Pic: Found it! Lost Lake, Custer Gallatin NF, MT
The Beartooths were one of those places I’d never heard of but kept reading about as I researched the Yellowstone area. The scenic Beartooth Highway nibbled around the edges, but I was eager to start exploring on foot. An especially knowledgeable ranger in Red Lodge pointed me toward a number of impressive-sounding hiking and backpacking spots, beginning with a 10-mile 1300′ day hike to Lost Lake.
Things started on something of a mixed note:
Pic: I saw the sign. Lake Fork Trailhead, Custer Gallatin NF, MT
I read these notices with a mixture of envy (aw, they got to see a grizzly), hope (maybe I’ll see it too!), and apprehension (…but not too close, ideally).
The hike was pleasant if not particularly remarkable. There were not a lot of views from the creek bed, and just when things were getting good it was time to turn around to keep the distance reasonable. For my next two stops, I’d use backpacking to extend my forays into the interior of the Beartooth.
Danger Beyond This Point 