Akokala Creek Trail

Akokala Creek Trail is the long out-and-back approach to Akokala Lake from Inside North Fork Road. Follow the Creek trail to its junction with Akokala Lake Trail, then continue to the lake and return the same way. It is 17.8 miles round trip, about 1,400 feet of climbing. Allow 10 to 12 hours. The grade is fairly mellow, but the distance and rough tread make this a hard, full-day hike. The Bowman campground route reaches the same lake in about 11½ miles round trip if you want a shorter walk.

The route starts in a meadow and quickly enters burned forest. It crosses open meadow and mixed burned and unburned woods, generally tracking Akokala Creek without staying right beside it. The named Creek segment reaches the Akokala Lake Trail junction at about 6.8 miles; the lake is another 2.2 miles beyond. In the more open stretches, look for a frame with the wildflowers and standing burn snags in front of the mountain skyline.

This is an infrequently maintained route through a burn, so fallen trees and route-finding can turn the mileage into a longer day. A seasonal creek ford may wet your feet, especially in spring and early summer, and muddy sections are more likely then. The 1,400 feet of climbing is spread through the route rather than packed into a steep summit push.

Akokala Lake supports a genetically distinct population of native bull trout. In 2015, the National Park Service approved a fish passage barrier downstream to help protect the lake from non-native fish. The lake is the payoff here, but getting there from the North Fork takes almost nine miles each way.

The signed Akokala Creek access is four miles north of the Bowman Lake Road junction on Inside North Fork Road. A formal lot, parking capacity and services at the trailhead were not verified. Pets are not allowed on Glacier trails or in the backcountry.