Ask Trampus and Staci Corder
Are you yearning for an escape to the turquoise waters of Holter Lake where you can bask in the warm rays radiating from the sun? This 0.345-acre lot has power close by and the potential to serve as your tranquil retreat! Only accessible by boat or water, life is quiet and at a slower pace on the lake. Catch a glimpse of the nimble Big Horn Sheep navigating the mountainsides as you feel the Montana breeze blow away all your worries. Enjoy fishing, swimming, floating, kayaking, or just taking in the beautiful scenery of the surrounding mountain panoramic views. Build your dream lake house and boat through the iconic Gates of the Mountains! Commute time to nearby airports from Holter Lake boat launch is a short drive of 45 miles to Helena or 58.8 miles to Great Falls International Airport. Take advantage of the public hunting grounds and numerous lakes to discover more boating and fishing opportunities.
Local Area
Lewis and Clark County has a small community named Wolf Creek, located along Interstate 15, 28 miles north of Helena, the state capital. As you are winding through the Wolf Creek Canyon, the scenery is beautiful, and Wolf Creek is a perfect resting place before taking on the many adventures that the area provides. Nearby, the Missouri River widens into Holter Lake Reservoir, with 140 campsites, 3 swimming areas, and 4800 acres of boating, water skiing, and fishing opportunities. To the southeast of Wolf Creek, Hauser Lake Reservoir holds some record-sized Kokanee Salmon, Rainbow and Brown trout, Walleye, and Perch. Enjoy a boat ride detailing the adventures of Lewis and Clark and hear how the Gates of the Mountains were named by Meriwether Lewis himself. This gorgeous scenic area boasts the beauties and undefined natural wonders of Montana.
Area Attractions
Holter Lake
The emerald-green waters of the spanning lake stretched out in front of the property provide the difference between country living and utterly wonderful recreation and lake living! The lake is formed by Holter Dam on the Missouri River. Holter Lake is popular for its fishing and its water recreational attributes. Many visit the lake to camp, boat (non-motor and motorized), water ski, surf, wakeboard, swim, tube, float, hike, photograph, and view wildlife and birds. With boundless recreation opportunities, the lake makes a busy spot in the summer months among locals. The lake is a moderate-sized reservoir at 3660 acres. Access to the lake is wonderful. Several boat ramps exist along the shore with several designated fishing access sites. Located in the west-central portion of the state near Helena, Montana, there are also well-maintained campgrounds available. The lake is surrounded by rugged and majestic mountains and sparsely wooded hills. This area is also rich in history as Lewis and Clark made their famous trek through this area 200 years ago. You’ll be stunned by the views of the Sleeping Giant Wilderness Study Area and the Gates of the Mountains is a beloved trip via watercraft.
Dearborn River Area
The emerald-green and blue waters of the Dearborn River begin in the Scapegoat Wilderness and gently flow for more than sixty miles to the confluence with the Missouri River near Craig, MT. This area is all about fishing as it should be when located on one of the world’s premier trout streams. Fishing guides, fishing lodges, and fishing shops stipple the valley where there are more drift boats on the water than people in the community! In this area, you will find miles of forested wilderness giving a home to varieties of wildlife and activities such as hiking, camping, birdwatching, photography, scenic drives, and outdoor adventure!
Premier Fishing and Hunting
The Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks stocks Holter Lake annually with a significant number of rainbow trout. To catch a sizable trout, you will need to take a boat out and sink lines deep. Spin fishing is the most popular method used on the lake because of the various depths. Large spoons or live bait are used to catch the bigger fish. In addition to rainbow trout, Holter Lake also has mountain whitefish, brook trout, brown trout, pike, walleye, and yellow perch. Fly fishing is less popular on the lake but below the dam is where the blue ribbon stretch of the Missouri River begins. There is one entity that draws thousands of visitors from all around the world to this area and that is the fishing. These waters are filled with nutrients from the cold tailwaters from the bottom of Holter Dam creating a smorgasbord of feed for those finicky fish. As a result, the population of rainbow and brown trout surged averaging about 7000+ fish per mile of river. These fish are frequently greater than 10 inches in length! The river is a playground offering year-round fishing. In addition to the plethora of fishing access sites along Interstate 15, there are numerous streams and creeks in the area to tackle. Holter Lake, Hauser Lake, and Canyon Ferry Lake also provide excellent fishing and boating.
The central location puts you in the middle of tremendous hunting opportunities. Montana offers millions of acres of public lands for which to roam and hunt as well as diverse habitats providing homes to the many different species of wildlife. The avid hunter can pursue big game animals including white-tailed and mule deer, elk, antelope, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, mountain lions, and black bears. Upland birds and waterfowl also provide excellent prospects.
Hauser Reservoir
Hauser Lake is a 3,200-acre reservoir on the Missouri River created by Hauser Dam. The lake yields rainbow and brown trout, walleye, and perch. It is an extremely popular take-off point for weekend boating, fishing, and water skiing. There are scenic public campgrounds on Hauser Lake, White Sandy (BLM), Devil's Elbow (BLM), Riverside (BOR), and a few yards further from Black Sandy State Park (MFWP).
Canyon Ferry Lake
The Canyon Ferry Valley is rich with recreational opportunities! The lake spans 25 miles leaving plenty of room to boat, fish, sport fish, sail, swim, water ski, and more. It is proudly Montana’s 3rd largest body of water and a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Twenty-four recreation sites are maintained by the Bureau of Reclamation. Fishing is phenomenal and you can reel in Trout, Salmon, Perch, and Walleye year-round. When the snow flies, the lake is dotted with ice fishing huts and is also utilized for ice skating and iceboat sailing. In addition, there is the Canyon Ferry Wildlife Management Area which encompasses 5,129 acres. The goal of this area is to maintain the existing habitat and provide a place for wildlife viewing and hunting. Archery, shotgun, muzzleloader, and traditional handguns can be used to hunt white-tailed deer and birds such as pheasants, ducks, and Canadian geese. The area is superb for viewing migratory or nesting birds such as Canada geese, double-crested cormorants, American white pelicans, Caspian tern, and ospreys. White-tailed deer, beaver, raccoon, mink, red fox, and sometimes otters and moose can be observed.
Big Game Trophy Hunting in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest claims the title of the largest of all the national forests in Montana. It spans over 3.32 million acres and lies in eight of Montana’s counties. The forest provides timber, minerals, grazing land, and a habitat for wildlife. The area displays fantastic mountain ranges climbing toward the sky. These ranges include the Anaconda, Bitterroot, Beaverhead, Flint Creek, Gravelly, Highland, Madison, Tobacco Root, and Sapphire Mountains. The snowpack of the mountains forms the Big Hole, Beaverhead, and Ruby Rivers. These three rivers then join and flow as one in the Jefferson River. Bird watchers can find more than 260 species in various habitats. The region provides a winter range for bighorn sheep and mountain goats and is home to grizzly and black bears, mule deer, mountain lions, elk, and moose.
Great Divide
The Great Divide allows for skiing in the Montana sunshine! Only 23 miles from Helena and 95 miles from Great Falls, the lift tickets are reasonably priced and there are three main mountain lifts. There is a base lodge that offers up a cup of warm cocoa or food.
Tizer Botanic Gardens and Arboretum
Visit the Tizer Botanic Gardens & Arboretum. These Gardens are situated in the heart of the Elkhorn Mountains straddling Prickly Pear Creek. This is the official test and demonstration garden for the Denver Botanic Garden and Colorado State University’s ‘Plant Select Program.’