Ostrander Lake
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
Snow lingers on the upper trail and Horizon Ridge well into June most years — without microspikes and a GPS track, route-finding through snowfields is genuinely difficult and disorienting.
Afternoon thunderstorms build fast over the Clark Range in July and August. The exposed granite slabs above treeline are the last place you want to be when lightning starts — watch the sky and turn back if cumulus towers start stacking by early afternoon.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Start from the Badger Pass ski area trailhead by 8 AM — the exposed granite sections on the back half bake in afternoon sun, and the twelve-mile round trip needs a full day at a comfortable pace.
There is no reliable water between the trailhead and the lake itself, so carry at least three liters per person. The creek crossings marked on older maps can be bone dry by August.
The view from the granite knoll just east of Ostrander Hut is better than the one from the shore — scramble up for an unobstructed panorama of the Clark Range reflected in the lake, especially in the hour before sunset.
