There’s A Little Slice Of Paradise Hiding Right Here In Montana… And You’ll Want To Visit

Most people would describe the state of Montana as paradise, and they’d be correct. But even the Treasure State has a some little gems that are especially spectacular. For example, we’ve got a beautiful lake nestled in the Bitterroot National Forest that’s just a short drive west of Darby, and people who don’t live in Western Montana may not know about it. And if you haven’t experienced Lake Como, you really should.

Located just south of Hamilton, Lake Como is a true hidden gem. It’s a beautiful place to go to relax. You can take your boat out if you’d like, but there’s also a nice, sandy beach where visitors can enjoy some downtime on the banks or go swimming.

Lake Como is a great place to go fishing. The north side has excellent bank access, while the south side is better fished from a boat. The lake is always cold, and the fish (trout, especially rainbows) will feed aggressively early in the morning and in the evening.

The lake area has beautiful views of snowcapped mountains, the perfect backdrop for a serene summer day in paradise.

If you’re into hiking, the Lake Como Loop Trail is a must. While the trail loop is about 8 miles, the scenery is gorgeous. If you don’t want to hike the full loop, the "out and back" trek to the waterfall on the north shore trail is about 6 miles round-trip.

The campground, called Lower Como, is located below the lake and has a host site, a boat ramp and excellent beach access. It’s a peaceful, beautiful place, but it’s fairly basic—make sure you bring your own drinking water and other supplies.

While Lake Como is a popular destination for locals, for many Montanans, it's a hidden gem. And it's not the only place in the state that many people haven't heard of.