Taking a Beautiful Hike to Lava Lake

On Saturday, September 29, Jaret and I hiked to Lava Lake.  This past weekend was the last weekend before we started getting a little bit of weather out here.  Since that hike, the temperature has decreased pretty significantly.

The trail head is located near Highway 191 between Gallatin Gateway and Big Sky.  The hike itself is about 6 miles long and has a 1,400 foot elevation gain.  This particular hike is more difficult than the Pioneer Falls hike we went on the week before.  The path was covered in rocks, and had a constant incline.  Near the end, we hiked up some switchbacks to get to the lake.

The day we walked on that trail was one of the best we could have gone because of the autumn colors.  Although most of the forest was made of evergreens, the bushes and plants on the ground were so beautiful.  There wasn't much water in Cascade Creek, but it didn't make it any less pretty.

The Gallatin River

The trail to Lava Lake

 

Once at the lake, we rested for awhile at the serene beauty.  The lake is set between tall mountains, making the area carry sound like an amphitheater.   When we had just arrived, it started lightly raining, and the sound of the rain on the lake was very soothing.  There were three guys fishing across the lake from where we were.

Jaret looks at Lava Lake.

Rain falls on the lake.

Walking back was a lot faster than going up.  Once we got back to Bozeman, Jaret and I ate dinner at Outback Steakhouse.  There's nothing like a good steak after a good walk like that!