Located in the extreme northwest corner of Montana, the Ten Lake Scenic Area of the Kootenai National Forest offers more than 89 miles of trails of remote backpacking and hiking opportunities through rugged terrain with spectacular mountain views reaching into Canada. Many high mountain lakes offer fishing for the angler and scenic views for the photographer. Mountains rise to elevations of more than 7,800 feet. High alpine mountains, cool clear high mountain lakes, peaceful meandering trails, all combine to make Ten Lakes Scenic Area a backpacker's delight.

Alpine glaciers shaped much of the present rugged scenery. As the glaciers grew they carved deep scallops, or cirques, and high, rim-rocked basins sheltering the many lakes of the area. The area is named for the Ten Lakes basin along the Canadian border. Other alpine lakes, often bordered on one side by subalpine vegetation and on the other by a headwall or rook harboring old snowdrifts, hide in nearly every high basin and cirque. Offering spectacular beauty are the Therriault Lakes and Bluebird Basin areas. Poorman Mountain reaching 7832 feet is the highest peak with Ksanksa, Stahl and Independence Peaks ranging from 7505 to 7416 feet scattered throughout the range. 

Camping, hiking and horseback riding are the favorite uses of the area, with more than 89 miles of trails available. Little and Big Therriault Campgrounds provide campsites, fire rings, water pumps and vault toilets. The Horse Camp has hitching posts, feed racks, a fire ring, table and outhouse. At Horse Camp space is provided for trailer turn-around and parking. Trailhead bulletin boards display trail maps as well as seasonal information. 

The area is habitat to many wildlife species, including black and grizzly bear. Backpackers are advised to carry pepper spray and practice sanitary food storage procedures. The area is remote, so hikers should check on current trail conditions and advisories from the local Forest Service office before venturing into the wilderness. The Ten Lakes is a Pack In/Pack Out area.

Forested areas contain Englemann spruce, subalpine fir, lodgepole pine, Douglas fir, white bark pine, and the uncommon alpine larch. Wildflowers are abundant in spring and summer and a variety of forbs and shrubs, including huckleberry, grow under and around the trees. Several trails criss-cross the Ten Lakes Scenic Area and are accessed from Highway 93 via various Forest roads. Trailhead bulletin boards display trail maps as well as seasonal information. 

Special Hiking Considerations

• The fragile soils in this high country retain the imprint of humans long after they have gone home. Please stay on the trails.
• Most lakes have designated camp sites. Visitors are encouraged to use them.
• Food should be suspended at least 10 feet in the air, out of the reach of bears.
• Visitors should use only designated fire rings or small backpack cook stoves and carry trash out with them.
• Visitors should keep a clean camp so as not to attract bears and other animals.
• The area lakes contain fish, but fish remains should not be left next to streams or lake shores.

Information is also available at the Kootenai National Forest Supervisor's Office:
Kootenai National Forest
506 US Highway 2 West
Libby, MT 59923
(406) 293-6211