Leo Lake | Clearwater National Forest, Idaho / Lolo National Forest, Montana

First off I want to thank Bryan Deschamps and the Mineral County Mountain Goats! Without their help this trip would've never happened. Bryan and the Mountain Goats are incredibly knowledgeable about the Great Burn. Both the topography as well as the history. Thank you for turning us on to this route!
We knew from the start that there was not an official trail to Leo Lake. It was less than 6 miles to the lake and there wasn't too much gain. We were up for the challenge! Of course... we missed a trail junction right off of the bat and had to back track a ways. Once we found the right trail, the adventure really started.
This was a 3 day / 2 night trip on the border of Idaho & Montana. We took off from the Schley Trailhead in Montana.
Thanks for watching!

[@jaymontgomery3330]

Great find and no people! Beautiful setting and plenty to explore. Thanks for sharing.

[@mountainwanderer]

I'm hoping to get back to this lake in the next couple years!

[@jenb.6440]

Beautiful work; I love the time lapse , the atmosphere, music; as always spectacular job!

[@mountainwanderer]

Thank you very much!

[@BackcountryExposure]

Dang dude! What a beautiful place! Very much enjoyed seeing something new to me. Add this to the list of places to visit. Thank you!

[@mountainwanderer]

Thanks for checking it out! The Bitterroots are underrated in my opinion. There is quite a bit there and most of the time you'll never see another soul.

[@danielsaxton3277]

Did that exact same hike to Leo Lake and Shale Mountain in July 2015, as a one-day out and back. Trail seems to be exactly as I found it to be. Gorgeous day and a true gem.

[@mountainwanderer]

It really was an amazing place! I'll be back at some point.

[@brhino1017]

Travis, this is Dan the Man Saxton. Peak bagger and back countryman extrodinar. A good resource for lost places.

[@johnthabes7995]

I've just discovered your videos, and I really like them. I worked out there 2002-2008, and spent a lot of time in areas you have. In this video, the nameless lake you visited is known to some as "North Cache". I was there to do a fish survey in about 2006. But I cheated by landing on it with a helicopter. With regards to another of your videos (North Fork of Fish Creek) I hiked it many times for fish surveys. And I visited many of the lakes along the stateline in that neighborhood. Thanks for the videos and the memories!

[@mountainwanderer]

Sounds like you got to work in an incredible area! That stretch along the stateline is special. I hope to spend some more time in this area.

[@Adrian-uc4ox]

Amazing channel you've got, subbed.

[@mountainwanderer]

I'm glad you found us! Welcome! We've got a few more coming out this year.

[@CWS-h5z]

Another gorgeous location - lakes, views, rocks - what more could you ask for? I spotted that little flat spot across the lake and thought it would be a neat destination for a short day hike - and then you did. What a sweet little lake over that saddle. Thanks a bunch!

[@mountainwanderer]

This was a great trip! I hope to get back there sometime soon and camp at that second lake!

[@gp4708]

Thanks for sharing. We'll be up in the Kelly creek-St Joe areas for the next 2 weeks. Last year the fires limited our travels. I really enjoy your videos. Thanks again.

[@mountainwanderer]

That is awesome! It's great area! Have fun!

[@stayhopeful7697]

That guitar at 4:54...Perfect tune for the setting, man...Next hike we go on, we will bring the guitars and have a session in the mountains...Sounds dirty...Anyway, we’ll call it, wait for it, wait...Music in the Mountains;) pleasure meeting ya, Travis...Figure it out, bud

[@mountainwanderer]

Absolutely! We'll throw the guitars on Jessie's pack. He won't even notice! Maybe we'll throw some beers on there too. It was a pleasure meeting you too. I hope we'll get the chance to do it again. Oh... and we always figure it out.... bud.

[@JC-vb2kd]

@@mountainwanderer It would be awesome to see you guys play!! Cool to see the mountain goat & deer.Thanks for the good video!!

[@mountainwanderer]

@@JC-vb2kd Maybe some day we will!

[@bobparsons77]

That higher terrain would be great for my butterfly searches!!

[@mountainwanderer]

Definitely a place worth going to!

[@KrizAkoni]

Found my way via The Idahonian - cool video and channel. Everything looks so epic big out there! :)

[@mountainwanderer]

Right on! Welcome to the channel!

[@elizabethwhite6364]

Beautiful! Great to go along with you and the pups!

[@mountainwanderer]

The dogs do make it a lot of fun! Thanks for taking the time to watch!

[@5wheels521]

Your beautiful adventures always bring a smile, some giggles and warmth to my soul, 💕. Nature truly is the best cure for the soul. Thanks for another dose,,, the grandeur of beauty at its best

[@mountainwanderer]

I'm so glad to hear that! You're right, nature is the best cure for the soul. I'm guessing we could all use some more of it.

[@PumpkinVillage]

Another beautiful area and the additional wildlife sightings were outstanding. Timber looks good. Take care and stay safe. Until the next one, Al

[@mountainwanderer]

I'm glad we had a camera there that could zoom in on him and get some good shots.

[@hyoh-wu]

Great time lapse of stars. Sunset looked amazing. Mountain goats are cool.....just pee on the rocks they like the minerals and salt in it for some reason.

