Oldman Lake

This is a full-day commitment disguised as a lake hike. Starting from the North Shore Trailhead on Two Medicine Lake, you'll follow the lakeshore before the trail turns inland and starts climbing in earnest through dense subalpine forest. The middle miles are where your legs earn their keep — a steady, unrelenting grind that gains about 1,500 feet over varied terrain mixing packed dirt, root tangles, and rocky stretches. The forest opens up as you approach the hanging valley, and then Oldman Lake appears below a wall of craggy peaks like a secret the mountains have been keeping. The water is impossibly clear and ringed by wildflower meadows in midsummer. At nearly 13 miles round trip, this trail filters out casual hikers, so you'll likely share the lake with a handful of people at most. Perfect for backpackers looking to extend into a multi-day trip or strong day-hikers who want to earn their solitude.