Getting There
Koenig Lake can be reached from the Leavitt Lake trailhead accessible from
Highway 108
between Sardine Meadow and Leavitt Falls. The trail to Leavitt Lake is actually a four-wheel
drive road requiring some good vehicle clearance. We hiked the road as we did not
have a vehicle that could make this trek. The road is can be hard to find if
you do not know what you are looking for. So, look for a sharp right turn that has a
dirt road starting off to the left. Or, you know, use your GPS.
The Hike
The hike is very moderate without any significant altitude gain until you reach
Leavitt Lake itself. From Leavitt Lake, take the trail that leads to the right
and over a small hill to drop down into the Koenig Lake area. It is a short and easy
hike. Probably a good place to take the family.
The Fishing
The fishing at Koenig Lake can be tricky as the fish prefer the middle section of the
lake and even a very good fly angler may have trouble reaching the fish with their longest
cast. I chose to wade into the lake, which was probably the coldest water I have waded
into without waders.
I started using a Henry's Fork Grasshoppers and trouble hooking up due to missed
strikes. Eventually, I switched over to a red Bird's Nest and managed to hook up with
some small Golden X Rainbow hybrids.
There are plenty of good places to camp around Koenig Lake, so take your pick. It is important
to note that Upper Koenig Lake, the larger of the two, is fishless so don't waste
any time there looking for fish. Also, Latopie Lake at the top of the drainage is also
thought to be fishless not only due to Fish and Wildlife records but from my own attempts and
records. If you want to hook into big fish, head over to Leavitt Lake. If you want to find
some small Golden Trout, give Ski Lake a try as it is a short walk away from Leavitt Lake.