Leigh Lake, Montana, USA

Often described as one of the world’s most unique lakes, little Leigh Lake holds waters so clear that viewers feel as though they could reach down and touch the bottom many feet below. The lake, located in Montana’s Glacier Country, is the largest in the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Area portion of the Kootenai National Forest. Accessible by foot-trail only, the lake is a popular destination for hikers…
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    • All About Leigh Lake, MT

    Lake Locations: USA - US West Region - Montana - Glacier Country, MT -

    Often described as one of the world’s most unique lakes, little Leigh Lake holds waters so clear that viewers feel as though they could reach down and touch the bottom many feet below. The lake, located in Montana’s Glacier Country, is the largest in the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Area portion of the Kootenai National Forest. Accessible by foot-trail only, the lake is a popular destination for hikers who can manage the mile-and-a-half uphill trail. Although there are almost no statistics available for Leigh Lake, it appears to have a surface area of around 200 acre, with the depth unknown.

    Surrounded by towering peaks, the lake gains most of its water from precipitation, either directly or as snow melt from the mountains above it. At over 5,000 feet in elevation, the area gets large amounts of snow; the lake is the source of Leigh Creek, its main outflow. Although Blackwell Glacier lies on Snowshoe Peak above it, the pristine lake shows no sign of the milky blue hue from ‘glacial flour’ that comes from melting glaciers. The ice flows that often can still be seen floating in the lake as late as July may be the result of snowfalls in the form of small avalanches sliding down to the lake. The lake is stunningly beautiful as seen against the backdrop of Snowshoe Peak’s rocky face, a reward over 2000 visitors a year are willing to make the trek for.

    Nestled within the alpine setting of the protected wilderness area, there are no facilities or lodging at Leigh Lake. Primitive camping is allowed if kept at least 300 feet back from the shoreline. No motors of any kind are allowed on the trail leading to Leigh Lake, so very few canoes or inflatable rafts even make it to the water. The occasional brave fisherman will backpack with a float tube to try his luck, and there are reports of rainbow trout, bluegill and largemouth bass in the waters. No one has yet claimed the fishing to be good, nor would anglers expect it to be given the sparse weed cover. The only bottom structure visible are many fallen trees lying on the bottom. But fishing isn’t why most hikers come to Leigh Lake; many come to scale Snowshoe Peak towering 3,000 feet above the lake. A trail near the lake outlet will lead hardy climbers to the summit and a view of Blackwell Glacier. The climb is far too strenuous for many who make it to the shoreline and they remain to camp overnight near the lake. Camping regulations can be obtained from the US Forest Service.

    Located near the Idaho border, this area of the Kootenai National Forest receives more precipitation than others and is rich in plant life. Wildflowers scent the mountain air. When autumn arrives, usually in September at this altitude, the mountain maple, mountain ash, alders and larch paint the trees in brilliant scarlet, red, brown and golden yellow. A variety of wildlife inhabit the area, including mountain goats, mountain sheep, pika, bears, golden eagles, deer, elk, wolverine and many smaller mammals. Hikers often see mountain goats on the trail to Leigh Lake. One of the highlights of the trail is the waterfall along Leigh Creek which can be seen from the trail. The hike takes about three hours each way from the trailhead and is most accessible between May and October. Only the most intense winter sportsmen attempt the trail after the snow starts to fall. They often find the trailhead at Cherry Creek impossible to reach via car, so must snowshoe in to begin their hike. Some areas of the climb can be dangerous in winter, and only experienced climbers should attempt to reach Snowshoe Peak.

    The Cabinet Mountains were named by French miners and trappers early in the exploration of the area, who thought that the towering peaks looked like cabinets. One of the reasons Leigh Lake is so popular is it is only about 13 miles from the town of Libby, Montana. The trail is more accessible than many others and closer to what many National Forest visitors choose as home base for their adventures. Libby is a former logging and mining town that has made the transition to tourism gracefully and with an eye toward the environment. An example is the annual Libby Logger Days Festival which celebrates Libby’s past as a logging center with timber-related competitions, log-rolling, axe-wielding and tree-cutting demonstrations interspersed with educational exhibits on environmentally-sound forest management and ecology. The history of the Libby area remains alive at the Libby Heritage Museum where all sorts of artifacts, buildings and memorabilia are displayed to acquaint visitors with Libby’s past.

    Entertainment around Libby isn’t limited to reliving the past. The annual Riverfront Blues Festival is a popular music festival that draws visitors from several states. A shuttle service carries campers to the festival location from campgrounds located nearby. This popular vacation destination is well-supplied with nearby guest ranches, cabins, bed & breakfasts and motels to suit every taste for lodgings. Cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and brook trout are found in many of the nearby lakes and streams. Some rivers are suitable for whitewater rafting, with guided rafting trips available locally. The Kootenai River flows through the heart of Libby, and fishing guides upstream near Libby Dam provide guided fishing trips to mountain streams and the the bigger river itself. Winter snow welcomes snowmobiles, cross-country skiers and winter hikers enjoying the extensive trail networks in the lower valleys.

    Leigh Lake is located about 90 miles from Kalispell and only 200 miles from Missoula. This makes the Leigh Lake area highly attractive for a mountain cabin or a riverfront seasonal home. Although millions of acres of western Montana are in public hands, there is still real estate available to buy either in the form of existing homes or buildable lots. Riverfront lots are often found. And Leigh Lake is simply the icing on the cake of this beautiful area. One visit and your entire family will fall in love with the mountains, the streams and the scenic views.

    *Acreage is estimated as official statistics aren’t available.

    Things to Do at Leigh Lake

    These are some activities in the Leigh Lake, MT area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Canoeing
    • Whitewater Rafting
    • Tubing
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Cross-Country Skiing
    • Snowmobiling
    • Waterfall
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • National Forest
    • Museum

    What Kind of Fish Are in Leigh Lake?

    Leigh Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Bluegill
    • Brook Trout
    • Cutthroat Trout
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Rainbow Trout
    • Sunfish
    • Trout
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    Find Places to Stay at Leigh Lake

    If you’re considering a Leigh Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Leigh Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Leigh Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Leigh Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Not Dammed

    Surface Area: 200 acres

    Shoreline Length: 3 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 5,144 feet

    Trophic State: Oligotrophic

    Leigh Lake Map
    Local Weather Forecast

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