Flathead National Forest
Dispersed camping is generally allowed
On national forest and grassland, camping outside developed campgrounds is generally permitted unless an area is posted closed or a local order says otherwise. Stay on existing surfaces, camp away from water and trailheads, and check the forest's current orders before you go — fire restrictions change through the season.
Rules change with fire season and local order. Checked 2026-08-05. Confirm on the managing office’s official page
- Area
- 4,143 sq mi
- Managed by
- Forest Service
- Campgrounds
- 42
- Longest rig
- 99 ft
Where the land is, and what fits
The official Forest Service boundary with every campground we hold inside it. Tell it how long your rig is and the map keeps only what takes it — public land rarely matches the shape people picture, and neither does what you can actually get into.
Official unit boundary · USDA Forest Service · 42 campgrounds shown
- Anna Creek Cabinto 25 ft · 1 sites · Pull-throughJune 1 – October 31 · Reservations accepted
- Ashley Lake North CampgroundMemorial Day – Labor Day
- Ashley Lake South CampgroundMemorial Day
- Beaver Creek Campground05/15 · First-come, first-served
- Ben Rover Cabinto 50 ft · 1 sites · Pull-throughYear round · Reservations accepted
- Big Creek CampgroundMid May – September 25, 2023 · Reservations accepted
- Challenge Cabin1 sitesDecember 1 · Reservations accepted
- Devil Creek CampgroundMemorial Day Weekend – September 25, 2023 · Reservations accepted
- Devil's Corkscrew CampgroundNo
- Doris Creek Campground10 sites · Pull-through · Bear boxesMid May – September 25, 2023 · Reservations accepted
- Emery Bay Campgroundto 99 ft · 28 sites · Pull-through · Bear boxesMid May – September 25, 2023 · Reservations accepted
- Ford Cabinto 20 ft · 1 sitesMay · Reservations accepted
- Graves Creek CampgroundMid May
- Holland Lake Campgroundto 74 ft · 43 sites · Pull-throughMid May – Late September · Reservations accepted
- Hornet Lookout CabinMid-June · Reservations accepted
- Lakeview CampgroundSeason not published
- Lid Creek Campgroundto 49 ft · 23 sites · Bear boxesMid May – September 25, 2023 · Reservations accepted
- Lindbergh Lake CampgroundReservations accepted
- Lost Johnny Campground5 sitesMid May – September 25, 2023
- Lost Johnny Point Campgroundto 49 ft · 21 sitesMid to Late May – End of September · Reservations accepted
- Mission Lookout CabinMay 15th · Reservations accepted
- Moose Lake CampgroundEarly July
- Murray Bay CampgroundMid May – September 25, 2023 · Reservations accepted
- Ninko Cabin1 sites · Pull-throughDecember 1 · Reservations accepted
- Old Condon Ranger Station1 sitesReservations accepted
- Owl Creek Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Owl Creek Corral1 sitesReservations accepted
- Peter's Creek Campground05/15 · First-come, first-served
- Red Meadow Lake CampgroundSeason not published
- Schnaus Cabinto 50 ft · 1 sites · Pull-throughReservations accepted
- Silvertip Cabin Rental CabinJuly 1 · Reservations accepted
- Spotted Bear CampgroundLate September · First-come, first-served
- Star Meadow Guard Station CabinYear round · Reservations accepted
- Swan Guard Station1 sitesReservations accepted
- Swan Lake Campgroundto 75 ft · 43 sites · Pull-throughMid May – Late September · Reservations accepted
- Sylvia Lake CampgroundMid May
- Tally Lake Campgroundto 60 ft · 41 sites · Pull-throughMid May – September 29, 2923 · Reservations accepted
- Tuchuck CampgroundSeason not published
- Upper Stillwater Lake CampgroundMay
- Van Lake Campground and Day UseSeason not published
- Wurtz Cabinto 50 ft · 1 sitesReservations accepted
- Zip's Place Cabinto 20 ft · 1 sitesJune 1 · Reservations accepted
Flathead National Forest
The Flathead National Forest is a national forest in the western part of the U.S. state of Montana. The forest lies primarily in Flathead County, south of Glacier National Park. The forest covers 2,404,935 acres of which about 1 million acres (4,000 km2) is designated wilderness. It is named after the Flathead Native Americans who live in the area.
Extract from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA. Agency description not published.
No vehicles past these lines
Designated wilderness is closed to every wheeled vehicle, including bicycles. You can walk in and camp; you cannot drive or park a rig inside one.
- Great Bear Wilderness287,012 acres
- Mission Mountains Wilderness76,145 acres
Byways through this country
Places worth pulling over
National parks close enough to pair
Drive to Flathead the long way
Byway plans the road in, not just the destination — real places along the way, weighted to what you like, with nothing invented.