Seeley Lake and the Clearwater Valley

A chain of lakes between the Swan and Mission ranges, an hour from Missoula. Practical guides to the water, the trails, each season, and what it takes to own land here, with every fact sourced.

Find a trail See the lakes

1,031 acresSeeley Lake surface area

125 feetDeepest point in the lake

52 miRoad miles to Missoula

4,000 ftTown elevation, approx.

Trails worth the drive

Morrell Falls Trail5.4 mi round trip (2.7 mi each way)DistanceAbout 110 to 150 ft netElevation gainEasy to moderate (not officially rated)Difficulty Holland Falls Trail3.2 mi round trip (1.6 mi each way)DistanceAbout 750 ftElevation gainModerate (not officially rated)Difficulty Clearwater Lake Loop1.9 mi loop plus 0.25 mi each wayDistanceAbout 150 ft (on the walk back up)Elevation gainEasyDifficulty Seeley Creek Nordic Ski TrailsAbout 18 km of groomed trackDistanceAbout 300 ftElevation gainEasy to difficult loopsDifficulty Pyramid Pass Trail4.0 mi each way per sign (5.2 per Pathfinder)DistanceAbout 1,500 ftElevation gainNot officially rated; sustained climbDifficulty More Trails Near Seeley Lake3.2 to 14 mi round tripDistance425 to about 3,100 ftElevation gainShort to strenuousDifficulty

Pick your season

Summer at Seeley Lake

Summer at Seeley Lake: July highs near 83 F with cool nights, swimming and boating on the chain of lakes, the canoe trail, Fourth of July and loon season.

Fall and the Larches

Fall at Seeley Lake: when western larch (tamarack) turn gold, where to see old-growth larch and Gus the champion tree, plus kokanee and 2026 hunting dates.

Winter at Seeley Lake

Winter at Seeley Lake: about 119 inches of snow a year, groomed Nordic trails, hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails, ice fishing rules and the Race to the Sky.

Spring at Seeley Lake

Spring at Seeley Lake: April and May weather, frosty nights, fishing season openers, state park campground openings, loon nesting and snowbound forest roads.

Thinking about staying longer?

A few of the cabins, homes and parcels currently for sale around the lake. Our real estate page has every listing plus notes on septic, water and lease lots.