Just a few miles south of Libby, Montana, deep in the Cabinet Mountains, is a (somewhat) hidden gem: Leigh Lake.
This is supposedly the most popular hike in the area, but it seems as though its level of popularity depends on your perspective. We hiked this trail on a Monday and encountered probably 10-12 other groups; to me that’s not at all a crowded a trail, but perhaps my perspective has been skewed by Colorado and its endless quantity of hikers.
Also, for a supposedly popular hike, the road was very narrow and there wasn’t an extensive amount of parking. I’m glad we didn’t run into anyone driving in the opposite direction because there really wasn’t anywhere to pull over. And while we’re on the topic of driving, a maps app should get you to the trailhead without issue and in good weather the road is passable by any car.
Anyway. Popular or not, it’s worth the hike, and I bring this up right away because you’ll likely find yourself wondering if it’s worth the effort from the very first step. It’s uphill from the beginning and it just never lets up. This hike is steep. The trail gains about 1280 vertical feet (390 m) in 1.7 miles (2.7 km) and it’s full of rocks and roots and some very slippery uphill sections.
There are a couple of pretty exposed spots up higher as well. I recommend sturdy footwear with good traction and hiking poles. The latter will be especially useful on the descent which, honestly, was in many ways harder than the ascent.
The hike begins with a short section of uphill followed by a section of downhill (which you’ll get to climb back up at the very end of your hike, which is always just so much fun). This is bear country – grizzly and black – and it’s easy to see why as you walk this narrow path through thick undergrowth and lots of berry bushes. For safety, hike in groups, make noise (talking will suffice; bear bells will not), and carry bear spray.
The trail then continues to climb through the forest before eventually opening up as the trees become smaller and less numerous. From this point on, the views get progressively better, both back down the valley and up at the mountains. Leigh Lake sits at the base of Snowshoe Peak, the highest point in the Cabinet Mountains, and we enjoyed the view of its angular slopes dotted with lingering snow.
After some more climbing, you’ll have an excellent view of Leigh Creek Falls – and also where you’re headed, up behind the headwall the water comes tumbling over.
Not too much more and the trail will finally begin to flatten out. From here it’s just a mostly flat walk back to the lake. You’ll begin to catch glimpses of it through the trees before dropping down to its northern shore. There are a handful of nice spots to sit and relax and enjoy the view (or fish or jump in, as some of the other groups did). The lake is clear and cold, and we spent quite a while gazing at the crystal clear water and sparkling waves.
It’s easy to see why this is the most popular hike in the area, and I want to give a quick shoutout to Meghan from Another Walk in the Park for the recommendation, and for assuring me that despite the steepness, this was absolutely a hike worth doing!
The Important Stuff:
- Getting there: From US Highway 2, turn west onto Forest Service Route 278, also called Bear Creek Road, approximately 8 miles (13 km) south of Libby, MT. At the fork, stay left onto Route 867, then right at the subsequent forks. The road dead-ends at the parking lot, 8.5 miles (13.7 km) from the highway. It’s paved for the first couple miles but then turns to gravel. There are a few rough spots, but we did it in a sedan without issue.
- Fees and passes: none.
- Hiking: roundtrip is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) with 1280 feet (390 m) of elevation gain; despite the short distance, this is a hard hike!
- Where to stay: There is no camping along the road to the trailhead, though there are some campgrounds in the general vicinity. The town of Libby is probably the best place to use as a basecamp for this hike. Alternately, you could backpack up to the lake; however, we didn’t see many good places to pitch a tent and you’ll need to have a bear canister or proper gear for a bear hang.
- Other: This trail is in bear country – including grizzly bears – so for safety this hike should be completed in daylight hours, in groups, and with bear spray that is easily accessible and that you know how to use. Be sure to make plenty of noise as you hike (talk, sing, or yell, especially as you approach blind corners; bear bells are not sufficient) and familiarize yourself with how to differentiate between black and grizzly bears and how to behave in the case of an encounter.
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