Sundance Pass (Lake Fork to West Fork Rock Creek)

Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Custer Gallatin National Forest (Lake Fork and West Fork Rock Creek trailheads near Red Lodge)

Sundance Pass links two of the Rock Creek drainages just south and west of Red Lodge: the Lake Fork, where the Beartooth Highway begins its climb, and the West Fork. KXLF describes it as a through-hike just south of Red Lodge, with a shuttle between trailheads of about 40 minutes.

The pass is the high point, near 11,000 feet, with views toward Whitetail Peak, which KXLF calls the fifth-highest mountain in Montana.

The hike

KXLF says most hikers start at Lake Fork and finish at West Fork. HikingWalking.com puts the Lake Fork trailhead at the end of Lake Fork Road, about 1.8 miles up from US 212, 10.6 miles southwest of Red Lodge. The trail follows the Lake Fork of Rock Creek through aspen, pine, and meadows, past waterfalls. KXLF counts about 1,000 feet of gain in the first five miles. Hiking Project says the unsigned Lost Lake spur leaves to the left shortly past mile 5, and HikingWalking.com puts Keyser Brown Lake at 7 miles. KXLF describes a bridge near mile 6 and then a 1,400-foot climb over the next mile and a half, with huckleberries in late August.

Big Sky Walker puts September Morn Lake about 8 miles from the Lake Fork Trailhead. KXLF gives the lake’s elevation as 9,800 feet, just below treeline, and describes the climb from it to the pass as 2 miles and 1,250 feet. The Outbound describes September Morn as “a beautiful deep blue lake with cliffs jutting up just off shore.”

On the West Fork side, Big Sky Walker describes “dozens of well-designed switchbacks,” about 3 miles and 1,500 feet of descent; The Outbound counts 57. Below the switchbacks are Shadow Lake, at the foot of Castle and Whitetail Mountains, then Quinnebaugh Meadows, which The Outbound calls “a large meadow with great views of the Beartooth Mountains.” KXLF puts the exit at about 10 miles down West Fork Trail No. 1. Big Sky Walker, who did the traverse in one long day in July 2025, preferred the West Fork side: “the variety was incredible.”

For an extra night on the Lake Fork side, The Outbound suggests Lost Lake, Black Canyon Lake, or Keyser Brown Lake. Trailmeister notes that the Black Canyon Lake trail isn’t horse friendly.

Distances vary by source, from about 19 miles (The Outbound) to about 22 miles (KXLF, which counts the extra road walk after the flood).

For a longer Beartooth through-hike, see the Beaten Path.

Tips

Start at Lake Fork and leave a car at West Fork, the direction KXLF says most hikers take.
Watch the weather. Big Sky Walker postponed a planned overnight because of rain, and KXLF’s group descended in rain.
Expect bears and moose. The Outbound calls both very common here; carry bear spray.
Snow can linger near the headwaters into midsummer (Big Sky Walker, July 2025).

Camping

No wilderness permit is reported. The Beartooth Ranger District’s rules: no camping or campfires within 200 feet of a lake or 100 feet of flowing water; groups of 15 or fewer; stays of up to 16 days. The district lists the Black Canyon drainage, off the Lake Fork Trail, under fire prohibitions. The Custer Gallatin food storage order (March 1 to December 1) requires attended food, a hang at least 10 feet up and 4 feet out, or a certified bear-resistant container.

Inside Intel: KXLF’s group camped at September Morn Lake on the first night and found room despite other groups arriving; the reporter names Quinnebaugh Meadows as a popular second-night camp on the way out. The Outbound recommends the same two spots, plus Shadow Lake.

Trail facts

Distance: About 19 to 22 miles, depending on source
Route type: Point to point (Lake Fork to West Fork)
Difficulty: Strenuous
Campsites: Dispersed; September Morn Lake (about mile 8 from Lake Fork), Shadow Lake, Quinnebaugh Meadows; Lost, Keyser Brown, and Black Canyon Lakes on Lake Fork side trips
Water: Creeks and lakes throughout; treat it
Permits: None reported
Bear storage: Required March 1 to December 1
Trailheads: Lake Fork (Lake Fork Road off US 212) and West Fork Rock Creek, both near Red Lodge
Last verified: October 10, 2026

The Lowdown

Dinner at 9,800 feet below Sundance Pass:

September Morn Lake sits just under treeline, where evenings turn cold fast. See the backpacking stoves testers rely on.

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Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.