Hiking to Lake Otokomi: Glacier National Park’s Hidden Gem
Void of the hoards of day hikers that plague other trails, the hike to Lake Otokomi is truly a treasure hidden in plain sight.
As a lesser-traveled trail, hikers can experience a sense of seclusion as they travel through charred forest and rocky valleys to the trail’s final destination, a crystal clear alpine lake with a deep blue center and bright red rocks surrounding the edges.
Its close proximity to the Going-to-the-Sun Road also makes it an easily accessible destination day hike (or overnight) compared to other trails located in more-remote areas of the park.
We originally received the recommendation to hike to Lake Otokomi from Travis’s step-brother who visited the park one month prior. He piqued our interest with descriptions of a secluded lake, alpine views, and top-notch fly fishing.
So, on the third day of our trip to Glacier National Park, we loaded up our backpacks with food, water, warm clothes, and fishing gear and set out for Lake Otokomi.
Lake Otokomi Hike Details
- Total Miles: 11 (5.5 each way)
- Total Time: 6 hours
- Type: Out and back
- Elevation Gain: 1,900ft.
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Landscape: Burnt forest and regrowth, mature woods, alpine lake, waterfalls, mountain views
- Camping: Backcountry campsites are available near Lake Otokomi
- Designated campsites and bear poles provided
- Traffic: Low
- We only saw 4 other hikers all day
- Trailhead: Rising Sun (East Glacier)
- Parking: Rising Sun Gift Shop
- Gear: Bear spray, 2+ liters of water, picnic lunch/snacks, appropriate layers for weather, light jacket/sweatshirt
- Optional: fishing gear & activity supplies
Alpine Hiking in Glacier National Park
The hike itself proved more challenging than we originally thought with a steady and steep incline for most of the trail. However, the hike’s beauty far outweighed the struggle. The scenery changed constantly and provided amazing views and lush forest.
A fire recently spread through this area of the park in 2007 so the trail contained large sections filled with charred trees and new, budding undergrowth. Undestroyed portions of the trail boasted thick, green trees with trickling streams and waterfalls.
As a grand finale, just before reaching Lake Otokomi the trail leads you along a half mile section of exposed, rocky trail with 180 degree breathtaking views of the mountains you just climbed.
Bear-Aware in Glacier National Park
While hiking to Lake Otokomi, we saw multiple signs of bears; scat, tufts of hair, and scratches on trees. We also had to walk through multiple dense berry patches which put us a little on edge. In these areas, we followed bear protocol by making lots of noise and keeping our bear spray in an easily accessible location. Thankfully, we did not see any actual bears during either the trek there or back.
If you hike to Lake Otokomi you need to carry bear spray and understand the appropriate steps to take in the event of a bear encounter. The reduced traffic on this trail increases the likelihood of a bear sighting, so it is even more important for you to be prepared on this trail over others.
Learn how to properly administer the bear spray before you go and if you feel uneasy, talk to a ranger about the proper steps to take should you see and/or encounter a bear.
Magnificent Lake Otokomi
Even compared to the unique scenery and alluring overlooks along the way, the final destination, Lake Otokomi, serves as the grand finale of a great day of hiking in Glacier National Park.
Its turquoise blue water stands still as glass, clear enough to perfectly see the scarlet red rocks sitting at the bottom and the cutthroat trout swimming in the shallow water.
Like most natural places, we feel like our pictures barely do it any justice, so we highly encourage you to go and see it for yourself.
Fly Fishing at Lake Otokomi
Upon our arrival to the lake, Travis prepared his fly fishing gear, waded into the water, and I started whipping the fly around, carefully tapping the water before launching it into the air again.
The flies worked like a charm and we watched attentively as one by one trout emerged from the deep blue center of the lake in pursuit of the fly. We remained fascinated by the site of the fish chasing the flies all afternoon.
After indulging in our picnic lunch, Travis continued fishing while I took a nap in the grass at the lakeside. After a lazy afternoon, we began our return hike to civilization. In all, Travis successfully landed three Westslope Cutthroat Trout and returned them to the lake since we did not have a way to cook them.
If you’re interested in fishing in Glacier National Park, make sure to stop by a local outdoor recreation/fly fishing shop or one of the park’s multiple visitor centers to get the most up-to-date fishing information and regulations before you head out.
There are different rules for fishing depending on the time of year, type of fish, and style of fishing, so it’s always good to double check before putting a line in the water.
Backcountry Camping at Lake Otokomi
If we hike to Lake Otokomi again, we will definitely turn it into a overnight backpacking trip and stay at one of the multiple backcountry campsites located near the lake.
We enjoyed our day hike and afternoon in the secluded valley but think that spending a night or two there would have made it an even better experience – which is saying a lot since our day hike to Lake Otokomi continues to be one of Travis’s favorite ever national park experiences.
Glacier National Park Resources:
- Travanie Travels Glacier National Park Guide
- Glacier National Park Hiking Guide
- Glacier National Park Fishing Guide
- REI Bear Safety Guide
- Grinnell Glacier Hiking Guide
- Camping at Two Medicine Lake in Glacier National Park
Have you ever visited Lake Otokomi in Glacier National Park? Tell us about your experience in the comments!
