Henry’s Lake is a 6,108 acre lake with 16.8 miles of shoreline with an average depth of 15 feet. Named after a fur trader Andrew Henry. Henry’s Lake supports a world class of native cutthroat and brook trout.
Henry’s Lake Nez Perce and the U.S. Army
Both the Nez Perce and the U.S. Army spent time at this shallow lake located in a grassy, seven mile wide basin surrounded by mountains. Nearby Raynold’s Pass funnels traffic on State Hwy 87 to the north towards Bozeman or Ennis, MT while US Hwy 20 crosses Targhee Pass at the Continental Divide and leads to West Yellowstone. As State Hwy 87 passes the north shore of Henrys Lake it meets Forest Road 55, which continues around the lake to Staley Springs. This is where Gilman Sawtell, the first homesteader in Island Park, bivouacked General Howard’s troops while the general rode to Virginia City for supplies.
A loop can be made around the lake by continuing on to Forest Road 53. The road ends at US Hwy 20 and is a lovely drive on a dirt road.
