Montana's Charming Community Nestled In The Mountains Has Lakeside Camping And Unspoiled Natural Scenery

Tucked into the Mission Mountains of northwestern Montana, the small community of Condon represents the kind of destination that feels increasingly rare in our modern world — a place where genuine mountain charm, pristine natural scenery, and access to exceptional camping remain blissfully untouched by overdevelopment.

With a population under 300, the town's footprint is small, but its character is big, from the tiny post office, the general store, to the log-built Swan Valley Centre Cabins, which double as a pit stop for travelers wandering through Big Sky Country. Condon has managed to preserve the no-nonsense character that draws people to Montana in the first place.

Located in Missoula County along Highway 83, this tiny community serves as the primary gateway to some of Montana's most spectacular wilderness areas. Just 10 miles south of town, Holland Lake sparkles at the foot of the Swan Range, its turquoise surface reflecting the steep shoulders of Holland Peak.

The Holland Lake Campground hugs its shoreline inside Flathead National Forest, providing 38 well-maintained sites, most with tables, fire rings, and lake access. Visitors can launch a kayak or paddleboard right from camp. For those who crave both comfort and wilderness, it's an ideal base: Potable water, vault toilets, and boat ramps make life easy, but the best amenities are intangible — clear mountain air, the call of loons, and starry stillness broken only by the crackle of a fire. Note that new reservation rules in 2025 require a small nonrefundable deposit through Recreation.gov.

Holland Lake is popular in every season, for water sports, and a hike to nearby Holland Falls is spectacular any time of year but perhaps at its most haunting in winter, when you can snowshoe your way up to admire the frozen formation. In summer, the long daylight hours encourage a slower rhythm: mornings by the water, afternoons on forest trails, and evenings swapping stories around the fire. It's a place that rewards minimal agendas, so make sure to leave plenty of time open to serendipity.

Condon belongs to a part of Montana known as Glacier Country, a region celebrated for its mix of frontier grit and mountain grace. Visitors are encouraged to embrace local stewardship codes: Pack out what you pack in, keep wildlife wild, and tread lightly on the trails. Also, remember that you are definitely in bear country, so best to brush up on what to do if you see a bear and take all necessary precautions. 

Less than an hour north, hidden in Montana's Rocky Mountains, is the tranquil year-round resort of Flathead Lake, a great spot for stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking or Nordic skiing and ice-fishing in winter. Flathead is one of the largest lakes in the Western U.S., and due to its sheer size, it usually never entirely freezes, although there is ice formation near the shores. 

About 2 miles south of Condon starts the trail to Holland Peak, covering 11 miles with an elevation of 5,200 feet, and the vantage point, the highest in Swan Range, gives you a breathtaking panorama of two picture-perfect lakes. On online climbing community Summitpost, however, user SaintGrizzly warns that "upon reaching the upper lake you find yourself confronted with 1500' of sheer wall running from lake to summit ..." but later adds that "Holland Peak is a hard day's work, but is in all respects a magnificent outing!".

When it's time for city amenities, in just one hour and 20 minutes, you can reach dynamic Missoula for a wide selection of dining, shopping, and entertainment. Missoula has been lauded by travel outlets for its outstanding wilderness setting and fly fishing culture, in addition to a vibrant live music scene and galleries showcasing Indigenous art and world-class ceramics. As if those are not enough reasons to visit, this Montana recreation hotspot even has a secret draft beer scene. Missoula's airport has recently been expanded to meet rapidly growing demand. Flights serve major U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, making it a convenient spot to start or end your Condon adventure.