Hauser, Stockade and Losekamp Lakes Trail

This is a roughly 6.7-mile out-and-back from Hauser Lake Trailhead on the Beartooth Highway to the east side of Stockade Lake. It follows the Hauser Lake Trail to Losekamp, turns south on the Stockade Lake trail, then returns the same way. Hauser and Solar lakes are along the approach. Allow about 3 to 4 hours for the high-country walk. It is a rewarding half-day if you want a string of lakes without taking on the longer Beartooth Loop routes.

The trail leaves the highway across open alpine tundra and weathered granite. That first stretch can be boggy; farther down, it enters aspen and white pine where pine needles give firmer footing. Hauser Lake's grassy north shore comes about three-quarters of a mile in. If you only want a short taste of the plateau, this is the natural place to turn around.

Past Hauser, the route passes near Solar Lake, then rolls over open hills and meadows toward Losekamp Lake. The ground is high and broad rather than steep for long, with small lakes and ponds scattered across the plateau. The basin's rounded boulders, kettle lakes, glacial till and terminal moraines are reminders that ice shaped this landscape over a long stretch of time.

At Losekamp, the route turns south on the Stockade Lake segment. Stay on the main path along the lake's east side; the alternative trace around the west shore is described as faint and rough. The mapped line reaches the east shore of Stockade Lake before turning back, so this is an out-and-back rather than the larger loop options in the area.

The route tops out around 9,800 feet and gains roughly 800 feet over the return hike. It is rated moderate, but the thin air and exposed weather can make it feel harder than the mileage suggests. The highway end is higher than Stockade, so save energy for the uphill return. Tundra can be wet, and signs or tread can be faint at junctions; carry offline navigation and a map.

Start at the small Hauser Lake Trailhead turnout on US 212, across from Long Lake; there is room for only a few vehicles, and no drinking water or restroom was documented there. The highway is generally open from Memorial Day weekend to mid-October, weather permitting, and can close temporarily in summer. Dogs are allowed on National Forest trails; keep them under control, and a leash is sensible around other hikers. Marmots may scurry among the rocks, and black rosy-finches can be heard near the trees. At Losekamp, frame the lake with the grassy meadow and wooded slope beyond it rather than photographing only the water.