Jeff Schmerker
A nice trail -- but don't bother with hiking boots
This trail is well signed, but don’t bother with hiking boots. The Clearwater Canoe Trail takes paddlers on a lazy 3.5 mile float down the Clearwater River upstream from Seeley Lake. It takes less than an hour and requires no special boating skills. The put-in is a few miles north of the main Seeley Lake ranger station on MT 83. The river here is actually more of a stream, but there’s enough water that most canoes or kayaks should have no trouble floating, and bends are wide enough for easy turning. The river winds through grassy meadows and along the edge of forest; look for wildlife and raptors.
As the river enters Seeley Lake, paddle left toward the eastern shore; the landing is not easy to spot at first but generally look for a gap in the forest and a gravel area. A walking trail with a bird blind roughly parallels the river, so you can skip back to your car at the put-in in less than half an hour.
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