Cosley Lake in August

On Saturday, August 1, Patti, Lynda and I hiked to Cosley Lake in the Belly River area in the very NE part of Glacier Park. Cosley Lake is one of Patti's favorite lakes in Glacier Park which is why we made the long drive and long hike.  I also like the lake.

I have been to Cosley Lake twice before: once on a backpacking trip in the 1990s, and then in August 2009 with Patti and Gene (http://tallpineshiker.blogspot.com/2009/08/cosley-lake.html).  Six years ago?!!!  Wow!  Time is flying!

It was a 3 hour drive to the trail head - the farthest point of Glacier Park from Flathead Valley.  Because the Reynolds Creek fire closed the Going-to-the-Sun Road we had to drive around the Park.   

Red marks how we drove to Cosley Lake.   
Purple indicates part of how we drove back home. 

We decided to take the 'purple' road as we had never driven it and wondered if a straighter road away from the mountains would be faster.  (The map doesn't show how crooked the road is between East Glacier and St Mary). While the mileage was more, and we had nice views, and the road was definitely straighter and one could drive much faster, I don't think the purple route was quicker.   

Yellow is our hiking route.

Trailhead: The Belly River Trail begins at a small parking area along Highway 17, just south of the Chief Mountain border crossing. From the trail head, the route descends for two miles through thick forest into the Belly River Valley losing 809 feet in elevation. The loss in elevation is a pleasant way to start the trip, but recognize it will be a hard climb back up at the end of a long hike.  While the two miles is among trees, on our hike back out the position of the sun was just so that we got very little shade as we hiked up and up.

After reaching the valley bottom, the trail changes little in elevation as it follows the winding river. The Belly River Ranger Station provides a nice landmark, about 6 miles into the trip.  A short distance after crossing the Belly River on a long suspension bridge one can take a short side trip to see Gros Ventre Falls.  Then it is a little climb up to Cosley Lake.

It was another death march as the distance round-trip was 17.4 miles on a hot mid 80s or warmer day. (Or a tenth or two more if I count the short side trip to Gros Ventre Falls along the way).  At least the trail was dry - it can get muddy after a little rain, and the horse/pack-train traffic to the ranger station doesn't help the trail any.

Cosley Lake looking west towards Stoney Indian Pass.

For 29 more photos, click here: https://picasaweb.google.com/109566462412251958234/CosleyLake2015?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCNy6zNm-svVR&feat=directlink


For a 38 second video of Cosley Lake: https://youtu.be/XD9E0xJMRRc

Yes, it was a windy day at Cosley Lake.
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