Horse Butte Lake Trail

Trail Overview

In the West Yellowstone area and looking for something outside the park to do? How about a lake day? This is a primarily easy dirt trail with quite a few day-use areas on Hegben Lake. Some of the pull-offs are relatively private, with access right down to the water. The further along the trail you explore, the more beach-like the lake becomes. There is also an offshoot trail to a lookout tower above the lake. This trail does have some large potholes and ruts and can be muddy after a good rain. The trail runs right along the lake, and once it gets near the end and starts to turn into grassland. The trail gets narrow, rutted, and more difficult, and the trail becomes only one vehicle wide with few pullouts. This portion has a steeper uphill and downhill at the end and eventually ends at a little grassy spot on the other side of the lake. This is a day-use area, and no dispersed camping is allowed. Signs at different parts of the lake advise of Toxic algae. They caution not to swim in places where you spot any or let animals drink from those areas. Snowmobiling is also allowed on this trail in the winter. Two to three bars of LTE Cell service.

Photos of Horse Butte Lake Trail

Want to see more?

Login

Difficulty

The trail starts off easy but progresses into deep ruts, a steep climb, and decent and gets much more narrow. with seldom pullouts.

Technical Rating