Fourmile Basin is a popular escape into the Pintler Mountains. Popular here is a relative term, however, in a state with hundreds of remote mountain trails. While you might run into other explorers of the region, expect to have long moments of Fourmile Basin Trail to yourself.
It’s approximately a six-mile drive on a gravel road to the trailhead. The road is maintained enough for most vehicles, though rocks and ruts lend to slow-going travel. The Fourmile Basin Trailhead is also the starting spot for Twin Lakes Trail, which forks to the left after sharing the same path for nearly the first two miles.
The trail's beginning is wide and leads slightly uphill before connecting with an even wider retired forest service road. The route navigates into a forested valley with sparse enough trees to see big Pintler Mountains on the horizon. After 1.7 miles, the shared trail splits into two ways. Hikers heading to Fourmile Basin will want to take a right at signed junction to climb to the basin.
Hikers encounter more elevation gain after the junction. An increasingly spectacular view of the valley below unfolds as the trail climbs higher. Eventually, the wide path that comprises much of the trail gives way to singletrack in a denser forest. Upon this point, Fourmile Basin isn’t far away. Appropriately, it's just over four miles to reach the basin one-way.
The first lake encountered in Fourmile Basin is beautiful with a smooth bottom that makes it easier to swim. A great campsite is also located near the water with a large fire pit. A signed trail leads another half-mile to an upper lake in Fourmile Basin. This upper body of water has a similar camping potential.
The lakes in Fourmile Basin offer the perfect spot to eat lunch on a day hike before turning back. The camping spots also encourage an easy overnight trip that is very suitable for beginners. For those looking to link together a multi-night trip, a night at Fourmile Basin and a night at Twin Lakes are very doable in a weekend.
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