The Hike to Elk Lake

Elk Lake

Friday Kristy and I explored a part of the East Rosebud Trail in the Beartooth Mountains.  We traveled west from Billings on I-90. We exited the interstate highway at Columbus and caught state highway 78 through Absorakee and Roscoe.  At Roscoe we took the East Rosebud Road into East Rosebud Lake where the trail begins.

The drive to the trail had breath-taking views.  The views from the trail itself were incredible.  Although, the first mile of the hike was along East Rosebud Lake almost through the backyard of cabins bordering the lake.  Still, looking south into the rugged, rock mountains was worth every minute of hiking by cabins.

Maybe because it is June, the amount of water in East Rosebud Creek looked more like a river.  The drop of the creek must be fairly steep because it roared with white water for most of the trail.  There really aren't adequate words to describe the rugged beauty of the entire hike.

Elk Lake is just the first destination on this trail which continues for miles and mile through numerous lakes.

We started our hike around 9:00 am and didn't see any hikers until we were 1/2 down the trail returning from Elk Lake.  After that, we saw many, many hikers.

In and out, the trip was 6 miles and worth the two hour drive from Billings to the trailhead.

Kristy

Columbine along the trail

Looking down onto the waterfall

Wilderness sign.  Take your horse, but not your bike.  Bikes must leave too much scat, graze,
and make many more impacts than horses

How the Beartooths got their name

1996 burn leaves view of the rocks.

The road in.