Cutthroat Trout Stocked · 3 plants · last August 5, 2025 Last stocked August 5, 2025 · avg 2.6 in · 3 plants
Cutthroat Trout species guideBlack Canyon Lake fishing
Black Canyon Lake fishing is stocked with Cutthroat Trout on a high alpine lake. It is stocked about 0.2 times a year since 2013, most often in July and August.
- Last stocked
- August 5, 2025
- · Cutthroat Trout
- Plants on record
- 3
- Since 2013
- Species recorded
- 1
- Average size
- 2.6 in
- Elevation
- 9,220.4 ft
Fish at Black Canyon Lake
Around the dates Black Canyon Lake is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 53.6°F in July, 51.9°F in August. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo
Cutthroat Trout Stocked · 3 plants · last August 5, 2025 How Black Canyon Lake is stocked
No plants recorded in 10 years between 2013 and 2025.
Fish stocked in 2013
8,000
Fish stocked in 2019
7,400
Fish stocked in 2025
8,240
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 5, 2025 | Cutthroat Trout | 8,240 | 2.34 in | report |
| July 29, 2019 | Cutthroat Trout | 7,400 | 2.72 in | report |
| July 29, 2013 | Cutthroat Trout | 8,000 | 2.8 in | report |
Access and facts
- Water type
- high alpine
- Nearest town
- Red Lodge
- Facilities
- camping
Hike-in only. From the Lake Fork of Rock Creek trailhead, about 11.5 miles south of Red Lodge off the Beartooth Highway, it is 9 miles: 8 on maintained trail, then up the west side of the valley, ending in a boulder scramble, about 2,200 feet up. FWP says campsites are best below the lake.
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks before you go.
About Black Canyon Lake
Access to Black Canyon Lake involves a 7.5 mile (one way) hike that follows the trail along the Lake Fork of Rock Creek before climbing steeply on an unmaintained trail up to the cirque. The beautiful place requires a rugged approach through a boulder field. (philarmitage.net, accessed October 5, 2026)(summitpost.org, accessed October 5, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Nearest lakes
Camping near Black Canyon Lake
Campgrounds within 15 miles of Black Canyon Lake's mapped point, nearest first: Limber Pine camping (5.9 miles), Greenough Lake camping (6 miles), Parkside camping (6.3 miles), Cascade camping (8.2 miles), and Rattin camping (10.2 miles), each with its own campground page on campgroundsdb.com.
Straight-line distances.
Public land at Black Canyon Lake
Black Canyon Lake is inside Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.
It is 0.1 miles outside the edge of Custer Gallatin National Forest.
Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.
Common questions
What fish are at Black Canyon Lake?
Fishing Black Canyon Lake usually means Cutthroat Trout. All 3 plants on record are Cutthroat Trout. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked August 5, 2025, averaging 2.6 in.
When is Black Canyon Lake stocked?
Last stocked August 5, 2025. It is stocked about 0.2 times a year since 2013, most often in July and August. No plants recorded in 10 years between 2013 and 2025.
How big are the fish stocked at Black Canyon Lake?
Cutthroat Trout stocked at Black Canyon Lake average 2.6 in.
How do you get on Black Canyon Lake?
The nearest town is Red Lodge. Facilities include camping. Hike-in only. From the Lake Fork of Rock Creek trailhead, about 11.5 miles south of Red Lodge off the Beartooth Highway, it is 9 miles: 8 on maintained trail, then up the west side of the valley, ending in a boulder scramble, about 2,200 feet up. FWP says campsites are best below the lake.
Which lakes near Black Canyon Lake were stocked more recently?
Greenough Lake (5.8 mi) and Wild Bill Lake (10 mi) were stocked more recently.