Hiking Baker, Middle & Gem Lakes: A Fall Hike in the Bitterroot Valley
Signing up for Wild Montana’s Wilderness Walk and Stewardship Day to help clean up fire rings at Baker, Middle, and Gem lakes was an easy decision since I already did this same hike about two years ago. Back then, I remember feeling intimidated at the rating of Strenuous and the elevation gain of over 1,300 feet, but this year, another group I’m a part of was also doing the same hike the very next day. While I felt obligated to help clean up campfire rings the first day, the whole time I thought to myself:
“Am I really that tough to do this twice in two days?”
Overlook near the Baker Lake Trail Head
Quick Facts
Location: Bitterroot National Forest, near Darby, Montana, south of Missoula.
Distance: One-Way Distance: ~2 miles from the trailhead to Gem Lake (passing Baker Lake at ~1.25 miles and Middle Lake at ~1.75 miles). Round-Trip Distance: ~4.8 to 5.5 miles total.
Elevation Gain: Over 1,400 ft (based on my hike)
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous. The initial climb is steep, and the upper section requires more careful navigation.
Highlights: Baker Point overlook, three mountain lakes, fall colors, and views of the Bitterroot Range
Observing a prescribed burn fire at Baker Creek Trail with Wild Montana.
Driving up to the trail, which starts at around 6,000 ft, you’ll encounter a rough and narrow road, so drive carefully. The beginning of the trail is a steep climb, which always gets the heart racing, and one starts wondering why they even come on these Type 2 adventures. Naturally, the group is the most chatty in the beginning, and all I could do was avoid conversations because I could hardly breathe haha.
On this early October outing, we were able to witness a prescribed fire going on in the distance, which luckily didn’t ruin our visibility as we ascended higher and higher in the Bitterroot Range. This overlook is called Baker Point and has the most magnificent view!
The trail is mostly shaded, rocky, and not very busy (especially during the week). The rockiness of the trail is more noticeable on the way down, when the soles of your feet pulsate wildly inside your hiking boots (or was it just my heartbeat, happy to be going downhill?)
I particularly loved all the changing terrain of this trail and having three lakes as your motivational goal when the going got tough. Will the other lakes be prettier? With more larches? The same amount of mosquitoes?
Honestly, after making it to Baker Lake, the remaining Middle and Gem feel like a hop, skip, and a jump. So keep going, don’t give up!
We missed the larch by about a week at Baker Lake in early October
On this trip, we’ve encountered a single group of all-women hikers who seemed to have hiked to Gem, ate their lunch, and rapidly descended. On other occasions, we’ve seen families and friend groups camping overnight. It seems like a great trail for any type of occasion.
If you decide to visit or camp overnight, please check the current fire regulations before your trip. Campfires are prohibited within a quarter-mile of Middle and Gem Lakes, and other restrictions may apply depending on conditions. Our crew was out there helping remove illegal fire rings and erase the traces they leave behind. In other words, please don't build your own little fire pit just because you see one!
Personally, I found Baker Lake (the lowest one) the best for recreation, with lots of flat sites and a good amount of fire rings away from other campers. Higher lakes give you a better view into the valley below, so if I were to spend a day, I’d hike to the higher lakes (Middle and Gem) on a sightseeing adventure, while spending the night at Baker.
You may not need to pack a shovel, gloves, and trash bags the way we did for our cleaning mission, but definitely bring plenty of water, bug spray, sunblock, hiking poles, bear spray, and a day pack with first aid, extra layers, and anything else you may need when out in the wilderness. I also packed and used a pair of knee sleeves, which is great for a more comfortable descent.
OPTIONAL: Having pre-cooled store-bought or, in our case, home-brewed beers as a reward for a day well spent. Cheers!
Did I have it in me to do this hike twice in two days?
I blamed it on the larches being too far gone, being on my period, and a prescribed fire probably ruining the visibility anyway, and I didn’t make it, haha.
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Check out other hikes near Missoula, Montana.
