Quick Info:
Nearest Town?: Georgetown Yearly Closure?: None
Trail Rating: Class 3.5 Length?: 14.1 Miles (from Hwy 1 / Georgetown)
High-Clearance Required?: Yes Wide/Long Vehicles?: No issues
Type?: In & out trail
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Fisher Lake is a popular high-clearance 4x4 trail with a couple of interesting obstacles and, of course, a lake and cabin at the end. Most of the trail is pretty gentle, but one particular hill changes everything. Most of this trail would be rated at Class 2, but a steep section with large, loose rock, and a bit of a gatekeeper at the top of the hill (see photos), cause me to rate this trail a class 3.5. At least one locker is recommended, though I have seen more than a few stock rigs make it without them. For the uninitiated off-roader, it can be very challenging.
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Access to this trail system can be from either Georgetown Lake (as I describe here) or via Phillipsburg. I am going to describe the trail starting at Georgetown Lake for simplicity. Watch for directions from the Philipsburg side a little later.
We start our trip at the intersection of Montana HWY 1 and Southern Cross Road. Access a link to the Google Maps Pin of this location by: CLICKING HERE
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| There IS an occasional rock in the road. |
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| It is steeper than it looks |
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Turn onto Southern Cross Road which goes northeasterly from HWY 1. You can't turn the wrong way because the lake is on the other side of HWY1 and you will get wet. About 8 tenths of a mile from HWY 1 there is a fork in the road. Southern Cross Road goes to the right, but we go left onto Echo Lake Road. Follow Echo Lake Road for another 1.3 miles, to where it meets with County Road (FSR) 242 (aka Red Lion Road), which leads off to the right. Follow FSR 242 for about 1.5 miles to where it forks into FSR 169, which goes to Racetrack Lake, and FSR 1592, which goes to the right, and on to Fisher Lake.
From the intersection where FSR 242 turns into the forks of FSR 169 & FSR 1592, to the cabin at the lake is approximately 3.3 miles further. The legal trail for full-size vehicles ends at the cabin at Fisher Lake.
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| Georgetown to Fisher Lake |
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The last leg to the lake:
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Trail Description by Richard Hiltz
Photos by Richard Hiltz & Joe Skaggs
NOTE: We are simply describing a 4x4 route. We accept no responsibility for your decisions. 4x4 off-roading can be great fun but it can also be dangerous. People can get hurt and vehicles can get stuck and/or damaged. Trail conditions can, do, and will, change at any time. Road conditions may no longer be accurately reflected in this or any trail description. Only you can decide what trails or obstacles your experience and vehicle can safely navigate. When in doubt, turn around. Wheel Safe!!
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