HUB LAKE & DIPPER FALLS
HUB LAKE & DIPPER FALLS
EVENT TYPE: Day hiking, backpacking, Mt biking
DISTANCE: About 6.6 miles RT and about 7.8 if you go to Hazel Lake also.
ELEVATION: 1920’
ACRES: HUB 5.6…..HAZEL 7.6…..SQUARE 12.4
DIFFICULTY: Moderate.
MAPS: IPNF, Lolo N.F., DeBorgia South topo
GPS: 47°16’31”N 65°22’29”W
Superior Ranger District: 406.822.4233
MINERAL COUNTY SHERIFF: CALL911 FIRST or 406.822.3555
LOLO NATIONAL FOREST/ALERTS
https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lolo/alerts-notices
DISTANCE: About 6.6 miles RT and about 7.8 if you go to Hazel Lake also.
ELEVATION: 1920’
ACRES: HUB 5.6…..HAZEL 7.6…..SQUARE 12.4
DIFFICULTY: Moderate.
MAPS: IPNF, Lolo N.F., DeBorgia South topo
GPS: 47°16’31”N 65°22’29”W
Superior Ranger District: 406.822.4233
MINERAL COUNTY SHERIFF: CALL911 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.
Trail #262 starts on Road 889 and wondered up thru an old growth cedar forest for a little lees then a mile. Along the trail, you will hear 60' Dipper Falls below the trail on Ward Creek. When the flow is low, the falls take on the look of its name sake. Each column splashes off water to the next column, hence looking like a mass of ladles. See our WATERFALL section.
Trail# 280 climbs for the last mile to Hub Lake. There is a good place to rest and have lunch at the west end (upper)of the lake. However, if you go in the Fall, the sun goes behind the mountains, and shades the NW shore.
After lunch there is an old mine shaft (blocked) that you can go into for about 20 feet. If it’s a hot day, the shaft offers a cool place to chillout.
Along the trail to the mine is the trail to the saddle between Ward and Eagle Peaks.Trail
Trail #262 starts on Road 889 and wondered up thru an old growth cedar forest for a little lees then a mile. Along the trail, you will hear 60' Dipper Falls below the trail on Ward Creek. When the flow is low, the falls take on the look of its name sake. Each column splashes off water to the next column, hence looking like a mass of ladles. See our WATERFALL section.
Trail# 280 climbs for the last mile to Hub Lake. There is a good place to rest and have lunch at the west end (upper)of the lake. However, if you go in the Fall, the sun goes behind the mountains, and shades the NW shore.
After lunch there is an old mine shaft (blocked) that you can go into for about 20 feet. If it’s a hot day, the shaft offers a cool place to chillout.
Along the trail to the mine is the trail to the saddle between Ward and Eagle Peaks.Trail
OOPTION #1
Trail #262 starts on Road 889 and wondered up thru an old growth cedar forest for a little lees then a mile. Along the trail, you will hear 60' Dipper Falls below the trail on Ward Creek. When the flow is low, the falls take on the look of its name sake. Each column splashes off water to the next column, hence looking like a mass of ladles. See our WATERFALL section.
Trail# 280 climbs for the last mile to Hub Lake. There is a good place to rest and have lunch at the west end (upper)of the lake. However, if you go in the Fall, the sun goes behind the mountains, and shades the NW shore.
After lunch there is an old mine shaft (blocked) that you can go into for about 20 feet. If it’s a hot day, the shaft offers a cool place to chillout.
Along the trail to the mine is the trail to the saddle between Ward and Eagle Peaks.
Trail# 280 climbs for the last mile to Hub Lake. There is a good place to rest and have lunch at the west end (upper)of the lake. However, if you go in the Fall, the sun goes behind the mountains, and shades the NW shore.
After lunch there is an old mine shaft (blocked) that you can go into for about 20 feet. If it’s a hot day, the shaft offers a cool place to chillout.
Along the trail to the mine is the trail to the saddle between Ward and Eagle Peaks.
DIRECTIONS:
Head east on I-90 into Montana and exit on 26, Ward Creek Road. Head south up the Ward Creek Road #889 for 6.5 miles to a trailhead just before Ward Creek and a left turn.
There is no west bound on ramp, so you have to drive east on I-90 to St. Regis to regain the west bound lane.
There is no west bound on ramp, so you have to drive east on I-90 to St. Regis to regain the west bound lane.
HAZARDS:
This trail is pretty easy with no hazards to speak of. The trail above Hub Lake is steep.
COOL THINGS CLOSE BY:
Ward & Eagle Peaks, Lookout Pass Ski Area, the Route of the Hiawatha, and historic Wallace.
R & P:
Pizza Factory, 1313 Club and Muchacho’s Tacos in Wallace
GALLERY
THE HUB LAKE TRAIL NEAR THE START
DIPPER FALLS ALONG THE TRAIL TO HUB LAKE. IN LATE SUMMER AND FALL, THE FALLS CASCADE OFF OF EACH OTHER. HENCE THERE ARE DOZENS OF LADLES, OR DIPPERS
THIS IMAGE WAS TAKEN ON 10.7.2025. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE FLOW IS LOW,
BUT STILL SPECTACULAR TO SEE.
IMAGE BY CHRIS HERATH
HUB LAKE FROM EAGLE PEAK
HUB LAKE FROM THE SADDLE BETWEEN WARD & EAGLE PEAKS
A SEASONAL WATERFALL BELOW MARY LAKE, NEXT TO HUB LAKE.
THIS WAS OUR VIEW FOR LUNCH, LOOKING NE
FROM THE SAME SPOT ABOVE, TURN AROUND TO SEE EAGLE PEAK
WE WALKED UP THE TRAIL TOWARDS THE OLD MINE,
AND THIS IMAGE SHOWS THE DEBRIS FIELD BELOW EAGLE PEAK
IMAGE BY CHRIS HERATH
ON THE WAY DOWN FROM HUB LAKE, WE DID THE SHORT WALK DOWN TO HAZEL LAKE
