Seeley Lake MontanaA local guide to the Clearwater Valley

Trails

Compare Seeley Lake area trails side by side: Morrell Falls, Holland Falls, Clearwater Lake, Pyramid Pass and the Seeley Creek Nordic trails, with sources.

By [Local editor name], Editor, Seeley Lake residentUpdated 12 sources
Holland Lake with forested slopes and Holland Falls visible in the distance
Photo: Forest Service Northern Region, Public domain

The short answerThe most-hiked trails near Seeley Lake are short: Morrell Falls is about 5.4 miles round trip with little climbing, Holland Falls about 3.2 miles with roughly 750 feet of gain, and the Clearwater Lake loop under 2 miles. Pyramid Pass is the big climb, about 1,500 feet to the Bob Marshall Wilderness boundary.

Most trails near Seeley Lake are short walks to water: a waterfall, a lake, a river. Morrell Falls and the Clearwater Lake loop are easy half-day outings, Holland Falls adds a real climb at the end, and Pyramid Pass is the one that takes you uphill to the edge of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. In winter, the Seeley Creek Nordic trails are groomed for skiing.

One honest caveat before the numbers. Most detailed descriptions of these trails come from Seeley Swan Pathfinder visitor articles written between 2014 and 2020. Roads wash out, fires burn, and closures come and go. Confirm current conditions with the Seeley Lake Ranger District, 3583 Highway 83 North, 406-677-2233 (weekdays 8:00 to 4:30).12

How do the main Seeley Lake trails compare?

Trail Distance Elevation gain Difficulty Trailhead Season
Morrell Falls 5.4 mi round trip (2.7 each way)1 About 110 to 150 ft net; third-party estimates run 300 to 480 ft1 Easy to moderate (not officially rated)1 Morrell Falls Rd #4364, about 4,730 ft1 Snow-free months; open to snowmobiles after Dec 11
Holland Falls 3.2 mi round trip (1.6 each way)3 About 750 ft3 Moderate (not officially rated)3 Holland Lake Rd, off MT-83 near mile marker 35, about 4,050 ft3 Snow-free months; confirm conditions
Clearwater Lake loop 1.9 mi loop plus 0.25 mi each way4 About 150 ft, down to the lake4 Easy4 Clearwater Lake Loop Rd #4270, about 4,950 ft4 Snow-free months; confirm road access in spring
Pyramid Pass 4.0 mi each way per VisitMT and the trailhead sign; the Pathfinder cites 5.256 About 1,500 ft6 Not officially rated; sustained climb6 End of Forest Road 4381, about 5,200 ft6 Snow-free months; check closures10
Seeley Creek Nordic 18 km of groomed track (Wild Montana says 26 km)78 About 300 ft8 Easy to difficult loops7 Morrell Creek Rd, 1 mi east of MT-837 Groomed Dec 1 to Mar 31; summer multi-use78
Clearwater Canoe Trail 3.5 mi paddle plus a 1 to 1.5 mi walk back9 Flat water Easiest (USFS)9 FS Rd 17597, 3.7 mi north of town9 Late spring to fall9

Elevation figures for Morrell Falls are trailhead-to-falls numbers from the Pathfinder; the trail rolls, so your watch will likely record more. Where sources disagree (Pyramid Pass distance, Nordic trail length), we show both.

Which trail should I pick?

  • Short and flat with a payoff: Morrell Falls. The 90-foot double falls sits at the far corner of 23-acre Morrell Lake.1 The 2017 Rice Ridge Fire burned the entire trail, so expect deadfall in places.2
  • A lake stroll: Clearwater Lake. A quarter mile down, then 1.9 miles around the shore.4
  • A climb with a view of a big lake: Holland Falls, off Highway 83 near mile marker 35. The first two-thirds stays near lake level, then it climbs about 750 feet.3
  • A full day: Pyramid Pass, at 6,695 feet on the Bob Marshall Wilderness boundary, with Pyramid Lake 0.75 mile beyond.6

More options, from Lake Dinah to the Rumble Creek Lakes, are on our more trails page.

What to know before any hike here

This is grizzly country. A Forest Service food and wildlife attractant storage order covers the Lolo and neighboring national forests from March 1 to December 31 each year, with penalties up to $5,000.11 Carry bear spray where you can reach it and read our wildlife and bear safety guide before you go.

