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Montana › Madison County › Virginia City › Axolotl Lake

Axolotl Lake

Virginia City, Montana — Madison County.

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14Surface acres

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 52417020).

Getting there

Flying here

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Axolotl Lake, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Driving here

Pick up a rental car at the airport you fly into and drive to Axolotl Lake.

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Staying here

Look for hotels in and around Virginia City, MT.

Search hotels near Virginia City, MT on Klook

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Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Things to do near Axolotl Lake

Look up tours, activities and attraction tickets around Virginia City, MT on Klook.

Browse things to do near Virginia City, MT on Klook

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Boat rentals near Axolotl Lake

Browse boat, pontoon and kayak rentals and charters listed on GetMyBoat.

Boat rentals in Montana on GetMyBoat

Listings, prices and availability are set by GetMyBoat and its hosts. Check the lake's own boating rules before you go.

Location & fast facts

Where Axolotl Lake is in Montana

The red circle marks Axolotl Lake.

Fast facts

About Axolotl Lake

  • County: Madison
  • Nearest city: Virginia City (about 4.0 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 51 mi from Bozeman and 153 mi from Missoula, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Montana: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Montana

Official FWP pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Fishing. Arctic grayling, Yellowstone cutthroat trout and Longnose dace
  • Camping. 4 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

    Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

    Official fish data (Montana FWP)

    Fish species caught in Montana FWP fish surveys (most-caught first): Arctic grayling, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, Longnose dace.

    Stocked by the state: Westslope cutthroat trout (2015, 2018, 2022; 2,175 fish in all, fry included) · Latest survey: FWP fish survey 2016 (records since 2000)

    Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Fish Survey Locations from the FWP Fisheries Information System (surveys of Axolotl Lake since 1990) and FWP Fish Stocking Records where listed. Look up the water in FishMT. Surveys use nets that catch some species better than others, so this is not a complete fish list.

    Fishing gear for Axolotl Lake

    Gear picks based on the fish listed for Axolotl Lake above. These open Amazon search results; check your state's fishing rules for the water before you buy bait or tackle.

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

    Lake map

    Axolotl Lake shoreline

    0.1 mileN

    No public access sites are listed for this water in the OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) data.

    Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 52417020), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

    Campgrounds near Axolotl Lake

    We found 4 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Axolotl Lake. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

    All campgrounds & RV parks in Montana

    Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

    Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

    Conditions right now

    Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
    Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

    Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (45.2261, -111.8722). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Axolotl Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

    Sun, moon & best fishing times

    Sun & moon at Axolotl Lake

    Best fishing times

    Major periodMinor periodDaylight

      Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in MT (America/Denver), and accurate to within a few minutes.

      Contact & official info

      Questions about Axolotl Lake

      How big is Axolotl Lake?

      Axolotl Lake covers about 14 acres in Virginia City, Montana (Madison County).

      What fish are in Axolotl Lake?

      Montana FWP fish survey and stocking records lists Arctic grayling, Yellowstone cutthroat trout and Longnose dace.

      Are there campgrounds near Axolotl Lake?

      Yes. We list 4 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.

      What towns are on Axolotl Lake?

      Axolotl Lake touches Virginia City in Madison County, Montana.

      Share a tip or fishing report

      Know Axolotl Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

      Lakes & ponds nearby

      Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Montana lakes & ponds · All waters in Virginia City