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A trip through wonderful forests and meadows with views of mountains and two wonderful lakes.


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Map Key

5.8

Miles

9.3

KM

Point to Point

5,489' 1,673 m

High

5,190' 1,582 m

Low

593' 181 m

Up

308' 94 m

Down

3%

Avg Grade (2°)

15%

Max Grade (8°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Lake · River/Creek · Spring · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Family Friendly The beginning of the trail leads to Paradise Point and Aster Park where there is a waterfall. Also, the boat can be taken to shorten the distance to both Twin Falls and Upper Two Medicine Lake.

Bring bear spray.

Description

Starting at the boat launch at the foot of Two Medicine Lake, the trail enters into a nice open forest as it veers away from the lake for a bit. It passes a nice spur trail out to Paradise Point, then heads southwest past a few ponds and wetland areas which gives you an opportunity to see both moose and mosquitos. From there, the trail finds a drier forest as it passes the spur trail for Aster Park.

The trail continues on through the trees paralleling the south shore of Two Medicine which remains out of view. Pocket meadows give you views of the surrounding mountains. A trail breaks off to the right that fords the creek. Continue on along Paradise Creek to a bridged crossing, then pass the Two Medicine Pass Trail which branches to the south, as this trail begins to work north.

At this point, the trail begins to climb over a ridge coming off of Mt. Sinopah as it traverses its flanks. Once at the top of this little ridge, you have great views of the lake and can often see the vintage tour boat tugging across the lake. You traverse a wide open avalanche chute with even more unobstructed views, eventually dropping down into trees and passing the boat dock spur trail.

From here, the trail turns west and begins working up towards Upper Two Medicine Lake. It enters an older forest for a bit before popping out in another avalanche chute where it meets up with the Dawson Cutoff Trail that heads along the north shore of the lake. Continue on west where it wraps around through more forest, past the short spur trail to the beautiful Twin Falls.

Past that spur trail, the trail skirts the ridgeline that makes up the Pumpelly Pillar on the edge of the treeline. It follows Two Medicine Creek upstream with great views. It passes a small pond before the lake that gives another opportunity to glimpse a moose. From there the trail climbs the short distance up to the lovely Upper Two Medicine Lake. Like many lakes in this area, it's surrounded by green hillsides with dramatic red rock mountains dramatically rising above them.

This content was created by Jake Bramante of Hike 734. Visit hike734.com for more expert Glacier content and maps that help you decide which trail to hike.

Flora & Fauna

Forest and meadow flowers such as aster, beargrass, and thimbleberry. Many small forest birds like finches, chickadees, and waterfowl such as goldeneyes on the lakes. Mammals include tree squirrels and chipmunks as well as the occasional moose and even an opportunity to see bear.

Contacts

Shared By:

Jake Bramante

Trail Ratings

  4.1 from 17 votes

#8

in Two Medicine

#7299

Overall
  4.1 from 17 votes
5 Star
24%
4 Star
65%
3 Star
6%
2 Star
6%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#8

in Two Medicine

#185

in Montana

#7,299

Overall
2 Views Last Month
1,152 Since Sep 3, 2015
Intermediate Intermediate

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Photos

Coming out of the forested area to this is breathtaking.
Dec 18, 2015 near Bison, MT
View of Two Medicine Lake from shoreline.
Jun 9, 2016 near Blacktail, MT
Trip video of Two Medicine Lake and Upper Two Medicine Lake
Jun 9, 2016 near Bison, MT
Sinopah Mountain looking over Two Medicine Lake at the south shore trailhead.
Jun 16, 2019 near Bison, MT
Two Medicine Lake.
Dec 18, 2015 near Bison, MT
It's a climb, and the whole South Shore Trail if you include getting to the east shore of Upper Two Medicine and back to the boathouse is more like 10 miles, but so worth it. There is a three space back country site up here with pit toilets. Somewhat busy the time I went.
Dec 18, 2015 near Blacktail, MT

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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 61 days ago
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Check-Ins

Sep 11, 2024
Anonymous
Sep 2, 2024
Michael Sander
Jun 21, 2023
Marc Daniel
With Mila, along mid lake upper trail. Back at 8:00 — 3h 30m
Oct 12, 2022
Judith Wimble
Jul 25, 2022
Alex Maietta
Best views the last 1.2 miles
Jun 12, 2022
John Eversmeyer
4.1mi — 1h 59m
May 31, 2021
Jamie Perez
J&J
Aug 15, 2019
Scott Piper
Did as part of loop with North Shore Trail/Dawson's Pass. South is pretty, North is boring. Little elevation gain. Upper lake is beautiful. Take boat. 11.6mi — 5h 00m
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