Flathead National Forest - Jewel Basin Hiking Area - Member Hike

Hike Name:	Flathead National Forest - Jewel Basin Hiking Area
Country:	United States
State:	Montana
Nearby Town:	Kalispell, MT
Rating:
Directions:	From Kalispell, MT go south on US93 for 7 miles, turn east on MT82 for 7 miles, turn south on MT35 and then almost immediately turn left on MT 83 (Swan Hwy) for about 3 miles. Turn left (north) onto Echo Lake Rd. and follow for about 2 miles to a T-junction. Turn right onto Jewel Basin Rd (#5392) and drive 7 more miles to trailhead. After the pavement ends, this road becomes steep and curvy.
Total Hike Distance:	10.20 miles
Hike Difficulty:	Moderate
Permit Required:	No
Hike Type:	Roundtrip, Loop Hike
Hike Starts/Ends:	Jewel Basin Trailhead
Trails Used:	Jewel Basin
Backcountry Campsites:	No
Backcountry Water Sources:	Streams, Lakes
Management:	U.S. Forest Service
Contact Information:	Flathead National Forest Hungry Horse Ranger District Hungry Horse, MT 59919 406-387-5243
Best Season:	Summer
Users:	Hikers
Road Conditions:	Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads, Maintained Gravel or Dirt Roads
Hike Summary:	Take trail #8 to the east of the parking area and follow it 0.7 mi. up the face of the mountain until the junction with trail #68. Turn onto trail #68 and follow it for about 0.8 mi. continuing up the mountain to the junction with trail #7. Turn left onto trail #7 and follow it 0.6 mi. to the pass (this is approximately an 800’ elevation increase from the parking area). After going through the pass, turn right onto trail #392 and descend 200’ to Picnic Lakes 0.5 mi. ahead. Continue on trail #392 another 0.7 mi. to the junction with trail #1. Turn right onto trail #1, if you can find it (it is often covered over by brush, but you can bushwhack it here as Black Lake is fully visible ahead of you). Descend 500’ on trail #1 for another 0.7 mi. to Black Lake. Turn left onto trail #719 and follow this trail for 3.3 mi. as it descends another 200’ into the Jewel Basin, passing between the lovely Jewel Lakes, and then it goes around a ridge and drops down another 500’ to Blackfoot Lake. The approaches to this lake can be quite marshy and the trail blurry, but on the north shore of the lake, the trail is drier and more distinct. From Blackfoot Lake, the trail climbs 1300’ in less than a mile to the junction with trail #55. Turn left onto trail #55 and follow for 0.3 mi. to the junction with trail #7. Turn left onto trail #7 and follow for 0.6 mile to the junction with trail #8 over a much gentler upgrade and overlooking the beautiful Twin Lakes. At the junction with trail #8, turn right and go through the notch. The trail emerges on the west slope of the mountain and descends 800’ over the next 2 miles to the parking area at the trailhead.