The trailheads described in these sources have a vault toilet at best and no drinking water.14 Many access roads are gravel Forest Service roads that can stay snowbound into spring, so ask the ranger district before planning an early-season trip.

Morrell Falls Trail

Morrell Falls National Recreation Trail #30: 2.7 miles each way to a 90-foot double falls near Seeley Lake. Directions, elevation, fire history and bear safety.

Holland Falls Trail

Holland Falls Trail #416 near Seeley Lake: 1.6 miles each way along Holland Lake with about 750 feet of climbing to the falls. Directions, facilities and tips.

Clearwater Lake Loop

Clearwater Lake near Seeley Lake: a quarter-mile walk down to the lake and a 1.9-mile loop trail around it. Directions, loons, fishing and what to bring.

Seeley Creek Nordic Ski Trails

Seeley Creek Nordic Ski Trails near Seeley Lake: about 18 km of free, volunteer-groomed skate and classic track, skiers-only Dec 1 to Mar 31. Loops, rules, history.

Pyramid Pass Trail

Pyramid Pass Trail climbs about 1,500 feet from the end of Forest Road 4381 to the Bob Marshall Wilderness boundary at 6,695 feet, with Pyramid Lake just beyond.

More Trails Near Seeley Lake

Short guide to more hikes near Seeley Lake: Lake Dinah, Rumble Creek Lakes, Upper Holland and Sapphire lakes, Heart and Crescent lakes, Glacier Lake and Fly Lake.

Common questions

What is the most popular hike near Seeley Lake?
Morrell Falls National Recreation Trail #30 is the best-known local hike: 2.7 miles each way to a 90-foot double waterfall, with little net climbing. The 2017 Rice Ridge Fire burned the whole trail, so expect deadfall.
What is the easiest trail near Seeley Lake?
The Clearwater Lake trail: a quarter mile down to the lake and a 1.9-mile loop around it. The Pathfinder rated it 1 out of 10 for difficulty in 2017.
Are the trail descriptions current?
Most detailed trail write-ups for this area are Seeley Swan Pathfinder articles from 2014 to 2020. Confirm road access, closures and conditions with the Seeley Lake Ranger District at 406-677-2233 before you go.
Do I need bear spray on Seeley Lake trails?
Yes. Treat the whole area as grizzly country. FWP advises carrying bear spray where you can reach it, and a Forest Service food storage order applies March 1 to December 31. See our wildlife and bear safety guide.

Sources

  1. Morrell Falls National Recreation Trail #30, Seeley Swan Pathfinder
  2. Morrell Falls: a different view, Seeley Swan Pathfinder
  3. Holland Falls Trail No. 416, Seeley Swan Pathfinder
  4. Stroll to Clearwater Lake, Seeley Swan Pathfinder
  5. Pyramid Pass Trail, Visit Montana
  6. Peak bagging: Pyramid, Leota and Marshall peaks, Seeley Swan Pathfinder
  7. Grooming for success on the Seeley Creek Nordic Trails, Seeley Swan Pathfinder
  8. Trail of the Week: Seeley Creek Nordic Ski Trails, Wild Montana
  9. Clearwater River Canoe Trail #7777A, USDA Forest Service, Lolo National Forest
  10. Pyramid Pass Trail closure order 25-002, USDA Forest Service, Lolo National Forest
  11. NCDE Food and Wildlife Attractant Storage Order R1-2023-02, USDA Forest Service, Northern Region
  12. Lolo National Forest offices, USDA Forest Service, Lolo National Forest

Facts on this page were checked against the sources above on October 18, 2026. Spot something out of date? Send a correction.

Keep reading

Morrell Falls Trail

Morrell Falls National Recreation Trail #30: 2.7 miles each way to a 90-foot double falls near Seeley Lake. Directions, elevation, fire history and bear safety.

Holland Falls Trail

Holland Falls Trail #416 near Seeley Lake: 1.6 miles each way along Holland Lake with about 750 feet of climbing to the falls. Directions, facilities and tips.

Clearwater Canoe Trail

Paddle the Clearwater River Canoe Trail into Seeley Lake: a 3.5-mile flat-water route with a walk-back trail, no shuttle needed. Directions, parking, wildlife and rules.