|
The glacier lakes are numerous and beautiful along the Beartooth Highway, but the lake I have been looking forward to kayaking in for over 2,000 miles finally came into view at 9,022 feet — Beartooth Lake. (It was great to be able to check the elevation on my GPS all along the Beartooth Highway.) Reaching Beartooth Lake was a big thrill after seeing its waypoint dot approaching on the GPS for so long as I slowly made my way along the curvy Beartooth Highway.
Beartooth Lake is a small body of water next to the Beartooth Campground in the Shoshone National Forest. The first thing you see upon entering the parking area is a sign that says, "This is grizzly bear country." I was happy to see two other boaters at the lake. They had just finished taking out their inflatable kayak. They looked pretty cold and told me that it was great kayaking, but that the water was very cold and the wind was kicking up. They were dressed in ski hats and winter jackets. I added a few more layers and unloaded my boat. In addition to the boat ramp at Beartooth Lake, the launch area has a grassy area where I managed to launch without getting my feet wet, for which I was grateful given the water temperature and howling wind. Here the mountains rise so high here that by constantly looking up at the scenery from a kayak on the water you almost get a permanent crick in the neck.
The wind was blowing quite a bit but the lake itself was surprisingly calm. The west end of the lake should be avoided as it empties into a fast-flowing stream. However, the rest of the lake offers spectacular kayaking and scenery. I did not kayak here too long because I had a fairly aggressive itinerary for the day and still faced the over 4,000-foot descent from the Beartooth Highway.
| 
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)