Seeley Creek Nordic Ski Trails

The Seeley Creek Nordic Ski Trails are the reason many skiers know Seeley Lake. About 18 km of track, groomed for both skate and classic skiing, wind through the Lolo National Forest one mile east of Highway 83 on Morrell Creek Road.¹ Skiing is free. Volunteers from the Seeley Lake Nordic Ski Club do the grooming, and a donation box at the trailhead supports their work.¹

For the current grooming report, trail map and race calendar, go to the Seeley Lake Nordic Ski Club.⁴ The ski club, not the Forest Service, is the best source for day-to-day conditions.

How long are the Seeley Creek Nordic trails?

The Pathfinder’s 2022 reporting and the club’s own history give about 18 km (roughly 10.8 miles) of groomed track.¹² A 2025 Wild Montana trail write-up lists 26 km, but also gives an 11.3-mile round trip, which lines up better with the 18 km figure.³ We have not resolved the difference. The club’s trail map is the authority.

Wild Montana puts the elevation change at about 300 feet across the system.³

What loops are there?

Loops range from easy to difficult.¹ Named options in the sources include:

• Bull Pine Loop (3K): the short loop, a natural first lap.
• 10K loop: a longer tour of the system.
• 50K race loop: used for the OSCR 50K ski race, which ran on January 29, 2022.¹

The club also lists events such as Skiesta and a biathlon on its site; check there for current dates.⁴

What are the winter rules?

From December 1 to March 31, the groomed trails are for skiers only. No hiking, snowshoeing, biking or dogs on the groomed track.¹ The rule protects the groomed surface the volunteers put down.

Outside those dates, the trails are multi-use.³

How do I get to the trailhead?

From Highway 83 in Seeley Lake, turn east onto Morrell Creek Road and drive about one mile.¹ The same road leads on toward the Morrell Falls and Pyramid Pass trailheads.

How much snow is there?

NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 normals for the Seeley Lake Ranger Station record an average of 28.9 inches of snow in December, 30.4 in January, 18.5 in February and 15.2 in March.⁶ The longer Western Regional Climate Center record (1936 to 2016) shows average snow depth on the ground of about 18 inches in January and 22 inches in February.⁷

Averages hide bad years. The Montana Race to the Sky sled dog race, which finishes in Seeley Lake, was canceled in both 2024 and 2026 for lack of snow.¹⁰ More in our winter guide. Check the club’s grooming report before a long drive.

Who built the trails?

The trails were first built in 1978. They were widened and redesigned in 1990 and 1991 with Olympian Jon Eliot, and the Seeley Lake Nordic Ski Club formed in 1992.² The club grooms with a PistenBully 100 on Lolo National Forest land.¹ In 2026 Missoula County lists a grant of $26,985 toward trail improvements.⁵

Before you go

• Check the grooming report on the ski club’s site the morning you ski. Grooming depends on volunteers and weather.⁴
• Leave the dog at home on groomed trails from December 1 to March 31, and save snowshoeing or winter walks for ungroomed routes.¹
• Bring layers. January averages a high of 32.0 F and a low of 12.1 F at the Seeley Lake Ranger Station.⁶
• Use the donation box. The trails are free, and donations support the volunteer grooming effort.¹
• Pick your loop by ability. Start with the 3K Bull Pine Loop if you are new to the trails, and work up to the 10K.¹

Summer on the Seeley Creek trails

Once the snow melts, the system becomes a multi-use trail network.³ From March 1 through December 31 the Forest Service food and wildlife attractant storage order applies on the Lolo National Forest, and the whole area is bear country.⁹ Read our wildlife and bear safety guide before summer outings, and carry bear spray.

Questions about the land itself, such as closures or fire restrictions, go to the Seeley Lake Ranger District at 406-677-2233.⁸