Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Recreation
The stunning
Holland Lake
is the main attraction in town and offers plenty of recreational
opportunities, including boating, fishing, and swimming. The relatively easy and well-
traveled
Holland Falls Trail
leads hikers on a three-mile round-trip hike to a waterfall.
From the trailhead on Holland Lake Road just beyond the Holland Lake Campground, the
trail skirts the north shore of the lake and climbs roughly 600 feet before reaching the
40-foot falls. There are natural seating areas for picnickers and waterfall gazers. The trail is
often used by outfitters packing into Upper Holland Lake and the Bob Marshall Wilderness
Area.
An hour's drive north of Seeley Lake and 16 miles south of Bigfork is the quaint little vil-
lage of Swan Lake (population 113, elevation 4,028 feet), on Highway 83 at the southern
end of the lake of the same name. The area is a natural stopping point for migrating birds,
making the Swan River National Wildlife Refuge a wonderful place for avid birders. The
lake itself offers excellent fishing for northern pike, kokanee salmon, and rainbow trout.
There are a few services in town, including lodging and dining options, but most people
come to Swan Lake for recreation. There are 50 miles of trails for cross-country skiers and
many options for hiking.
Recreation
From Swan Lake, there are numerous lengthy trails to get hikers and horseback riders
into the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. The
Upper Holland Loop,
from the trailhead at
Holland Lake Lodge on the north shore of Holland Lake, is a steep and rugged trail that
climbs nearly 4,000 feet over nearly 7 miles (13.3 miles round-trip), which can be tackled
on a well-planned full-day hike. The trail passes the Sapphire Lakes and Upper Holland
Lake before descending again down along Holland Creek. For maps and information, con-
tact the
Swan Lake Ranger District
(200 Ranger Station Rd., off Hwy. 35, Bigfork, 406/
837-5081).
The
Swan River National Wildlife Refuge
(Hwy. 83, 1 mile south of Swan Lake,
406/727-7400,
www.bisonrange.fws.gov/swan
), is just over 1,500 acres of glacially carved
grassy floodplain that provides habitat for more than 170 species of birds, including wa-
terfowl, bald eagles, various types of hawks, owls, and songbirds. There are also plenty of
other animals—moose, elk, beavers, bobcats, and the occasional grizzly bear—wandering
