HEART LAKE
EVENT TYPE: Day hiking, backpacking, and equestrian.
DISTANCE: 6 miles RT
ELEVATION GAIN: 1295 verts
DIFFICULTY: moderate
MAPS: LOLO N.F. Superior District, Straight Peak NW, Hoodoo Pass topos
GPS: Trailhead 46°59’02” N 114°58’43” W
Superior Ranger District: 406.822.4233
MINERAL COUNTY SHERIFF: CALL 911 FIRST or 406.822.3555
LOLO NATIONAL FOREST/ALERTS
https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lolo/alerts-notices
DISTANCE: 6 miles RT
ELEVATION GAIN: 1295 verts
DIFFICULTY: moderate
MAPS: LOLO N.F. Superior District, Straight Peak NW, Hoodoo Pass topos
GPS: Trailhead 46°59’02” N 114°58’43” W
Superior Ranger District: 406.822.4233
MINERAL COUNTY SHERIFF: CALL 911 FIRST or 406.822.3555
LOLO NATIONAL FOREST/ALERTS
https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lolo/alerts-notices
DESCRIPTION:
WE HAVE ADDED THE AREAS SHERIFF’S EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS FOR EACH TRIP WRITE UP UNDER THE RANGER DISTRICT INFO. IF AN EMERGENCY OCURRS, EVALUATE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND CALL ONLY IF NEEDED.
This hike takes you into an area that is called, “The Great Burn”. It is a proposed Wilderness area. Along the trail in, when you aren’t in the woods, you have the possibility of seeing up to 7 cirques. Only three house lakes. The trail follows the east side of the South Fork Trout Creek to Heart Lake.
Up the last section of this trail to Heart Lake, the trail climbs semi steeply to the lake. There are three campsite along the east side of the lake. West of the first campsite, is a faint trail leading up or down 900’ to the State Line National Recreation Trail #738, that skirts the cirques to the west and southwest. If you continue to Pearl Lake with one campsite, Trail #175 climbs up to the State Line Trail. It might be wise to do this loop clockwise. That way, the 20 or so switchbacks and 900’ climb are easier. The State Line National Recreation Trail #738 section, stretches Ward Peak to beyond Illinois Peak.
This hike takes you into an area that is called, “The Great Burn”. It is a proposed Wilderness area. Along the trail in, when you aren’t in the woods, you have the possibility of seeing up to 7 cirques. Only three house lakes. The trail follows the east side of the South Fork Trout Creek to Heart Lake.
Up the last section of this trail to Heart Lake, the trail climbs semi steeply to the lake. There are three campsite along the east side of the lake. West of the first campsite, is a faint trail leading up or down 900’ to the State Line National Recreation Trail #738, that skirts the cirques to the west and southwest. If you continue to Pearl Lake with one campsite, Trail #175 climbs up to the State Line Trail. It might be wise to do this loop clockwise. That way, the 20 or so switchbacks and 900’ climb are easier. The State Line National Recreation Trail #738 section, stretches Ward Peak to beyond Illinois Peak.
OPTION #1:
As stated above, hike Trail #171 to Heart Lake. Then turn SSE onto Trail #175, which becomes faint as it passes Pearl Lake, and climbs to the State Line Trail. Walk the State Line Trail past Heart Lake to just NW of Hidden Lake, where Trail #171 drops you back down to Heart Lake.
DIRECTIONS:
Drive I-90 east to Superior, Montana, and head east on State Hwy #257, also known as the Diamond Road. The pavement ends, and becomes F.R.#250, aka, Trout Creek Road. The trailhead is about 20 miles from Superior, where the trailhead is on a switchback, which is just past Trout Creek Campgrounds
COOL THINGS CLOSE BY:
Diamond Lake, Cliff Lake & Eagle Cliff Peak, St. Joe Wild and Scenic River, Ward & Eagle Peaks, and the St. Joe Lake.
HAZARDS:
The hike to Heart and Pearl Lakes are pretty straight toward.
The State Line National Recreation Trail #738 is a little more technical, with scree and route finding skills.
The State Line National Recreation Trail #738 is a little more technical, with scree and route finding skills.
R & P:
NA