Broadwater River to Curl Lake Trail

Broadwater River to Curl Lake is a 6.5-mile out-and-back from the signed Clarks Fork Trailhead, with Curl Lake about 3.25 miles each way on the direct Broadwater connection. Allow four to five hours and roughly 600 feet of climbing. It suits hikers who want a high-country lake day with changing river scenery and don’t mind a creek crossing or some route-finding near the end; it isn’t a clearly marked stroll.

From Cooke City, drive east on US 212 about 3.5 miles to the signed Clarks Fork turnoff, then follow the short spur to the trailhead. Cross the bridge over the Clarks Fork Yellowstone River and follow the Kersey Lake access to the unpaved road junction. Take the Broadwater River branch and stay on Trail 564 at the next posted junction. Curl Lake is the turnaround; continuing across Sodalite Creek toward Broadwater Lake is a separate extension, not part of this mileage.

A second route description lists 4.25 miles one way from Clarks Fork for a longer Kersey Lake approach before Trail 564. That’s a different itinerary from the direct 6.5-mile round trip here, so don’t combine the two distances.

An early creek crossing can run fast during spring runoff. The trail then skirts wet meadow ground where keeping your feet dry can be difficult. Farther on, the Broadwater Meadow Lakes are broad, slow-moving reaches of river; the water opens to more than 100 feet across in places. Deer or moose are possible in the meadows, though no sighting is guaranteed. The ground is generally easier later in summer, but mosquitoes can be heavy around midsummer.

The final climb brings Curl Lake into view, but the approach gets rougher over bare rock and downed trees, with few cairns to guide you. Keep your navigation close and note the route for the return. Flat rocks along the shore make a good place to stop. The 1988 fire left a broken shoreline of standing dead trees and open slopes; include some of that deadwood in a lake photo instead of framing only the water.