Trailhead

The trailhead isn't hard to find. All that's needed is a high clearance two-wheel drive and an adventurous spirit. Take Exit 85 off Interstate 15 between Melrose and Dillon, Montana. Turn Northwest from the Interstate and follow the signs to Brownes Lake. The road to the lake pretty well marked and in very good condition. Time to tighten your seat belt however, and continue driving the route along the lake's north shore through the scree slope. It's really not bad, just narrow if you meet another vehicle. Once beyond the lake relax a little and keep driving past several random campsites until you find a Forest Service outhouse to your left on the edge of a meadow. Park near the outhouse, you'll probably want to use it. The trail begins a very short distance up the road but it's best to park here.

Trail Conditions & Needed Skills

The trail follows an old road grade until you reach Waukena Lake where it becomes single track the rest of the way. After Waukena Lake the trail starts to get serious about gaining altitude but switchbacks keep it from being too steep. The trail is fairly easy to follow. I did manage to loose the trail in several inches of snow from a storm the night before but finding it again wasn't much of a challenge. Novice backcountry navigators may be challenged in a few locations however, as signage, where it exists at all, is pretty poor. Finding the continuing trail from Waukena Lake and the trail intersection at Tahepia Lake could be difficult. Bring your preferred GPS device and a map and compass backup.

Finding surface water is not a problem for most of this trail. The exception is Rock Creek Pass which is dry but there's plenty of water on both sides.

Finding suitable camping is not a problem. There are loads of good locations between the trailhead and Waukena Lake, several okay spots either side of Rock Creek Pass, and of course Tahepia and both Schulz Lakes have no shortage of pretty locations. I camped in a grove of small lodgepole at Schulz Lake for protection from two hours of hail, rain, thunder and lightening.