North Shore Trail to Twin Falls, MT

Overview: This hike into scenic paradise is easy to follow, well maintained, with little elevation gain, and parallels the north shore of the very scenic Two Medicine Lake.



Hike: The first half-mile provides wonderful views of Medicine Lake as well as panoramic vistas of the dominant Rising Wolf Mountain (at 9513 feet) to the north. Just across the lake to your left is the much photographed Sinopah Mountain (at 8271 feet), and to the south Appistoki Mountain (at 8164 feet)..all just a picture perfect setting!As you continue along this plush green trail to its "official" junction with the popular Dawson Pass Trail at 3.3 miles in, you will alternate between crossing avalanche chutes and wet creek drainages as you hike through a coniferous forest of Lodgepole Pine, Douglas Fir, Mountain Maples, Black Cottonwoods, and Aspens. Shortly after the signed Dawson Pass Trail junction you arrive at the signed spur trail to the mighty Twin Falls..a very unique set of falls that is technically cascades, but that makes them no less impressive! In season, beautiful wildflowers reside at the base of these two side-by-side falls.

This impressive "Twin Falls" is fed by major drainages further up the Dawson Pass Trail and from an upper lake called No Name Lake off this same trail.

2013-07-11 Grasshopper