Vernon Lake

Lillis, Margaret, Vernon, and Reed Lake are stunning destinations located in Clarks Fork, Montana, that provide excellent opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. First things first, we strongly advise against planning your visit in June. During this time, the mosquitoes are truly terrible; they are so thick that we found ourselves wearing rain jackets, face masks, gloves, and long pants in an attempt to fend them off. It was a constant battle, and if you were to swat a mosquito on your arm, you would quickly find that three more would immediately land in its place. While the mosquito population did die down somewhat after Lillis Lake, it remained buggy enough to significantly affect our enjoyment of the trip. However, despite this challenge, the hike itself is quite manageable and makes for a good day trip.

You begin your adventure on the beaten path, and just before you reach Kersey, you will need to bank right, heading south. Following this trail will lead you directly to Lillis Lake. Lillis Lake is known for decent fishing, although it can be tricky to cast due to the abundant vegetation and numerous trees surrounding the lake. After enjoying the fishing experience at Lillis, working your way to Margaret Lake presents a slight challenge, as there is no established trail between the two. This means that you will have to forge your own way through the timber, which adds a sense of adventure to the hike. While the walking itself is easy, we did see a lot of bear sign along the route; fortunately, we never encountered an actual bear during our journey. In 2015, we were unable to catch any fish in the lakes we visited.

As for Vernon and Reed Lakes (specifically lower Vernon), they are slightly difficult to locate, requiring some bushwhacking through thick brush. Again, we did not catch any fish here either. Vernon Lake is located roughly 2 miles from the trailhead, while if you decide to take a detour to Margaret Lake, as we did, it will add an additional mile, totaling around 3 miles one way. The section getting into and out of Lillis Lake is slightly steep, but once you reach Lillis, you will be rewarded with nice, flat hiking that allows for a more leisurely experience.