Two Medicine Lake South Shore

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Lake · River/Creek · Spring · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Starting at the boat launch at the foot of Two Medicine Lake, the trail enters into a nice open forest as it veers away from the lake for a bit. It passes a nice spur trail out to Paradise Point, then heads southwest past a few ponds and wetland areas which gives you an opportunity to see both moose and mosquitos. From there, the trail finds a drier forest as it passes the spur trail for Aster Park.

The trail continues on through the trees paralleling the south shore of Two Medicine which remains out of view. Pocket meadows give you views of the surrounding mountains. A trail breaks off to the right that fords the creek. Continue on along Paradise Creek to a bridged crossing, then pass the Two Medicine Pass Trail which branches to the south, as this trail begins to work north.

At this point, the trail begins to climb over a ridge coming off of Mt. Sinopah as it traverses its flanks. Once at the top of this little ridge, you have great views of the lake and can often see the vintage tour boat tugging across the lake. You traverse a wide open avalanche chute with even more unobstructed views, eventually dropping down into trees and passing the boat dock spur trail.

From here, the trail turns west and begins working up towards Upper Two Medicine Lake. It enters an older forest for a bit before popping out in another avalanche chute where it meets up with the Dawson Cutoff Trail that heads along the north shore of the lake. Continue on west where it wraps around through more forest, past the short spur trail to the beautiful Twin Falls.

Past that spur trail, the trail skirts the ridgeline that makes up the Pumpelly Pillar on the edge of the treeline. It follows Two Medicine Creek upstream with great views. It passes a small pond before the lake that gives another opportunity to glimpse a moose. From there the trail climbs the short distance up to the lovely Upper Two Medicine Lake. Like many lakes in this area, it's surrounded by green hillsides with dramatic red rock mountains dramatically rising above them.

This content was created by Jake Bramante of Hike 734. Visit hike734.com for more expert Glacier content and maps that help you decide which trail to run.

Forest and meadow flowers such as aster, beargrass, and thimbleberry. Many small forest birds like finches, chickadees, and waterfowl such as goldeneyes on the lakes. Mammals include tree squirrels and chipmunks as well as the occasional moose and even an opportunity to see bear.