Heart Lake Trail - Hiking trail near Lincoln, Montana, United States - Description

Heart Lake is in the Scapegoat Wilderness, and group sizes are limited to 15 people to help preserve the Wilderness character. During the warm summer weekends you may encounter 50 people on the trail. The campsites near the lake are limited and for the most part are heavily impacted. There is a permanent hitch rail near the lake and we ask stock users to please use the hitch rail when visiting the lake area. The area is not recommended for overnight camping with stock. There are great views of Red Mountain, the highest mountain in the Bob Marshall Complex. Fishing is a popular lake activity. It is comparable to other mountain lakes but can be temperamental.

This is Grizzly Bear country and both black and Grizzly bears visit the lake. Heart Lake is in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE ); Grizzly Bear Recovery Area. Please comply with the Food Storage Special Order LC00-18, and store your attractants and food in a bear resistant manner. A copy of the order is available at the Lincoln Ranger District or on the Helena Forest Website.

The trail is located off the Mainline Trail #481, 3.5 miles from the Indian Meadows Trailhead. Heart Lake is then an additional 1.5 miles from the trails junction. Heart Lake Trail is approximately 2.5 miles in length.

From HWY 200 turn north on the Copper Creek Road #330 and travel approximately to 8 miles to the junction with the Indian Meadows road #1882 turn right and travel approximately 1 mile to the trailhead.

Take the Mainline Trail #481 to the junction with the Heart Lake Trail #424, and follow the trail to the lake.