Mirror Lake

The Spanish Peaks house some of the most pristine mountain lakes around and if you're willing to venture deep within the Lee Metcalf Wilderness, Mirror Lake is an excellent option for a first overnight in the area. Unlike many other "local" hotspots, the access point is reasonably close to Bozeman and the road is in great shape. The trail itself, while not out of this world, has its moments; it snakes along with the South Fork Spanish Creek through a thick subalpine forest and is followed by a steep climb up to the lake for a grand total of 2400' over 7.5 gut-wrenching miles. The grandeur of the lake makes it all worth it in the end though. Sharp mountain ridges tightly cradle this beautiful subalpine lake which sits at 8400' at the base of Blaze Mountain. Plus there's plenty of fire-restriction-free camping along the lake and many additional areas to explore for the adventurous folk.