Sundance Pass Traverse

The 20.5-mile Sundance Pass Traverse is a point-to-point hike from Lake Fork Trailhead #2 to West Fork Rock Creek Trailhead. It follows the Lake Fork upstream past a chain of lakes, crosses Sundance Pass at just over 11,000 feet, then descends the West Fork side. Plan most of a day on foot: one through-hike took about ten hours including a long rest at the pass, and ordinary stops or a slower pace can make it longer. Arrange a vehicle pickup or shuttle between trailheads before starting; this route does not return to its starting parking lot.

The eastern approach begins with a rolling, comparatively gentle climb beside the Lake Fork of Rock Creek. Broadwater Lake is about 3.75 miles in. The Lost Lake junction comes near mile 5, followed by the Keyser Brown Lake spur near mile 6. The grade steepens after that junction. September Morn Lake sits near mile 8, before the trail climbs above treeline through alpine tundra and increasingly bare rock to the pass at about mile 9.5. At the signed Keyser Brown junction, stay on the Sundance Pass route unless you are deliberately taking the lake spur.

Sundance Pass is the high point and the halfway landmark, not the end of the hard work. The upper trail is open and rocky, with switchbacks as it reaches the saddle. From there, roughly eleven miles remain to the West Fork trailhead. Expect the scenery to change across the pass: the Lake Fork side leads through lakes and a broad high basin, while the far side drops into a different creek valley.

The west side alternates forested sections with grassy meadows. The West Fork ranges from whitewater cascades to wider, calmer reaches, so the descent keeps changing rather than staying on one long open slope. A steep switchback section covers about three miles and roughly 1,500 feet of elevation change. The trail eventually reaches the West Fork Rock Creek Trailhead; confirm your pickup point before setting off, since it is separate from Lake Fork.

The named waters are useful landmarks as well as highlights: Broadwater, Lost, Keyser Brown and September Morn all sit along or beside the Lake Fork approach. September Morn is near the pass-side climb, not the traverse’s destination. The high basins, cirques and U-shaped valleys in the Beartooths were shaped by glaciers, which explains the abrupt bowls and lake-filled terrain around the route.

Lake Fork Trailhead #2 is reached by driving 1.9 miles up Lake Fork Road from US 212. It has ample parking, including room for horse trailers, and a vault toilet. Lake Fork is also open to horseback riding, so keep pets under control and share the trail with stock. The route crosses Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness; follow its regulations. Snow usually delays a completely passable Lake Fork route until mid-July. Check conditions before setting out, and carry bear spray in this bear country.