Quick info:
Nearest Town?: Between Anaconda & Phillpsburg Open Dates?: May 15th to Dec 14th (??)
Class: 2.5 (High Clearance SUV friendly) Length?: 12.3 Miles from Hwy 1 & Southern Cross
High-Clearance Required?: YES Wide/Long Vehicles?: No issues
Type?: Same way in & out (Discribed) / Loop to Granite (not discribed here)
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Racetrack Lake, in Granite County makes a nice summertime destination and a great back country drive. The lake sits at 7665 FASL and covers, when full, about 45 acres and makes a great backdrop for a picnic or other family outing. The lake is often drawn down significantly, for irrigation, in late summer.
I rate this trail a Class 2.5. So it is no place for your family car but most any high clearance SUV, driven carefully, can make it there easily. You can expect some larger rocks, ruts and washouts along the way. There can still be deep snow on the trail into early to mid-July most years.
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| Racetrack Lake |
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Getting there:
Approximately 21 miles west of Anaconda or 15.6 miles south of Philipsburg, right along Georgetown Lake is the intersection of Montana Highway 1 and Southern Cross Road.
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Turn onto Southern Cross Road, from HWY 1. This takes you north east. You will travel approximately .8 miles you will bare left onto Echo Lake Road (aka County Road 65).
Follow Echo Lake Road for 2 miles until the intersection of Echo Lake Road and Red Lion Road (aka County Road 242), which will be to the right. The road is excellent to this point and suitable for towing rigs. Right at this intersection is an old gravel pit where many air down/up and unload trailered rigs.
Red Lion Road (aka County Road 242) goes from the gravel pit, 7.7 miles to the intersection of County Road 1525, which takes us to Racetrack Lake & County Road 1592 which goes to Fisher Lake (see our trail description for Fisher Lake Trail in our 4Low trails section).
NOTE: Google Maps misidentifies several roads in this area and what mapping there is, is very limited past the gravel pit.
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At the intersection with County Road 1592, Country Road 242 becomes County Road 1525. You probably won't even notice. Just don't take the turn onto CR 1592 toward Fisher Lake and you are still heading the right direction. Another 1.6 miles and you will be at Fisher Lake.
I may have made it seem more complicated that it actually is. It is a pretty easy route to follow.
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NOTE: We are simply describing a 4x4 route. We accept no responsibility for your decisions. 4x4 off-roading can be great fun but it can also be dangerous. People can get hurt and vehicles can get stuck and/or damaged. Trail conditions can, do, and will, change at any time. Road conditions may no longer be accurately reflected in this or any trail description. Only you can decide what trails or obstacles your experience and vehicle can safely navigate. When in doubt, turn around. Wheel Safe!!
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