clarks fork trail

Easy to find, ample parking, pretty location, trail maintained OK, not too strenuous - nice place for a picnic lunch.

The trail begins relatively clear with signs and a boardwalk leading you to a the remains of an old Power Plant next to (the best part) a loud waterfall! It was breathtaking (and mildly scary) walking across the bridge the leads you right over the falls.BUT THEN SNOW HAPPENEDAs beginner hikers, we were trying to get to Kersey Lake and one sign pointed us in that direction. Even in June large snow piles blocked our path-- easy to walk over. But eventually we arrived in an area where the mud, snow, and stream made us question whether we were following a hiking trail or not anymore. No more signs showed the way... only the solitary footprints of someone who had gone before us. As beginner hikers we didn't want to chance becoming bear chow.

The Beartooth Plateau, within the Absarokee Beartooth Wilderness area, Is not a well kept secret to experienced hikers. In the heat of the summer the trail is heavily traveled. It runs from a trailhead just N of the HWY 212 and E of Cooke City to a trailhead at the USFS campground at Alpine MT, aka East Rosebud Lake. It covers over 30 miles of rugged rocky alpine trail at high elevations (to 11,000 feet) and gives the hiker visions of most of Montana's top 41 highest peaks to include the highest, Granite Peak at ~13,000. The trail follows lakes and creek/rivers almost its entire distance. It is Grizzly Country and travelers should be advised and prepared. It is government so there are strict rules on where one can camp, how far from the water, and the basic principle is "leave no trace"--pack it in, pack it out. Winter hiking isn't advised. Some will snowmobile the trail from the Cooke City end up to some of the (frozen over) lakes near the summit. But the other end is impassable from the head of East Rosebud (where I have a home) once the snow falls. Scenery is rugged but spectacular. Glaciers, wildlife, and micro level beauty in the lichen and tiny wildflowers that abound. In the fall, pre-snow, chokecherry bushes are along the trail (for bears and humans to forage on). Allow three days if you fish. Be prepared any day of the year for snow squalls. File a travel plan with family or friends. Carry Bear Spray. Take good binoculars (GOATS, moose, etc) and a good digital camera (and waterproof carrying gear). During SU months the residents have an open store, very well equipped, in their lodge at East Rosebud Lake , the "N" end of the trail. The USFS campground is small and usually full. HIker parties can pre position a car in the trail head parking lot to get back to the other end, whichever end that is. Easiest hike is from Cooke City end to Rosebud end. Good maps, very good topo maps on plastic, are available in Red Lodge and Cooke City and well worth the ~$15 price, and are a super souvenir for post trip talks.

Bring mosquito dope. No fish there...so don't waste your time! Beautiful spot to visit though! Waterfalls are incredible. Trail is new with good signage.

This is a very nice, scenic, easy trail. Small stream with a dramatic waterfall. You are in grizzly country, so be bear aware. Nice place to picnic and take photos.