Best Fall Hiking Trails in the Bitterroot
Updated: Sep 16
Hiking in the Bitterroot Valley is beautiful year round and I highly recommend getting out there as much as possible. But there is something truly special about hiking in the Bitterroot in the fall. The valley also has endless fall activities to enjoy like apple picking at Swanson's Mountain View Orchard in Corvallis and u-pick sunflowers and other blooms at Farm Wild in Hamilton or special events like the Stevensville Scarecrow Festival and Apple Day in Hamilton. Just plan on spending a lot of time out and about in the valley if you live locally or nearby in the fall. To work off those cider donuts from Swanson's (or to just enjoy the beautiful tamaracks / larches depending on your preferred term), here are my top 3 fall hiking trails in the Bitterroot.
Glen Lake Trail
Last year I was fortunate enough to time this hike perfectly. I gambled and took a day off work to enjoy this trail. That's the tough part in the fall, the weekends go quick and it's tough to hit all the trails at peak color. Needless to say, it was well worth taking a Thursday afternoon to enjoy this hike and I actually had it entirely to myself. I was the only car in the parking lot when I arrived and when I left hours later...an ideal scenario for enjoying beautiful Mother Nature. Although as you can tell from the photo, this trail is unbelievably beautiful in the fall, it is also a great trail in the late spring / summer. Much of the trail is in a burn area, so wildflowers are abundant.
There are two ways to hike this trail, as an out and back to Glen Lake or as an out and back with a loop at the end to include the unnamed upper lake. The loop is 5.9 miles out and back with an elevation gain of 1,600 feet. The upper lake sits at about 7,800 feet elevation and Glen Lake at 7,500 feet. I'd recommend the loop version to both Glen Lake and the unnamed lake.
The upper lake is quite small but still worth the extra mileage as it's ringed by tamaracks. When I was last there, there was also an elk herd enjoying an afternoon drink. I'm not gonna lie, they scared me half to death. I knew I was alone out on the trail, and I audibly gasped when I saw the explosion of yellow when I crested the short ascent before looking down into the upper lake. They heard me of course, and started running off. I couldn't see them at first and was convinced I was under attack! It was a great exercise in practicing pulling my bear spray and was a beautiful sight watching the herd crest the ridgeline just beyond the lake.
From the upper lake, it's a short quarter mile downhill hike to Glen Lake below. At Glen, there are just a few tamaracks, however, right along the shoreline there are numerous shrubs that turn brilliant shades of red and orange. It started to rain while I was there, and watching the raindrops hit the water was pure magic. It was a good reminder to always hike into wilderness areas prepared. Thankfully I had my rain jacket.
Blodgett Canyon Overlook Trail
This short and sweet hike never disappoints. It's just under 3 miles at 2.9 miles and includes 525 feet of elevation gain, making it a perfect trail to hike this fall if you are near Hamilton but short on time. It's great for families, as long as you pay close attention to littles at the overlook. The drop-off into the canyon below is intense in multiple areas.
The Blodgett Creek Trail below is also a great trail for the fall as well, but the reason I chose the overlook trail for this list is the perspective. Being down in the canyon is pretty epic, but you don't always get the full sense of scale for how huge the canyon really is and it's pretty spectacular to see the dots of color from aspen, birch, tamaracks, and other plants through out the valley. Pop up rainstorms are also common in the fall in the Bitterroot, and let me tell you, watching a wall of clouds roll in the canyon is one of the most epic sights you will ever see. Just don't wait too long until the clouds reach you at the overlook or you might get caught in some dangerous weather. The first time I hiked up there was in early October a few years ago and I was not prepared to get snowed on!
Baker, Middle, & Gem Lakes Trail
Last but certainly not least, this fall hike might quite literally blow your socks off. Not to be dramatic, but I wasn't prepared for how beautiful this trail would be. The full out and back trail will take you by 3 lakes. Since they're all at different elevations, you can enjoy this trail throughout the fall as the season changes.
Baker Lake is at 7,800 feet elevation at 1.35 miles up the trail. Out and back to this lake is a popular family hike or overnight camping trip as there are a few campsites with fire pits. There is a great view of Trapper Peak, the tallest peak in the Bitterroot Mountains, although it doesn't look as fierce from this angle. Baker Lake is a relatively small lake, but still large enough for some fishing and a swim if it's warm enough. Even if you don't continue on to Middle and Gem Lakes, this is a nice lake to do the trail around before heading back to the trailhead.
Middle Lake, the lake in the middle... is about another two thirds of a mile up the trail along Baker Creek. There are a few areas the trail splits and it's hard to tell what is the real trail and what has been created by people going off trail. While it's always best to stay on the established trail and practice Leave No Trace, this trail can get confusing. As long as you follow the creek, you will find your way to Middle Lake. It sits at 8,200 feet elevation and is at its most beautiful early October. On the southeastern end of the lake, there is flat rocky spot perfect for a mid-hike snack or to read a book in the sunshine. Chances are you'll have the lake all to yourself other than some wildlife.
If you made it to Middle Lake, you might as well hike the rest of the way to Gem Lake, since it's only about another fifth of a mile up the trail. And it's well worth it! Especially in the fall. This is the wow factor of the full 4.7 mile out and back trail with an elevation gain of 1,400 feet. Gem Lake is astoundingly beautiful and if you catch the tamaracks just right, you'll feel like you've found heaven on earth.
Late September is the best time to hike the full trail to Gem Lake, which sits at about 8,333 feet elevation. There are a few good spots to camp, so I highly recommend spending a weekend up there among the glow of the tamaracks.
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