Aldous Lake and Hancock Lake - Swimming Hole near Kilgore, Idaho
Kilgore, Idaho,Kilgore,Idaho
44.50769233950015, -111.84224055467104
7.7 miles N of Kilgore, Idaho
Address: Kilgore, Idaho
GPS: 44°30'27.7"N 111°50'32.1"W
Maps | Directions
State: Idaho
Trails/Routes: 4.8 mi

Backpack, Camp, Hike, Horseback, and Swim

A pair of alpine lakes near Kilgore, Idaho. Good road all the way to the trailhead. Easy to moderate 1.5mi hike to the first lake (Aldous) and another mile of moderate hiking to Hancock. Beautiful scenery, but heavier traffic on weekends.

Updated June 27, 2026

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Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.

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  1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
  2. Travel & camp on durable surfaces
  3. Dispose of waste properly
  4. Leave what you find
  5. Minimize campfire impacts
  6. Respect wildlife
  7. Be considerate of other visitors

Directions

From Kilgore, Idaho

  1. Head east on Antelope Valley Rd (0.6 mi)
  2. Turn left to stay on Antelope Valley Rd (1.5 mi)
  3. Turn left to stay on Antelope Valley Rd (1.2 mi)
  4. Turn left onto Ching Creek Rd (5.3 mi)
  5. Turn right onto Forest Rd 027/Ching Creek Rd
    Continue to follow Forest Rd 027
    (1.0 mi)
or

Access from either I 15 at Spencer or Highway 20 from Island Park, on County road A2. Leave A2 at Kilgore, going north past the general store to the T intersection. Turn left for .3 mile then straight north. Bear right at first intersection. Go 3.8 miles and watch for an intersection on right onto forest road 027. You will reach the Ching creek trailhead after another 6 miles of the graveled but well maintained road. This trailhead serves not only Aldous and Hancock lakes but is part of the Continental Divide Trail as well. The east bound CD trail leaves from the parking area and the trail to Aldous Lake is part of the westbound CD trail.


Can also be accessed via the Red Road, north of the St. Anthony sand dunes.

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Nick

8/9/18 11:37 am
It’s actually named Mickey’s Lake the Forest Service made the call unilaterally to dub it Aldous Lake in recent year. My family has been in that country for a century, trust me, it’s Mickey’s Lake.
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Aldous Lake Aldous Lake
June 2016 - Aldous Lake by bergschrund73 Hancock Lake Hancock Lake Topographic Map Topographic Map
15

Added by ranchumatt

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