Tips for Visiting the Gates of the Mountains Recreation Area and Holter Lake Near Helena, MT
It was Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark fame who aptly named the Gates of the Mountains.
As you begin to explore the Gates of the Mountains and Holter Lake area, you’ll be stunned by its beauty and soon come to realize why Lewis gave it this moniker.
Lewis named it Gates of the Mountains due to the towering cliffs bordering the Missouri River that appear to open and close as you navigate the turns in the river.
At that time, the river was not yet dammed, making the cliffs even more dramatic than they appear today.
Though the Missouri River has since been dammed, raising the water levels, “the Gates” are still breathtaking, and the dam has created one of our favorite summertime recreation spots in Montana: Holter Lake reservoir, a 24-mile section of the Missouri River running from Upper Holter Lake (southern end) to Lower Holter Lake (northern end).
The over 28,000 acres and over 50 miles of trails that make up the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness Area border the Missouri River heading north from Upper Holter Lake.
The pristine, wild, and roadless wonder of the entire wilderness area can be accessed from stops along the southern portion of Holter Lake.
However, it’s the fun that you can have on and near the water that makes the Gates of the Mountains and Holter Lake a fun-filled spot to enjoy Montana’s short summers. Holter Lake offers the perfect spot for boating, kayaking, fishing, camping, and soaking in the sun and views of the Gates under the big sky.
Gates of the Mountains Boat Tour
One of the best ways to take in the grandeur of the Gates is through a Gates of the Mountains boat tour, which you can book at gatesofthemountains.com.
This two-hour guided trip uses open-air tour boats to offer the best views of the Gates, running from Upper Holter Lake to near Mann Gulch (roughly 7 miles). The tour is operated by the Gates of the Mountains Inc., a non-profit organization that aims to protect and educate about the Gates of the Mountains.
The tour shares a slice of Montana’s beauty and history while taking you through some of the state’s most breathtaking scenery, with imposing limestone cliffs, diverse wildlife, and views of pictographs left by the indigenous inhabitants of the land.
All the while, the knowledgeable boat captain/guide shares their deep knowledge of the local and natural history of the area, including one of the most famous episodes for which the Gates are known: the tragedy of the 1949 Mann Gulch Fire.
Chronicled in Norman Maclean’s Young Men and Fire, 13 young smokejumpers lost their lives in a fire at Mann Gulch that forever changed wildfire science and safety.
2024 Tour Schedule for Gates of the Mountains Boat Tour
Tours operate daily from late May through September, with tickets for the coming summer typically going on sale in January. Check out the tour schedule for specific tour departure times each month here.
In 2024, boat tours will start May 25. From May through August, there will be two or three boat tours daily during the week. That will double on weekends in July and August. In September, boat tours will still be offered until the September 14, except on Mondays and Tuesdays (though tours will be running on Labor Day).
Book your ticket ahead of time here.
2024 Boat Tour Rates
- Adult (18-59): $20
- Senior (60+): $15
- Active Military (with ID): $15
- Child (3-17): $10
- 2 and Under: Free
- Dinner Cruise: $44
Exploring the Gates of the Mountains & Holter Lake on Your Own
While the tour is an excellent way to learn about the history of the Gates of the Mountains, exploring on your own allows you to enjoy the beauty at your own leisure and have some fun in the sun.
Whether you bring your own watercraft or rent one, exploring on your own affords you the opportunity to see the whole 24-mile span of the Missouri River from Upper to Lower Holter Lake. Make sure you know your Montana boating regulations before you head out.
Boat Launches at Holter Lake
Holter Lake has a couple of different boat launches depending if you’re coming from the south or north:
Upper Holter Lake (South): Gates of the Mountains Marina
The Gates of the Mountains Marina (where you go for the tour boat) has a public boat launch that deposits you into Upper Holter Lake, right on the edge of the Gates of the Mountains.
The fee is $10 per day to use the launch and park your trailer and $5 per day for boats without a trailer. An attendant will collect your fee as you approach the launch, and there is ample trailer and car parking. Overnight parking is not allowed. The paved ramp has space for two boats to launch simultaneously, as well as docks flanking both sides of the ramp.
Lower Holter Lake (North): Holter Lake Recreation Area & Log Gulch Recreation Area
Both Holter Lake Recreation Area and Log Gulch Recreation Area have multi-lane boat ramps with docks, as well as trailer and car parking. The cost is included in the day-use fee (or nightly camping fee if you stay overnight).
Directions to the marina and recreation areas are included in the “Directions” section at the end of this article.
Boat Rental Tips for Holter Lake
If you don’t have your own watercraft, there are various options for renting in Helena, Great Falls, or other major Montana towns from which you may be coming. These are viable options if you are comfortable towing a boat.
