Clearwater Lake Loop

Clearwater Lake is the walk to take when you want a mountain lake without a mountain climb. From the trailhead on Forest Road 4270, a quarter-mile path drops about 150 feet to the shore, and a 1.9-mile trail circles the lake.¹ The Pathfinder’s writer rated it 1 out of 10 for difficulty and called it a stroll.¹

Everything below about the trail, campsite and road comes from that 2017 Pathfinder article. Roads and campsites change, so confirm current access with the Seeley Lake Ranger District, 406-677-2233.⁷

How long is the Clearwater Lake trail?

About 0.25 mile from the trailhead down to the lake, then 1.9 miles around it.¹ Counting the walk in and out, the full outing is roughly 2.4 miles. The trailhead sits at about 4,950 feet and the lake at about 4,800 feet, so the only real climb is the short walk back up to your car.¹

Why “loop”?

The name can confuse people. In Forest Service usage, the loop is the road: Clearwater Lake Loop Road #4270 passes the trailhead and continues about 7 miles north to rejoin Highway 83.¹ The trail around the lake happens to be a loop too, so either way you end where you started.

How do I get to Clearwater Lake?

Per the Pathfinder’s directions:¹

1. From Highway 83, turn east on Morrell-Clearwater Road.
2. Drive about 3 miles, then turn left onto Forest Service Road #4270 (Clearwater Lake Loop Road).
3. Continue about 3 miles to the trailhead.

The Pathfinder reported moose sightings on the access road, so drive slowly.¹ These are gravel forest roads; in spring, ask the ranger district whether they are open and passable before you go.

What is Clearwater Lake like?

FWP lists Clearwater Lake at about 104.2 acres, at a surface elevation of roughly 4,797 feet, noticeably higher than the big valley-floor lakes like Seeley Lake.² The Pathfinder describes Swan Range views from the shore.¹

A few honest notes from the same article:¹

• Leeches live in the shallows. Wading is possible, but check your ankles.
• Huckleberries grow along the trail. We found no authoritative ripening dates for this area.
• No amenities. There is a large primitive campsite with no toilet, water or garbage service. Pack out everything.

Loons at Clearwater Lake

Loons nest at Clearwater Lake, and nest areas have been marked with buoys. In 2017 the buoys came out in mid-July.¹ The Montana Loon Society says the Clearwater drainage holds the state’s highest concentration of nesting loons, that nesting is critical in May and June, and that Montana has only about 65 nesting pairs.⁴ Stay well back from nests on shore and on the water, and keep dogs close.

Can you fish Clearwater Lake?

Yes. FWP lists two species: brook trout and native westslope cutthroat trout. FWP stocked 2,000 westslope cutthroat on June 10, 2026, and also stocked the lake in 2023, 2021 and 2019.² We found no lake-specific exceptions for Clearwater Lake, so standard district rules apply; check the current FWP regulations before you fish.³

What to bring

• Water and snacks. The lake has no services, and the campsite has no water or toilet.¹
• Sandals or old shoes if you plan to wade; the Pathfinder warns of leeches in the shallows.¹
• A berry container, in case the huckleberries along the trail are ripe.¹
• A fishing license and the current regulations if you plan to fish.³
• Bear spray, carried where you can reach it.⁶

Bear safety

Treat this as grizzly country, like the rest of the valley. The Forest Service food and wildlife attractant storage order applies March 1 to December 31 each year, which matters if you use the primitive campsite: unattended food and garbage must be stored in a bear-resistant way.⁵ FWP advises carrying bear spray where you can reach it.⁶ Our wildlife and bear safety guide has the details.

For more short outings, see the trail comparison table or the Morrell Falls trail.