Aldous Lake and Hancock Lake are a pair of pretty alpine lakes tucked into the Centennial Mountains north of Kilgore, in the remote high country along the Idaho-Montana line in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Reached by a short, family-friendly trail that follows a piece of the Continental Divide Trail, they make one of eastern Idaho's best introductions to backpacking: close enough and easy enough for kids and first-timers, wild enough to feel like a real adventure, and stocked with trout for anyone who brings a rod.

Aldous Lake is the easy, popular destination. It sits just 1.3 miles up the trail from the Ching Creek trailhead, a gentle grade along the CDT through timber and meadow, which is exactly why it's such a beloved first overnight. The lake itself, about 4.3 acres and also known as Mickeys Lake, holds cutthroat trout and has been cared for over the years by local Boy Scout groups, who installed the excellent camp tables and metal fire rings that make the shoreline sites so comfortable. It's the rare backcountry lake where a family with young kids can walk in, catch fish, and camp in genuine comfort.

Hancock Lake rewards those willing to work harder. The trail beyond Aldous climbs noticeably steeper on its way to the second lake, turning a stroll into a real hike and thinning the crowds considerably. Done as a full out-and-back to Hancock and back, the trip runs roughly 5.1 to 5.4 miles with around 1,040 feet of elevation gain, a moderate half-day for most hikers.

The lakes suit a range of visitors. Backpackers, day hikers, anglers, horseback riders and dog owners all use the trail, which is open to stock and pets alike. Swimming is possible but tempered by nature: Aldous has warmed and grown weedy along much of its edge over the years, so it reads more as a wade-and-cool-off than a clear swimming lake. The fishing, by contrast, stays a genuine draw.

The season runs roughly June through November, governed by snow at this elevation rather than the calendar; early summer can still hold snowpack on the higher stretch to Hancock. Access is via graveled but well-maintained forest roads: from Kilgore, head north past the general store, follow the route toward Forest Road 027, and continue to the Ching Creek trailhead. This is remote country with no services and little to no cell coverage.

Come prepared for the mountains: layers for cold nights even in midsummer, insect repellent for the early-season mosquitoes, an Idaho fishing license, and plenty of water or a way to treat it. Pack out everything, and treat the Scout-built tables and fire rings with the care that has kept them there for others. For a first backpack, a quiet family fishing trip, or a short escape into the Centennials, Aldous and Hancock Lakes are hard to beat.