Six lakes, one ancient tree, zero crowds: Montana’s Seeley Lake does it all

Seeley Lake’s wild valley keeps its secrets

You’re an hour north of Missoula and the world feels entirely different.

Seeley Lake sits in a forested valley between the Swan and Mission ranges, and the glacial water at its center covers more than 1,000 acres.

It’s part of a chain of six quiet lakes strung along the Clearwater River, all inside Lolo National Forest. Somewhere back in these woods grows a tree that’s been standing since before the Crusades ended.

That’s worth the drive alone.

The Salish were here long before the first ranger’s cabin

The Salish people knew this valley long before any settler drew a map of it, and the Blackfeet passed through at times too.

A man named Jasper B. Seely built a cabin on the lake in 1881 and became the area’s first forest ranger. A road didn’t reach the water until 1895.

Today the Seeley Lake Historical Museum sits inside a log-style structure that started life as a horse barn on the old Double Arrow Ranch, built in 1929 and 1930.

Inside, the old stalls hold stories about early logging, pioneer life, and the natural world that shaped this valley.

Float three miles of marsh without a hint of current

The Clearwater Canoe Trail runs 3.5 miles through a willow marsh on a quiet stretch of the Clearwater River, and the water barely moves.

You can do the whole float in one to two hours at an easy pace, which makes it a fine choice for kids and adults who’d rather watch wildlife than fight a current.

A viewing blind along the route puts you close to waterfowl and marsh birds without spooking them.

When you reach the north end of Seeley Lake, a 30-minute hiking trail loops you back so you don’t need a second car waiting.

Meet Gus, a 1,000-year-old tree thicker than most rooms

Gus earned the title of largest western larch in the United States from the National Register of Champion Trees in 2020, and the numbers behind that title take a moment to process.

The tree stands more than 150 feet tall, which clears the Statue of Liberty. Its trunk runs about 22 feet around, and it takes several people linking hands to circle it.

A wooden platform wraps the base so you can walk right up to the bark, which is old enough that it was already centuries in when Columbus crossed the Atlantic. The tree is estimated to be around 1,000 years old.

The old-growth grove around Gus goes back 600 years

Gus anchors the Jim Girard Memorial Grove, a 60-acre stand of old-growth western larch dedicated in 1953 to honor a Forest Service timber expert who spent his career studying trees like these.

Many of the surrounding larches are 600 years old or older, and Gus is simply the one that outgrew everyone else. A gentle mile-long trail loops through the grove along the western shore of the lake.

The walk is easy and flat, and the trees above you are among the finest remaining old-growth western larch in the country.

Every October the hills around the lake turn gold

Western larch is one of only about 20 deciduous conifers in the world, which means it drops its needles every fall instead of staying green.

Come October, those needles turn brilliant gold before they fall.

The hillsides around Seeley Lake go yellow against the darker evergreens, and the grove where Gus stands becomes one of the best places in western Montana to see it up close.

If you’re planning a fall trip anywhere in this part of the state, the timing lines up well. The color and the old trees together make the grove worth an extra hour on the trail.

Hike five miles through forest to a 90-foot double waterfall

Morrell Falls ranks among the most popular hikes on the Seeley Lake Ranger District, and the trail earns the traffic.

The round trip covers about five miles through a mixed forest of pine, fir, larch, and spruce, and small mountain lakes open up along the way with views into the Swan Mountains.

At the end of it, Morrell Creek drops 90 feet in a double falls. A short, steep climb past the base takes you to a viewpoint above the cascade.

Give yourself a few hours and bring more water than you think you’ll need.

The loons here call across the water at dusk

Montana holds the largest breeding population of common loons in the western continental United States, and the Clearwater and Seeley Lake area concentrates some of the highest numbers of nesting pairs.

Loons are big, cautious birds, and their calls carry across open water in a way that’s hard to describe until you’ve heard it. Spring and summer are the best seasons to find them on the quiet lakes.

Salmon Lake, just down the chain, is also a known loon spot. You’re most likely to catch them early in the morning or close to dark.

Two state parks and a chain of calm water for paddling

Salmon Lake and Placid Lake State Parks sit along the same chain of glacial lakes that runs through the valley, and both are easy to reach from Seeley Lake.

Placid Lake is known for smooth water and trout fishing.

Salmon Lake draws birders along with anglers and supports a wide range of fish species. At both parks, campgrounds sit under western larch, ponderosa pine, and Douglas-fir.

You can swim, picnic, paddle, or just pull a chair to the water’s edge and watch the light change through the afternoon.

Moose, eagles, and grizzlies all share this valley

The Seeley Lake valley runs through one of Montana’s quieter but more active wildlife corridors.

On the water, bald eagles, ospreys, and great blue herons work the lakes and river through the warmer months. Moose browse in the willows along the marsh.

Beaver and painted turtles show up near the shore, and white-tailed deer are common enough that you’ll likely spot one without trying.

Grizzly and black bears move through the surrounding mountains, so if you’re hiking, treat your food accordingly and carry bear spray.

Deep snow and 350 miles of groomed trail take over in winter

The Seeley Lake area catches some of the earliest and heaviest snowfall in western Montana, and the winter economy runs on it.

More than 350 miles of groomed trails fan out from the valley, making this a longtime destination for snowmobilers who want wide-open mileage in mountain terrain.

The Seeley Creek Nordic system adds about 26 kilometers of cross-country ski trails that work for first-timers and experienced racers alike.

Snowshoeing fills out the options for anyone who wants to move through the forest at a slower pace. Riders on the groomed snowmobile system need a Winter Trail Pass, with some state exceptions.

Visit Seeley Lake, Montana

Seeley Lake sits along Montana Highway 83, about 50 to 60 miles north of Missoula inside Lolo National Forest.

The campground on the western shore works well as a base for swimming, fishing, and boating, and you can reserve sites through the federal recreation reservation system.

The Clearwater Canoe Trail put-in is about four miles north of town off Highway 83, and you’ll need to bring your own canoe or kayak along with life vests.

Gus and the Girard Grove are accessible via Boy Scout Road on the lake’s west side. Morrell Falls Trail opens to hikers in late spring and runs through fall.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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