Rainbow Lake #4 fishing

Rainbow Lake #4 fishing is stocked with Cutthroat Trout on a high alpine lake. Also recorded: Rainbow Trout. It is stocked about 0.9 times a year since 2012, most often in June and July. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
June 25, 2025
· Cutthroat Trout
Plants on record
13
Since 2012
Species stocked
1 (+1 also recorded)
Average size
2.4 in
Elevation
9,397.6 ft

Fish at Rainbow Lake #4

1 stocked · 1 confirmed present

Around the dates Rainbow Lake #4 is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 52.8°F in July, 42.4°F in June, 51.2°F in August. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo

How Rainbow Lake #4 is stocked

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

No plants recorded in 2016.

Fish stocked in 2012

5,250

Fish stocked in 2013

4,500

Fish stocked in 2014

5,250

Fish stocked in 2015

5,250

Fish stocked in 2017

3,000

Fish stocked in 2018

5,250

Fish stocked in 2019

5,250

Fish stocked in 2020

5,250

Fish stocked in 2021

5,250

Fish stocked in 2022

5,250

Fish stocked in 2023

5,250

Fish stocked in 2024

3,750

Fish stocked in 2025

5,250

Stocking history

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
June 25, 2025Cutthroat Trout5,2502.04 inreport
July 30, 2024Cutthroat Trout3,7502.03 inreport
August 2, 2023Cutthroat Trout5,2502.64 inreport
July 25, 2022Cutthroat Trout5,2502.58 inreport
July 27, 2021Cutthroat Trout5,2502.66 inreport
July 2, 2020Cutthroat Trout5,2502.64 inreport
July 17, 2019Cutthroat Trout5,2502.71 inreport
July 23, 2018Cutthroat Trout5,2502.17 inreport
July 17, 2017Cutthroat Trout3,0002.2 inreport
June 29, 2015Cutthroat Trout5,2501.94 inreport
July 14, 2014Cutthroat Trout5,2502.5 inreport
July 14, 2013Cutthroat Trout4,5002.5 inreport
July 9, 2012Cutthroat Trout5,2502 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
high alpine

One of the numbered Rainbow Lakes #1-#7 (10.5 acres, 35 ft deep) at 9,407 ft in the Boulder drainage of the Absaroka-Beartooth. Trail only: 10.5 miles from Box Canyon Trailhead on trails #27/#28, or 11 miles via Upsidedown Creek Trail #26. Good campsites; firewood is picked over.

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.

Nearest lakes

Public land at Rainbow Lake #4

Rainbow Lake #4 is inside Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and Custer Gallatin National Forest.

Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.

Common questions

What fish are at Rainbow Lake #4?

Fishing Rainbow Lake #4 usually means Cutthroat Trout. All 13 plants on record are Cutthroat Trout. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked June 25, 2025, averaging 2.4 in. Rainbow Trout is recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Rainbow Lake #4 stocked?

Last stocked June 25, 2025. It is stocked about 0.9 times a year since 2012, most often in June and July. No plants recorded in 2016.

How big are the fish stocked at Rainbow Lake #4?

Cutthroat Trout stocked at Rainbow Lake #4 average 2.4 in.

How do you get on Rainbow Lake #4?

One of the numbered Rainbow Lakes #1-#7 (10.5 acres, 35 ft deep) at 9,407 ft in the Boulder drainage of the Absaroka-Beartooth. Trail only: 10.5 miles from Box Canyon Trailhead on trails #27/#28, or 11 miles via Upsidedown Creek Trail #26. Good campsites; firewood is picked over.

Sources (3) +