosebud trail and many other trails are shown on the TerraTopo map.

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TRAIL #3 or TRAIL #15 ?

Years ago, Custer National Forest and Gallatin National Forest were considered separate entities.  In 2014- The Custer and Gallatin National Forests combined to form the Custer Gallatin National Forest (NF). The forest now covers land from Bozeman, MT to Camp Crook, South Dakota.  Before the two NFs combined, each of the two National Forests used their own unique trail number designation for the "Beaten Path".  USFS Trail #3 begins at the Clarks Fork trailhead and continues to Fossil Lake.  USFS trail #15 begins at East Rosebud trailhead and continues to Fossil Lake.  At the "old" delineation between Custer and Gallatin NF is where the two trails meet.

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The mountains have the power to release us from everyday life.  They provide a transformation from fear to love, by giving us permission to be romantic, cheerful, and open to the rugged beauty of wilderness.    Along the Beaten Path, we hike past dangerous waterfalls, cliffs, menacing mountains, all of which help us reach and touch the big sky.  The Beaten Path trail helps us

articulate the mountains, including Granite Peak, the highest peak in Montana.  In the shadows of the beautiful and rugged peaks, we grasp the meaning of the sublime, while being immersed in a landscape of incomprehensible enormity.  These powerful places
helps us feel most alive.  Without wilderness, life is dull and simple.  This hike helps us reconnect with and honor nature by letting us be awed by the mountains.  For so much of history, we dominated the natural world.   The landscape along the Beaten Path helps us validate and reconsider our relationship with nature.  To be in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness is to be in the sublime.  Here are a few reasons you should do this hike:

 

• The trail will provide us with an escape from the buzz and noise of our modern, developed world.  Reconnect with nature by going for a hike.  An adventure with purpose.  There is a massive diversity and array of scenery, including wildlife, wildflowers, waterfalls, evergreen forests, lakes and geology.  Many hikers ramble about the trail's beautiful scenery, many of which claim it was the best trail they have ever hiked and that they would do it again.

• ​The 26-miles point-to-point trail, allows you to push your body and mind to a new level of acceptance.  If we can do this hike, what else can we do?   The best time to visit is July through September

• There is adequate camping locations along the trail.  If we are used to camping in designated sites, this hike will help us shake that notion.  In the wilderness, we try to leave no trace.  Find a camping site that is new and fresh.

• The hike passes next to 20+ lakes.  Take time to observe the trout swimming in the clear waters, or cast a line and inspect the incredible colors that emanate from the trout's skin.  The route is great for trout fishing in the numerous lakes and streams

• The trail is well-marked, easy to follow, and well-maintained.  If we have allocated extra time for this trek, get off the trail and explore new locations "off the beaten path".   There are plenty of opportunities to get off the beaten path and extend your trip

• The East Rosebud and Clarks Fork trailheads are not too far from civilization.   Cooke City offers restaurants, motels and a small general store.  There are campgrounds in the general vicinity of (Clarks Fork) Cooke City, giving us an extra opportunity to prepare for our trip or unwind afterward.  Absarokee and Roscoe (near East Rosebud) provide small stores and restaurants.

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BEATEN PATH LENGTH AND CONDITION

The Beaten Path, also known as the East Rosebud Trail is a popular trans-Beartooth route.  The total distance along the path is approximately 26 miles and is not considered overly dangerous or technically difficult.  A few of the switchbacks may be a little rough, especially with a heavy pack on your back.  The entire trail is well-maintained.  During the spring, expect snow and ice on the trail along with a few windblown trees across.  Bridges could be washed out due to high water flow through narrow canyons.  The Beaten Path  trail offers a wide range of vistas and sites, including waterfalls, aqua-green lakes and beautiful flora.  To enjoy the sites and views, many hikers spend at least five days and four nights on the trail, which averages out to a little over 5 miles of hiking per day.   If you plan on fishing the high country lakes, plan to spend a week or more. 

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AN OVERVIEW OF THE BEATEN PATH TRAIL ROUTE

The Beaten Path is considered a thru-hike.  Begin either from the East Rosebud trail near near Roscoe or Absarokee, Montana or from the Clarks Fork Trailhead east of Cooke City, Montana.  Plan to do a  "key-swap" with a friend or relative,  or shuttle a car from one trailhead to the other.  The shuttle involves driving the Beartooth Highway, through Red Lodge, Montana.  Beginning the Beaten Path hike at the East Rosebud trailhead has a smaller climb.  Beginning the hike at the East Rosebud trailhead route has a bigger climb. 

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East Rosebud Trail (# 15) is 16 miles long. The East Rosebud Trail is also known as “The Beaten Path”.  The trail begins at the southern end of East Rosebud Road (Forest Road 2177) and climbs steadily for 16 miles to Fossil Lake.  The trail continues on the Russell Creek Trail (Gardiner Ranger District) for another 10 miles to the Clarks Fork Trailhead. One of the most scenic trails in the Beartooths, this trail has a multitude of trout filled lakes, waterfalls, and cascading streams. Elevation change: 3400 feet. The trail is open for the following uses: hiking, horseback riding.  ***Please be aware that travelling in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness comes with additional regulations.  Please know what is expected of visitors before entering the wilderness.​

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***No campfires are allowed from Twin Outlets Lake to Fossil Lake.  No motorized vehicles in the Wilderness.  Fireworks are illegal on all Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks sites, including Fishing Access Sites, Wildlife Management Aras and other sites. Anyone using fireworks on FWP lands may be charged with a misdemeanor that can result in a fine up to $500.  See the complete listing of regulations here:  Wilderness Restrictions

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What to Bring When Hiking in the Wilderness

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Hiking in the wilderness can be a rewarding experience, but it's important to be prepared. Here are some essential items to pack for your next hike:

• Water: You'll need to stay hydrated, so bring plenty of water with you. A good rule of thumb is to pack one gallon of water per person per day.

• Food: Pack enough food to last for the duration of your hike, plus a little extra in case of emergencies.

• First-aid kit: This should include bandages, antibiotic ointment, pain relievers, and other basic first-aid supplies.

• Map and compass: Even if you're hiking on a well-marked trail, it's always a good idea to have a map and compass with you in case you get lost.

• Flashlight or headlamp: It's important to have a way to see in the dark, in case you have to hike back to your car after dark.

• Fire starter: This could be a lighter, matches, or a flint and steel. You'll need it to start a fire for cooking, warmth, or signaling for help.

• Shelter: If you're planning on spending the night in the wilderness, you'll need a shelter to protect you from the elements. This could be a tent, a tarp, or even just a sleeping bag under the stars.

• Sun protection: Don't forget to pack sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat to protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays.

• Rain gear: If you're hiking in the rain, you'll need to stay dry. Pack a rain jacket, pants, and boots.

• Bug repellent: Mosquitoes and other biting insects can be a nuisance, so pack some bug repellent to keep them away.

• Other items: There are a number of other items that you may want to pack, depending on the length and difficulty of your hike. These could include a sleeping pad, a backpack, a hiking pole, a whistle, and a multi-tool.

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It's also important to let someone know where you're going and when you expect to be back. This way, if you don't return on time, they can send help.  By packing the essentials, you can be sure to have a safe and enjoyable hike in the wilderness.