Read More:
–Great Falls, MT Travel Guide
-Best Things to Do in Helena, Montana
However, if you want to make things as hassle-free as possible, then Launch Watersports operating out of the Boat Loft is your best bet.
The Boat Loft is the only boat rental option directly on Holter Lake, located on the eastern shore of Lower Holter Lake. Your boat will already be in the water and ready for you when you arrive. Full day and half-day boat rental options are available.
In addition to rentals, the Boat Loft has a shop that sells bait, boating accessories, gasoline, snacks, and more. They are open daily from April through October (weather dependent).
Gates of the Mountains and Holter Lake Activities
Watersports on Holter Lake
We think the best way to enjoy the water is to play in it!
If you visit with a motorized boat, Holter Lake is great for water sports like waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing, and knee-boarding. Of course there’s also swimming and just boating for pleasure as well.
Note that no towing sports (i.e., waterskiing, wakeboarding, etc.) are allowed through the Gates of the Mountains section between Upper Holter Lake and just past Mann Gulch on Saturdays and Sundays, but that still leaves over 15 miles of the lake to play in.
If you’re more into human-powered instead of motor-powered boating, Holter Lake offers a beautiful place to kayak or canoe.
From Upper Holter Lake you can paddle through the 5.5 mile canyon to Coulter Campground or Meriwether Picnic Area, taking a rest before making the return trip.
Or, if you’re near one of the campgrounds at Lower Holter Lake, you could bring a paddleboard and explore the area nearby. Just watch for motorboats and be aware of the high winds that can sometimes whip through the canyon with little warning.
Whatever water sports you enjoy, remember to practice water safety. The river is deep, with an average depth of 50 feet. Individuals who aren’t confident swimmers should always have a personal flotation device since there are very few spots where they will be able to touch the bottom (and even if they can touch in one spot, the bottom can drop off sharply).
Be sure to also use an orange “skier/swimmer down” flag for extra safety whenever anyone is in the water.
Fishing on Holter Lake
What’s a day on the lake without some fishing?
Montana is known for its fishing, and Holter is no exception. On any given day you’ll see dozens of anglers on Holter vying for their next big catch. Rainbow, brook, and brown trout; mountain whitefish; carp; walleye; perch; and kokanee salmon all inhabit this lake.
Given the depth of the lake, boats provide the best access to the fish as most won’t be hanging out near shore. Be sure to grab a fishing license before you go (you must be able to show your fishing license and an ID if requested by a ranger) and know the fishing regulations.
Picnic Areas by Gates of the Mountains
As great as the water is, sometimes it feels good to get back on some dry land.
Holter Lake offers some beautiful picnic spots. From Upper Holter Lake, you can head over to Coulter Campground where there is a picnic table and small beach (and if there is a campsite open, you can also use one of those sites for a picnic).
If Coulter is full, continue a mile downstream to the Meriwether Picnic Area. This is a day-use picnic area that has multiple boat slips and picnic tables. These are spread out, offering a small degree of privacy among parties.
There is also a sheltered pavilion that was a former ranger station with additional picnic tables.
As you walk through the picnic area, there is a memorial for the fallen smokejumpers who perished in the Mann Gulch Fire and other informational plaques sharing interesting facts about the area.
Meriwether Picnic Area also serves as a trailhead for multiple hikes through portions of the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness Area.
If you’re on the northern end at Lower Holter Lake, Holter Lake Recreation Area, Log Gulch Recreation Area, and Departure Point Recreation Area all have day-use picnic sites and swimming areas.
These sites are $5 per day per vehicle, available from 7AM to 10PM. If you’re boating in, Holter Lake and Log Gulch have docks, which are included in the day-use fee.
Camping at Holter Lake
Boat-in Only Sites
Coulter Campground
Coulter Campground is a boat-in only campground adjacent to the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness with seven free, non-reservable campsites.
The campground is maintained by the US Forest Service with boat docks, a water pump with potable water, communal bear-resistant food storage containers, and a vaulted toilet. Each campsite features a fire pit and picnic table.
There are no garbage containers, so remember to pack out what you pack in and practice leave-no-trace principles. Also remember that the only way in or out is by boat and there is no cell phone reception, so pack enough supplies and a first aid kit in case there is an emergency.
The easiest way to access Coulter Campground is from the Gates of the Mountains Marina at Upper Holter Lake, where you can use the boat ramp and park your car and trailer.
From the Marina, the campground is just a short boat ride north through the Gates. You’ll see a wide grassy knoll and docks on your right (i.e. east) as you are heading north. If you reach the Meriwether Picnic Area, you’ve gone about a mile too far.
