The southwest Montana-Idaho border runs along the Continental Divide. The hiker has many choices for dayhikes up the east side of the Divide. Rock Island Lakes and Homer Youngs Peak give a good feeling for this rugged country. The trail starts up a jeep road a couple of miles beyond Lower Miner Lakes. The first mile is a modest uphill to a fork. Veer right toward Rock Island Lakes about 2 miles further. The left fork heads toward Upper Miner Lakes. The trail flattens out as you wind around Rock Island Lakes, named for what are really rocky outcroppings rising from the pool's center. Beyond the lakes, you start serious climbing, very steep up to Little Lake. From there, you face another steep climb up to a saddle that is virtually on the Continental Divide. But it's not a pass, the north side of the saddle takes you back down the east side of the Divide, same as you came up. Homer Youngs Peak is the 10, 624' mountain to the east.

Follow Highway 278 a mile south of Jackson and turn right (west) on to a marked road to Miner Lakes. You have several miles to Lower Miner Lakes campground, a nice uncrowded spot even in late August when we were there.

An out and back hike of about 8 miles to a col on the Continental Divide.