Lake Como

Lake Como is a reservoir at the foot of the Bitterroot Mountains, west of US-93 between Hamilton and Darby, and a popular summer lake for the Bitterroot Valley. It is about 3 miles long and covers about 1.4 square miles at an elevation of 4,252 feet, with forested slopes and the high Bitterroot peaks rising behind it. Rock Creek feeds the lake from the west and leaves through the dam at the east end. The lake and its campgrounds are part of the Lake Como Recreation Area in the Bitterroot National Forest.

The lake began as an irrigation project. A private company built Como Dam around 1908 to 1910, enlarging a natural lake; first storage came in 1909. The Bureau of Reclamation stabilised and enlarged the dam in 1954, 1976 and 1992 to 1993, and it is owned by the Bitter Root Project Irrigation District. The reservoir still supplies late-season irrigation water to the valley, so expect the water level to drop and the shoreline to widen as summer goes on.

The main walk is the Forest Service's 7.9-mile loop around the lake, with about 500 feet of climbing, which follows the Rock Creek Trail along the south shore, crosses a stock bridge at the head of the lake and returns past the boat launch and over the dam; allow around three hours. There is also a quarter-mile paved, accessible interpretive trail at the trailhead. The Rock Creek Trail continues 11.6 miles up the valley to the Idaho state line and is used by hikers, riders and mountain bikers. On a hot day most visitors simply go to the beach and swimming area, launch a boat or fish from the shore.

Camping is first-come, first-served at several sites: the Lake Como Campground on the north shore with RV pull-through sites and electric hookups, the Upper Como and Three Frogs areas, and Rock Creek Horse Camp on the south side. The developed campgrounds generally run from late May to early September and close from October to May. A day-use pass is required at recreation-area sites from Memorial Day through Labor Day; passes have been $5 a day or $30 for the season.

Practical tip: in October the campgrounds are closed and the fee season is over, but the trailhead stays open until snow closes it, which makes autumn a quiet time to walk the loop. Check with the Darby/Sula Ranger District (406-821-3913) for current fees and road conditions.