Drive-in and Boat-in Sites
Holter Lake State Recreation Area
Holter Lake Campground is located at the north end of Holter Lake just east of the dam and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. There are 52 numbered, non-reservable campsites that each have a fire pit and picnic table. RVs are allowed; however, there are no hookups onsite.
The campground offers potable water, vault toilets, a ramada picnic shelter (available on a first-come, first-served basis), and a dock system with launch ramps and multiple slips (also first-come, first-served basis and included in the camping fee).
Holter Lake Campground costs $15 per night per unit (i.e., each RV or tent is one unit) for camping and $5 per day per vehicle for day use.
Log Gulch Recreation Area
Just south of Holter Lake Campground and also maintained by the Bureau of Land Management, is Log Gulch. This campground has 70 first-come, first served numbered campsites for tents and RVs; however, reservations for group camping are available (call 406-235-4480 for reservations).
Two sites are limited to tents only, but all the remaining sites can accommodate tents or RVs. Each campsite has a fire pit and picnic table, though there are not hookups for RVs at any of the sites. There is a limit of two camping units at each site (i.e., each RV or tent is one unit), and there is usually a camp host or staff on duty.
In addition to camping, the campground recreation area has multiple other features for campers and day use visitors, including a fish cleaning station, a beach with enclosed swimming area, ramada picnic shelters, loading dock with boat ramps, and boat slips. The campground also provides potable water and vault toilets.
- One of the ramada shelters is available for group reservations, with the other available on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact the Butte Field Office at 406-235-4480 for reservation details.
- Boat slips are included in the camping or day use fee and are available at a first-come, first-served basis.
Log Gulch costs $15 per night per unit for camping and $5 per day per vehicle for day use (7 AM to 10 PM). There is a 7-day stay limit.
Drive-in Only Sites
Departure Point Recreation Area
Departure Point is located down the road from Log Gulch. The campground, managed by Bureau of Land Management, features four campsites on a first-come, first-served basis, with a camp host or staff typically available daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
The campground has vault toilets, a beach, a grassy area, and four public picnic tables for day use. It does not have potable water; however, you can get water at the Log Gulch Campground. There is a trailer length limit of 50 feet.
Departure Point costs $15 per night for camping and $5 per day per vehicle for day use (7 AM to 10 PM). There is a 7-day stay limit.
Directions to Gates of the Mountains and Holter Lake
Getting to Upper Holter Lake (the Gates of the Mountains Marina & Boat Tour)
From Helena
Take I-15 North towards Great Falls. Take Exit 209 for Gates of the Mountains. Turn right onto Gates of the Mountains Road and follow for approximately 2.8 miles. The road ends at the Marina at 3131 Gates of the Mountains Road, Helena, MT 59601.
The Gates of the Mountains Marina is approximately 20 miles from Helena and will take roughly 30 minutes to reach by car.
From Great Falls
Take I-15 South towards Helena. Take Exit 209 for Gates of the Mountains. Turn left onto Gates of the Mountains Road and follow for approximately 2.9 miles. The road ends at the Marina at 3131 Gates of the Mountains Road, Helena, MT 59601.
The Gates of the Mountains Marina is approximately 75 miles from Great Falls and will take roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach by car.
Getting to Lower Holter Lake (Holter Lake, Log Gulch, and Departure Point Recreation Areas, The Boat Loft Boat Rental)
From Helena
Take I-15 North towards Great Falls. Take Exit 226 to Wolf Creek. Turn right onto Walsh St. toward Recreation Road. Take a left onto Recreation Road. After crossing bridge, turn right onto Beartooth Rd. Continue 2.3 miles to Holter Lake Campground, which will be on your right.
- For The Boat Loft, continue an additional approximately .5 miles down Beartooth Road from Holter Lake Campground
- For Log Gulch Campground, continue an additional approximately. 5.2 miles down Beartooth Road from Holter Lake Campground.
- For Departure Point Campground, continue an additional .5 miles down Beartooth Road from Log Gulch Campground.
The campgrounds are approximately 45 miles from Helena and will take roughly 1 hour to reach by car.
From Great Falls
Take I-15 South towards Helena. Take Exit 226 to Wolf Creek. Turn left under the overpass onto Walsh St. toward Recreation Road. Take a left onto Recreation Road. After crossing bridge over the Missouri River, turn right onto Beartooth Rd. Continue 2.3 miles to Holter Lake Campground, which will be on your right.
- For The Boat Loft, continue an additional approximately .5 miles down Beartooth Road from Holter Lake Campground
- For Log Gulch Campground, continue an additional approximately. 5.2 miles down Beartooth Road from Holter Lake Campground.
- For Departure Point Campground, continue an additional .5 miles down Beartooth Road from Log Gulch Campground.
The campgrounds are approximately 60 miles from Great Falls and will take roughly 1 hour and 10 minutes to reach by car.
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