Cutthroat Trout Stocked · 14 plants · last June 25, 2025 Last stocked June 25, 2025 · avg 2.4 in · 14 plants
Cutthroat Trout species guideRainbow Lake 5 fishing
Rainbow Lake 5 fishing is stocked with Cutthroat Trout on a high alpine lake. It is stocked about 0.9 times a year since 2011, most often in June and July.
- Last stocked
- June 25, 2025
- · Cutthroat Trout
- Plants on record
- 14
- Since 2011
- Species recorded
- 1
- Average size
- 2.4 in
- Elevation
- 9,619 ft
Fish at Rainbow Lake 5
Around the dates Rainbow Lake 5 is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 52.7°F in July, 42.3°F in June, 51°F in August. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo
Cutthroat Trout Stocked · 14 plants · last June 25, 2025 How Rainbow Lake 5 is stocked
No plants recorded in 2016.
Fish stocked in 2011
2,900
Fish stocked in 2012
2,900
Fish stocked in 2013
1,500
Fish stocked in 2014
2,900
Fish stocked in 2015
2,700
Fish stocked in 2017
2,000
Fish stocked in 2018
2,900
Fish stocked in 2019
2,900
Fish stocked in 2020
2,900
Fish stocked in 2021
2,900
Fish stocked in 2022
2,900
Fish stocked in 2023
2,900
Fish stocked in 2024
2,900
Fish stocked in 2025
2,900
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 25, 2025 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,900 | 2.04 in | report |
| July 30, 2024 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,900 | 2.03 in | report |
| August 2, 2023 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,900 | 2.64 in | report |
| July 25, 2022 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,900 | 2.49 in | report |
| July 27, 2021 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,900 | 2.66 in | report |
| July 2, 2020 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,900 | 2.64 in | report |
| July 17, 2019 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,900 | 2.71 in | report |
| July 23, 2018 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,900 | 2.17 in | report |
| July 17, 2017 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,000 | 2.1 in | report |
| June 29, 2015 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,700 | 1.94 in | report |
| July 14, 2014 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,900 | 2.5 in | report |
| July 29, 2013 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,500 | 2.4 in | report |
| July 30, 2012 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,900 | 2.5 in | report |
| August 1, 2011 | Cutthroat Trout | 2,900 | 2.4 in | report |
Access and facts
- Water type
- high alpine
Trail-only lake in the numbered Rainbow Lakes chain, Boulder River drainage, Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. FWP: about 12 miles from the Box Canyon Trailhead on trails #27/28/211 with roughly 3,440 ft of climb, or via the Upsidedown Creek Trail #26. Many used campsites; firewood 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 5
Rainbow Lake 5 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 5?
Fishing Rainbow Lake 5 usually means Cutthroat Trout. All 14 plants on record are Cutthroat Trout. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked June 25, 2025, averaging 2.4 in.
When is Rainbow Lake 5 stocked?
Last stocked June 25, 2025. It is stocked about 0.9 times a year since 2011, most often in June and July. No plants recorded in 2016.
How big are the fish stocked at Rainbow Lake 5?
Cutthroat Trout stocked at Rainbow Lake 5 average 2.4 in.
How do you get on Rainbow Lake 5?
Trail-only lake in the numbered Rainbow Lakes chain, Boulder River drainage, Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. FWP: about 12 miles from the Box Canyon Trailhead on trails #27/28/211 with roughly 3,440 ft of climb, or via the Upsidedown Creek Trail #26. Many used campsites; firewood picked over.