Widewater Lake Trail

Widewater Lake Trail is a long out-and-back from Clarks Fork to a 110-acre lake at 8,003 feet. The current mapped tread covers about 5.8 miles one way, or 11.6 miles round trip, and follows the Clarks Fork access through the Kersey Lake area before turning east toward Widewater. The lake access guide gives about 6 to 6.5 miles from Clarks Fork, but does not make clear whether that includes the return or the rough final approach. Treat 11.6 miles as the mapped round trip and allow extra time for the lake-side finish.

Trail numbers also differ between the written lake directions and current trail mapping. The mapped line runs from Trail #3 at Clarks Fork to Trail #567 east toward Widewater; check current junction signs or a forest map before setting out. Expect roughly six to seven hours at this altitude and distance.

The lower route crosses Clarks Fork by bridge and enters a narrow canyon before the Kersey area. This is also the approach for the much shorter Kersey Lake outing. Older trail descriptions report muddy ground early in the season and high water at the Kersey outlet; check the crossing rather than assuming it is an easy step-over.

Widewater sits above 8,000 feet and covers about 110 acres, with an average depth of 54 feet and a maximum depth of 110 feet. It supports self-sustaining rainbow and brook trout, so fishing is one reason to make the long walk. Camping and firewood are reported around the lake, though the available information does not establish facilities, fees or current campsite conditions.

The mapped path comes within about 70 metres of the shoreline but stops short of the water. The lake-side woods have substantial deadfall, so expect the last approach to be rough and less clearly defined than the mapped trail.

If the full distance is too much, Kersey Lake is a separate roughly 3-mile round trip from the same Clarks Fork access. It is a different destination, not a shortcut that reaches Widewater.