Upper Holland Lake and Sapphire Lakes Loop

Swan Range, Flathead National Forest (Holland Lake, near Condon)

Holland Lake sits at the foot of the Swan Range on the west edge of the Bob Marshall country, and above it a loop climbs to Upper Holland Lake and the Sapphire Lakes. Distinctly Montana calls it a “classic 12-mile backpacking loop” and describes the Sapphire Lakes as a pair of “infinity-pool tarns.”

The trailhead is near Holland Lake Lodge, about 20 miles north of Seeley Lake off Highway 83.

The hike

The Seeley Swan Pathfinder gives directions: turn east off Highway 83 near mile marker 35 onto Holland Lake Road and stay left at all junctions to the trailhead, about four miles in, which has a large lot and a pit toilet. Distinctly Montana puts the trailhead at 4,060 feet.

The loop has two legs. The Flathead Beacon describes a steep branch that makes “an intense 3,000 vertical-foot climb over 4 miles” to a high point on the Swan Range, and a gentler route that follows Holland Creek for about 3 miles, passes below Upper Holland Lake, and runs northwest past Sapphire Lake. Walkopedia describes the loop climbing the steep side first, switchbacking up toward the Sapphire Lakes, and returning along Holland Creek from Upper Holland Lake.

On the Holland Creek side, the Pathfinder writes that the trail enters “a narrow and steep path into the mouth of Holland Creek,” crosses two creeks on bridges (the second “wide without handrails”), and passes “too many waterfalls to count.” It puts Upper Holland Lake at 6,100 feet, about 5.5 miles up, and Sapphire Lake another 1.5 miles and 1,000 feet higher, at 7,100 feet.

From the high point on the Swan Range, the Flathead Beacon describes a side trip northeast across the Bob Marshall Wilderness boundary to the Necklace Lakes, about a mile away, with a handful of campsites around the first lake and more along Trail 120.

Expect company and bugs. The Pathfinder says mosquitoes “aggressively pester people,” and Walkopedia notes heavy horse and stock traffic on the Holland Lake trail. Distinctly Montana recommends autumn, when crowds thin and larches turn gold, though snow can arrive early; Walkopedia says the area is generally snow-free by mid-June, and the Pathfinder warns of snow into early July.

For a much longer trip into the heart of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, see the Chinese Wall Loop from Benchmark.

Tips

Consider the steep side first, as Walkopedia describes, for gentler miles at the end.
Start early to stay ahead of stock traffic.
Bring insect repellent for early summer.
Carry bear spray and store food to the NCDE order.
Expect snow on the high trail until early July some years.

Camping

Camping is dispersed. The Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem food storage order (R1-2023-02) covers the Flathead National Forest from March 1 through December 31 each year through 2028: unattended food and attractants must be hung at least 10 feet up and 4 feet out from any support, stored in an IGBC-certified bear-resistant container, or kept another approved way, and must not be buried or burned in a campfire.

If you continue to the Necklace Lakes, you’re inside the Bob Marshall Wilderness, where Forest Service Order 01-15-00-25-01 limits groups to 15 people.

Inside Intel: Walkopedia describes the Sapphire Lakes as having “quiet, scenic campsites,” with more options lower down beside Upper Holland Lake. For a quieter night inside the wilderness, the Flathead Beacon points to the campsites ringing the first of the Necklace Lakes.

Trail facts

Distance: 12-mile loop (Distinctly Montana); 14 miles round trip to Sapphire Lake via Holland Creek (Seeley Swan Pathfinder)
Route type: Loop or out-and-back
Difficulty: Strenuous; the Pathfinder rates it “Advanced”
Campsites: Dispersed at Upper Holland Lake (about 5.5 mi) and the Sapphire Lakes (about 7 mi); Necklace Lakes side trip
Water: Holland Creek, waterfalls, lakes; treat all water
Permits: None found
Food storage: NCDE order, March 1 to December 31
Trailhead: Holland Lake trailhead near Holland Lake Lodge, off Highway 83
Last verified: October 10, 2026

The Lowdown

3,000 feet up the Swan Range above Holland Lake:

The steep leg of this loop makes a 3,000-vertical-foot climb over 4 miles to a high point on the Swan Range. Shorten your poles for the climb; see the rest of the tips.

Get the trekking pole tips →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.