Lilly Pad Lake

We will start our adventure with Lilly Pad Lake and Crater Lake, both located in the beautiful West Rosebud Drainage area. The trailhead begins from West Rosebud Road, where you will need to find a suitable place to park on the roadside, as there is no designated parking lot available. The hike to Crater Lake takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, which is enough time to break a sweat, yet the trek remains relatively easy for most hikers. During our visit, I had to carry my energetic 3-year-old for about a quarter of the trail, adding a bit of extra challenge to the journey. Both lakes are known to host fish in the size range of 8 to 12 inches, making them an appealing spot for fishing enthusiasts. There is very little to no camping available at Crater Lake, while Lilly Pad does provide a few suitable spots to set up camp. Although there are signs of an old road in the area, please note that it is marked as private access. We embarked on this hike in June 2016, and we found that the water was pleasantly warm enough to enjoy a refreshing swim. However, we also attempted this hike in early April and had to turn back because the snow had accumulated to a depth that was too challenging for the kids to navigate.