Directions: From Clearwater Junction turn north on Highway 83 and travel to the Holland Lake turn off between mile markers 35 and 36.  Turn right on Holland Lake Road and go to the public swim area and boat launch.

Latitude-Longitude: 47.26.963/-113.35.905             

Elevation: 4,031 ft.

Lake size: 414 acres                                         

Land ownership: National forest and private.

Facilities: There is a public swim beach and boat launch with outhouses at both locations.

Boating regs: Standard boating regulations for the state of Montana.

How to launch: Launch either from the boat launch at the creek outlet or off the swim area beach.

Description of paddle: From almost anywhere on the western shore of the lake, you can see and hear Holland Falls.  In the early summer it thunders down the eastern wall of the basin in the which Holland Lake sits.  Our favorite route is to paddle up the south side of the lake to the end, cross the lake, and paddle back along the north shore past the lodge and the campground.  The setting is stunning, and during June and the fall months there are few other boats on the water. Circumnavigation of the lake is about 4 1/2 miles.

Potential issues: During summer, moderate to strong winds generally come up in the afternoon, and that can make the trip across the lake challenging and potentially dangerous.  Also, summer thunderstorms can bring not only lightening but strong winds on the leading edge of the front. In July and August powerboats ply the lake from about 10 in the morning until dusk, potentially creating rough water conditions.