[@mountainwanderer]

Those rocks were a long ways away. Someone else had a decent camera that could zoom in and get them. With more dogs than people, we were lucky to see the wildlife that we did!

[@BackpackingWithJason]

Idaho is so beautiful!! I really hope I can get out that way in the next couple of years. I love the scenery around the lake. Cool video 👍👍

[@mountainwanderer]

If you can get up here I would love to show you around! If I ever get to Kentucky, the first place I'm going is the Gorge!

[@BackpackingWithJason]

Mountain Wanderers I’ll definitely take you up on that

[@pilowespo]

Love it! I have look at this area on a map for years wondering what it looks like. It looks awesome! Awesome video I think it is your best yet. Thanks for sharing. Hike On!

[@mountainwanderer]

You should put this on your list! Not too bad of a hike and just enough adventure to keep it interesting.

[@mollyehmer5772]

Love your videos ♡ Have you ever hiked into Halo or Forrage Laje in the Clearwater?

[@mountainwanderer]

No, I haven't heard of those lakes. I'll check them out though, thanks for the tip!

[@mollyehmer5772]

@@mountainwanderer your welcome. I have, but both lakes were pretty tough getting down into. I was wondering if you knew of a trail that goes into them, as we're planning on going back with my father on law who is 71.

[@mountainwanderer]

@@mollyehmer5772 I'm sorry, I wish I did.

[@bobparsons77]

Lovely scenery with Timber in tow as usual.

[@mountainwanderer]

It was a really beautiful place! As usual, the camera cannot do it justice.

[@kevinkinzer8164]

Travis great video! I was up at Williams Peak and Rhodes Peak 2 weeks ago and was thinking of hiking over to Leo but I heard the trail in that area was nonexistent. Glad you found it. Beautiful lake! I also hiked the State Line Trail from Hoodoo Pass to Fish Lake. Amazing area! Overnighted at Goose Lake and Siamese Lake. Love your videos! So hard to find info on alot of those areas. Keep them coming! Thanks!

[@mountainwanderer]

Sounds like we're stomping the same ground. Glad to hear of someone else hiking through there!

[@wade2361]

Ridge running on the Bitterroot border is great!

[@mountainwanderer]

So true! The stateline trail along the border is one of my favorites!

[@brhino1017]

Travis, spectacular video! Love the drone shots. Best vid yet. Good job.

[@mountainwanderer]

I hoped that you would like it!

[@basaltblackwaterexcavation3918]

Great video! What time of year was this?

[@mountainwanderer]

Thanks! We did this trip in late July.

[@bobparsons77]

You have had a quiet year? Are there trip videos to come or do I have to subscribe. Thanks Bob

[@mountainwanderer]

We've got a couple more coming. Our first snow storm of the year just hit so it likely marks the end of the season until true winter camping.

[@AlivenWell-i6w]

Do you find abundant wildlife at this park

[@mountainwanderer]

We saw what I would consider a "normal" amount of wildlife for the area.

[@wanderlustmedia1264]

Do you recall any fish in these lakes?

[@mountainwanderer]

We didn't fish either of the lakes we visited on this trip so I don't know. Sorry.

[@wanderlustmedia1264]

@@mountainwanderer It's all good! Just hoping to get intel. I had put this lake on the list for the summer before seeing your video. I primarily hit up the alpine lakes to fish so it's always good to know going in! If you ever want to collab, let me know!

[@mountainwanderer]

I'm one of the worst people for intel since I don't fish. Once in a while we'll have some people with who do. I can point you to someone who fishes most of the lakes in that area though. His name Mitch Alexander, and he has a page on Facebook called Thrashing Thursday. He posts every week and I know that he has intel on most of the lakes in the Great Burn. He's a great guy and will share some info with you if you get in touch with him.

[@wanderlustmedia1264]

@@mountainwanderer Sounds good man. I'll hit him up. I appreciate it!

[@DrJohn493]

Beautiful video of a beautiful area. That was a base camp I'd hate to pull up stakes at. As a backyard astronomer, I loved the short time lapse clips of the stars. Also liked the drone footage for added perspective. Don't know if I've missed it before but is this the first video you've included drone footage? And I know some may have a different opinion but the music really helps tell the story. Looking forward to a few more before this hiking season ends.

[@mountainwanderer]

You're right, that's our first trip with a drone. My buddy, Andy got one. I'd like to do more of that stuff, but I'll need to get one for myself. The shots of the stars were also from Andy.... I guess he has a lot better gear than I do.😃 I hate that the season is winding down, but I have a couple more trips from Montana that I just started editing and we've got another one scheduled in a couple weeks so it's not over yet! In fact, the best part of the season is still ahead of us.

[@DrJohn493]

@@mountainwanderer I bought one thinking I'd use it on my Colorado trip this summer but when that changed I've spent time learning how to fly it and get the most out of its camera capabilities. Looking forward to using it for outdoor scenes like you did in this video.

[@mountainwanderer]

I hope I get to see some of that footage!

[@blackoakpropertymaintenanc6981]

Maybe it's because I'm so partial to the Bitterroots, but this was one of my favorite videos you've ever put out on YT. Great scenery shots, Travis. Thank you for sharing this trip.

[@mountainwanderer]

This one surprised me. The Bitterroots, and this area in particular, have so much to offer! I'm looking forward to exploring more of the range.