Trail · Trailhead

Clearwater River Canoe Trail

This canoe trail, north of the town of Seeley Lake, in on a slow-moving, meandering stretch of the Clearwater River upstream of Seeley Lake. The 3.5 mile waterway, with a slight current, can be canoed at a leisurely pace in about 2 hours.

Listed under Trails & hikes · River access & fishing · Boating & floating · Wildlife & bird watching · Nature centers & history sites · Scenic viewpoints

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About this place

Canoe trail and return/hiking trail offer similar wildlife viewing opportunities whether on the water or on land. There is a wildlife viewing blind with interpretive sign along the hiking trail and also at the trailhead for the canoe trail.

Practical information

Town: Other towns
Arrival: From the town of Seeley Lake, travel 3.7 miles north on Montana highway 83. Take Forest Service Road #17597 (west side of the highway) and travel 0.7 miles to the trailhead. Directions to the take-out point: The canoe trail take-out point, loading area, and parking area/restroom, is behind the Seeley Lake Ranger Station.
Parking: Parking for approximately 6 vehicles at the canoe launch and at the canoe landing/take-out point. Please note: there is a vehicle area at the take-out point near the water's edge that is for loading/unloading only, and there is a separate parking area with toilet uphill from the take-out point.
Distance: 3.5 miles
Route surface: Predominantly water
Difficulty: The 3.5 mile waterway, with a slight current, can be canoed at a leisurely pace in about 2 hours.
Fees: Free entry
Hours: Late spring/summer/fall
Use rules: Please visit the Forest's Alerts page for information on restrictions, in particular please review the Food/Wildlife Attractant Storage Order to help reduce the likelihood of human-to-bear conflicts. No-wake speed restriction for motorized watercraft.
Managed by: Federal agency
Phone: 406-677-2233