Middle Fork Lake Trail

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

Access to the trailhead on Forest Service Road 58 will likely require 4WD/AWD once there is any snow accumulation and the trailhead may become unreachable after heavy snow. Please note: parking is not permitted at the pullout off of 578 (where the turn onto FS 58 begins) if the road to the trailhead is impassable. Please be prepared for an extended approach from another area if this is the case. There is a pit toilet at the trailhead, however you'll probably want to bring your own toilet paper during the winter. Please note that this trail crosses through private land. Please be respectful of landowners.

Travel south approximately six miles on State Highway 578 to the junction of Middle Fork and East Fork. The pavement ends here. Take the road to the right, Forest Road 58, for about 1.5 miles to a parking area. No turnaround or parking is available beyond this point. The trail begins here.

This route follows the snowshoeing, cross-country ski, and hiking trail ascending up to Middle Fork Lake and remains below treeline. The forest is pretty thick, but once enough snow is on the ground some tree lines could be ridden on the way down. However, from the lake there is access to the steeper terrain on the east side of Fraser or Bull of the Woods Mountains. The view from the lake is beautiful.

Additional information is available on the Forest Service website here: fs.usda.gov/recarea/carson/…