United States · US

Lake Elva

Lake Elva is a small, high-elevation mountain lake tucked below Yogo Peak in Montana's Little Belt Mountains. Sitting at approximately 7,660 feet within the Middle Fork Judith River Wilderness Study Area, it is part of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in remote Judith Basin County. The lake draws backpackers, anglers, and solitude seekers who make the journey up rough forest roads to experience one of central Montana's most tranquil alpine settings. What makes Lake Elva special is not just the lake itself but its dramatic setting and history. Yogo Peak — the Little Belts' highest summit — rises just 0.6 miles to the north, and the area is threaded with abandoned mines and the remnants of Old Yogo, the gold-and-sapphire mining town that flourished in the 1880s. Today, the region offers a rare combination of wilderness character, mineral history, and wide-open mountain views far from Montana's more crowded recreation corridors.