Engle Lake Backpack

Check it out

Distance: 9-1/2 miles round trip

Difficulty: Moderatley difficult

Hiking time: 4-6 hours or overnight.

Season: July through mid-October

Maps: Cabinet Mountains Wilderness map

Info: Kootenai National Forest, Cabinet Ranger District, (406) 827-3533

Backpacking trip notes

Access: From U.S. Highway 200 about 1-3/4 miles east of turnoff to Noxon, Mont., turn north just east of bridge over railroad (milepost 17.1) onto graveled Rock Creek Road. Drive 1/4 mile and bear right under power lines onto Forest Road 150. Go about 4-1/2 miles and turn right onto Forest Road 2285. Drive uphill 7-1/3 miles to trailhead.

Attractions: Lightly used trail to campsites at high mountain lake just inside Cabinet Mountains Wilderness. Good views of 7,000-foot wilderness peaks from trail; fishing for cutthroat trout at lake. Wildflowers and huckleberries. Option to scramble up Engle Peak.

Hazards: Short stretch of talus; some potential for grizzly bears.

Comments: Stock up with water before setting out - no water sources on hike until trail drops into Engle Lake basin. Some snow could be along trail into first week of July.

Trail No. 932 starts at 5,260 feet on new section constructed in 1998, and climbs steadily on fairly steep grade - about 1,100 feet in first mile. Have faith. Grade moderates thereafter, as trail skirts ridge and boundary of 94,360-acre Cabinet Mountains Wilderness.

Catch occasional views into Engle Lake basin, which drains into Rock Creek. Trail eventually heads up one short steep pitch, offering best views of hike as reward at every stop to catch your breath. Look for mountain penstemon in rocks at your feet, unnamed lakes at base of cliff, and then look farther north toward crop of 7,000-foot peaks. Can you see St. Paul, Rock, Ojibway, Lost Horse and Flat Top peaks?

Drop into timber again, then follow trail as it traverses talus slope. Climb gradually to ridge again to dry campsite about 4 miles into hike.

Just beyond campsite, look for trail that switchbacks down more than 500 feet in 3/4 mile to Engle Lake. Campsites found on both sides of lake outlet.

Several routes lead to summit of 7,583-foot Engle Peak, which looms above and offers spectacular views of area, including Wanless Lake basin. Most direct route continues up ridge from junction with trail heading down to lake. Ascent requires scrambling over open talus slope. (Not recommended for people with weak ankles or tipsy balance.) U.S. Geological Survey topo maps, Elephant Peak and Howard Lake, are helpful for exploration of this area.