WN Hiking Series: Grouse Lake Trail
Stacey Fuqua/The Western News The end of the trail takes you to Grouse Lake. You might want to bring a rod and reel.
Raspberries, huckleberries and gooseberries lined much of the route during a hike last weekend on the Grouse Lake Trail south of Troy. At the end of the trail, we came upon a peaceful little lake with lily pads after traversing the 1.3 miles.
The hike would be great for families because of its short distance and easy climb. Be sure to bring along the bug spray – there was no shortage of buzzing insects on this trip. But a big positive aspect to the Grouse Lake hike is that you can find solitude at a site with easy accessibility from Troy.
Just head down Lake Creek Road, take a right onto Keeler Rattle Road and you’ll find the trailhead sign to the right. On my first trip to the area, we had trouble finding the trailhead because of incorrect information in the trail guide. A friendly resident living in the area directed us to the correct spot.
The Grouse Mountain region south of Troy has a rich history when it comes to mining. Old claims date back to the late 1880s. At one time, several cabins were located in the vicinity. Although I couldn’t find them, according to one guide, visitors are supposed to be able to see evidence of two caved-in cabins near the trailhead.
As of last weekend, a trench greeted you near the beginning of the hike, perhaps as a way to keep out motorized vehicles (a sign prohibiting such could be found nearby). We walked around the trench and proceeded up the trail at a steady but easy climb.
At around the midway point, you’ll reach a meadow. On the other side, the trail becomes narrow with lots of insects, flowers and berries to greet you. The trail then goes into forest cover for most of the way until you reach the lake.
The trail becomes very rocky and a little steep in spots around Grouse Lake. There are various access points down to the water – which was the perfect temperature for a swim. In addition, it appeared that it could be a decent fishing hole.
Grouse Lake Trail
Location: Kootenai National Forest
USFS Trail No.: 423
How to Get There: From Highway 2 in Troy, take Lake Creek Road 5.6 miles south to Keeler Rattle Road No. 473. Continue for 1.8 miles to reach the trailhead, found on the right side of the road.
Round-Trip Distance: 2.6 miles
Difficulty: Easy