Carlton and Little Carlton Lakes

Bitterroot National Forest, Montana

Blue skies, no wind and perfect temps in the high 60's as I made my way up to Carlton Ridge. You just don't get many better mornings than this. This is the approach to Lolo Peak so being a Sunday there were other cars in the lot and by the time I made it to the ridge I had passed a handful of others who were headed for Lolo Peak's summit. I however was headed over the ridge and back to some of the areas high altitude lakes.

It is always fun to come up this trail, while it is a steady climb the trail is maintained in perfect shape by the forest service and it sees lots of use to help keep the tread clear. It is also one of the few places where both Western and Alpine Larches intermix. The University has on ongoing study of the trees here. They have to earn the right to study the trees as it is a 4 mile one way hike to get to them and it is at 8,000 feet in elevation.

Once at Carlton Lake I was amazed at how low it is. While it always gets low by the end of the summer it is still a shock after seeing it in the springtime when snowmelt has in brimming. Clouds were starting to build up from the west as I was taking pictures of the lake with the south summit of Lolo Peak in the background.

I went over to Little Carlton Lake and had lunch then worked my way down the outlet stream to see what flowers were blooming. These Explorer's Gentian were out in several places but were about the only flowers in bloom. A few asters that were past their prime were out still as well but not worth taking any pictures of.

On the way back to the trailhead and the truck, the clouds started letting loose a bit of the rain they were holding. There is nothing like the small of a summer rain in the mountains. I put the camera away and in the last mile of the trail I was wet enough that I might have been better off stopping and putting on my rain gear. Kind of fun hiking in the rain though so it was good the way it was.