Swimming Holes in Montana

Montana's swimming is high, cold, and remote. Holland Lake in the Swan Valley has a Forest Service campground and clear swimming below the cirque wall. Seeley Lake has clear water and ponderosa shoreline. The Clark Fork River near Missoula warms enough for swimming in the city reach by July. The Madison River below Quake Lake in the Madison Valley has world-famous trout fishing and occasional swimming in the wide, shallow braids. Most Montana mountain water stays genuinely cold — 55°F feels like a warmup.

Always check current conditions before visiting — water levels, algae advisories, and access roads change seasonally. Never swim alone in remote sites. Tell someone your plans. Explore all swimming holes on the Trek4Free map →