Holland Falls is a multi-tiered waterfall on Holland Creek in the Swan Valley, located inside Flathead National Forest about four hours west of Bozeman near the small town of Condon. The trail is 3.1 miles round trip out-and-back, and the first mile and a half along Holland Lake is as good as the waterfall.
Most trail descriptions summarize this hike as a 1.5-mile walk to a beautiful overlook of a 50-foot waterfall. That summary is technically accurate and leaves people feeling cheated. The maintained trail ends at a rock ledge with a partially obstructed, distant view of the falls, and your first reaction is probably going to be that you drove a long way for this. Getting the full-frame, up-close view that shows up in every photo requires abandoning the maintained trail and scrambling hands-on over wet boulders and massive downed logs to reach the base. The Forest Service has signs posted asking people not to do this because the rocks are dangerously slick. Almost everyone does it anyway. Wear shoes with solid traction, keep a close eye on kids, and be careful on wet rock.
The lake walk coming in is what catches people off guard. Holland Lake sits between the Mission Mountains to the west and the Swan Range rising steeply to the east. The trail hugs the north shore for about a mile with constant open-water views, and more than a few hikers arrive planning to power through to the falls and end up spending half their time standing at the shoreline.
Bring bear spray. This is grizzly country and sightings in the area are not uncommon. And guard your food at the base of the falls, because the golden-mantled ground squirrels up there are completely fearless and will make a direct run at your lunch.
From Bozeman, take I-90 West toward Missoula. From Missoula, follow signs for Highway 83 (the Swan Highway) and head north through the Swan Valley. The highway takes you through Seeley Lake before continuing north toward Condon. Watch for the Holland Lake Road turnoff on your right (east side of the highway) near mile marker 35, just before you reach Condon. Follow Holland Lake Road east for about 4 miles past the day use area and through the campground to the trailhead at the far end of the loop. Get directions on Google Maps.
The first two-thirds of the hike run flat along the shore of Holland Lake with minimal elevation gain, easy walking for any fitness level. The final section steepens and the trail becomes rocky. When you arrive at the official overlook and decide you want the real view, you are looking at an unmaintained scramble over wet, irregular boulders. The rocks are slick and the footing is unpredictable, especially in spring and early summer when runoff keeps everything damp. Solid hiking boots with ankle support are important. The scramble is not technical, but it is legitimately sketchy with kids or in wet conditions.
The falls are 1.5 miles from the trailhead one way, 3.1 miles total. Averaging about 2 miles per hour, you will reach the official overlook in about 45 minutes. Budget extra time if you plan to scramble to the base. With a break at the falls and the walk back, most people finish in 2 to 2.5 hours.
The trail gains about 750 feet over 1.5 miles, but most of it is front-loaded into the final third of the hike. The lake walk is genuinely flat. The climb picks up after the trail leaves the shoreline and heads toward the falls, and the rocky section near the top will get your legs working.
The lake walk alone earns this trail high marks. Holland Lake with the Mission Mountains behind it is one of the better views you will find on the approach to any Montana waterfall. The falls themselves are a serious payoff if you do the scramble, with multiple tiers dropping over 150 feet down a rocky cliff face. The official overlook is a letdown. The scramble to the base bumps this to a solid 4.5.
Holland Lake runs alongside the first half of the trail and Holland Creek feeds the falls at the top. There is water everywhere on this hike, but all of it needs to be filtered or treated before drinking. For a 3-mile round trip, 32 oz per person will get you through just fine.
This is a half-day hike and a snack is plenty. The rocky area near the base of the falls has good spots to sit and eat. Just watch your food once you are up there, because the ground squirrels will be watching you.
The trail from the trailhead to the official overlook is well-maintained and easy to follow, with some muddy sections near the lake in early season. The scramble to the base of the falls is not maintained at all and the boulders stay slick from the mist even on dry days. In early season when snowmelt is heavy the rocks are more serious. Mid-summer through September is when conditions are most reliable.
Dogs are welcome on this trail and the lake section is a great walk for them. The rocky scramble at the top is manageable for most dogs but might be awkward for smaller breeds. This is bear country, so keeping your dog close is a smart idea regardless.
Holland Lake Road is about 4 miles of maintained gravel off Highway 83. A standard passenger car will have no problem. No fee for day hiking or parking.
National Geographic's Trails Illustrated Bob Marshall Wilderness Map covers this area.
The trailhead has a large gravel parking area and usually has room, but on busy summer weekends it fills up fast. Do not arrive at 10am on a July Saturday expecting a spot. Early morning or weekday visits are your best bet.
There is a vault toilet at the trailhead in the Holland Lake Campground area.
This is one of the most popular trails in the Swan Valley and it gets busy on summer weekends. Midweek or early morning visits make a real difference. Fall visits after Labor Day are significantly quieter, and early October brings the western larch color peak, which is worth planning around.
Hiking boots with real traction are important, especially if you plan to scramble to the base of the falls. The mist zone near the falls is cold even on warm days, so a light layer in your pack is worth it. The lake section warms up in summer, so plan to be comfortable walking in the sun for the first mile.
Footwear: Hiking Boots Required
Mosquitoes can be significant in June near the lake. July onward is typically much better. Bring bug spray for early season visits.
The trail runs through dense conifer forest for most of the hike. The open lakeshore section provides the only real sun exposure. You will have plenty of shade.
Do not count on it. You will be out of service for most of the drive in and the entirety of the hike.
Holland Lake Campground is right at the trailhead with 40 sites and reservations through Recreation.gov at around $22 a night. This makes for a great basecamp, especially for families. The campground also has a boat launch if you are bringing a kayak or canoe.
Holland Lookout Trail No. 42
From the same trailhead, you can tackle the Holland Lookout Trail, a 4.5-mile climb with 3,200 feet of gain to an old fire lookout with panoramic views of the Swan Valley and surrounding ranges.
Bob Marshall Wilderness
Holland Lake is one of the most popular western entry points into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Trail No. 35 (Holland-Gordon Trail) and other connector trails put you deep into the Bob within a few miles of the trailhead.
Plug 3.1 miles and 750 feet of elevation gain into our free hiking time calculator for a personalized estimate.