Hike to Albino Lake and Beyond

Gallatin Gateway, Montana

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Details

Distance

2.5 miles

Elevation Gain

500 ft

Description

Added by Adam Parkison

An easy hike just north of the Montana border of Yellowstone National Park that offers rich wildlife viewing opportunities without the big crowds.

Albino Lake lays in the lower elevations of the Taylor Fork Basin- a diverse landscape found within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The hike to the lake starts from the Albino Lake Trailhead along the Taylor Creek Rd. Getting to the lake is an easy 2.5 mile one-way (5 miles out-and-back) hike between 6000ft, and 7000ft elevation, within sagebrush meadows.

When I first visited the lake in early June, I was blown away by the array of waterfowl that utilized the water-source, and lamented for not having a birding field guide. This is one of the best places in south-west Montana to spot wildlife, outside of a National Park. Elk are always found in these hills, and in the spring, while the elk are calving, bears and wolves are also regularly seen here.

From the town of Bigsky, Montana, take highway 191 South, and turn right on Taylor Creek Rd. Take the road for about 4.5 miles, until you reach the Albino Lake Trailhead on the right.

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