Titus Lake

The only water on the hike is Titus Lake. Most of the hike is in the shade, but carrying water is recommended given the short bursts of steep climb.

From downtown Ketchum, it is a 29.3-mile drive, all on paved roads. The parking area is on the right side of Highway 75, coming quickly after a sweeping curve to the right and just a mile from the Galena Summit. There is parking for about 20 cars. The trailhead is on the opposite side of the highway, so you may wish to leash your dog for the crossing.

There are no bathrooms at the trailhead.

Mid-June through October

The trail begins in the open sun but enters the woods within the first 1/10th of a mile and begins to climb. Shortly after the .3-mile mark, a spur shoots off to the left, but stay right to remain on the main trail.

Over the first mile, the trail generally rolls through the woods, but there are periodic short sections of steep ascent. After 1.1 miles and a 380-foot climb, the trail briefly levels off before descending steeply for a short stretch. The trail then gently rolls for a bit, coming back into the sun at 1.35 miles. The tree-lined Smoky Mountains rise impressively before you.

The lake, which sits in a small bowl down the hill to your left, comes into view at about 1.5 miles. Re-enter the woods during an easy descent, coming to the lake shore at 1.75 miles.

The trail continues from the southeast edge of the lake. A 4-mile trek from this point will take you to the Galena Lodge, which is a nice spot to grab lunch and a beer. The Titus Creek trailhead is nearly 6 miles past the lodge, so this route will require shuttling two cars.