Kootenai 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
- 4,097 sq mi
- Managed by
- Forest Service
- Campgrounds
- 40
- Longest rig
- 60 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 · 40 campgrounds shown
- Bad Medicine CampgroundMay · First-come, first-served
- Big Creek Baldy LookoutJune – September 30 · Reservations accepted
- Big Eddy CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Big Therriault Lake CampgroundJune · First-come, first-served
- Bull River Campground and Group SiteMay 1 · First-come, first-served
- Camp 32Season not published
- Caribou CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Dorr Skeels Campground10 sitesMay · First-come, first-served
- Fairview Ranger Station1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Grave Creek CampgroundMay · First-come, first-served
- Horse CampJune · First-come, first-served
- Howard Lake CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Jackpine Flats CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Kilbrennan Lake CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Lake Creek CampgroundMemorial Day · First-come, first-served
- Loon Lake CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Marten Creek CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- McGillivray Campground and Group SitesMemorial Day · Reservations accepted
- McGregor Lake Campgroundto 60 ft · 28 sites · Electric · Pull-throughMemorial Day · First-come, first-served
- McGuire Mountain LookoutMid-June · Reservations accepted
- North Dickey Lake Campgroundto 50 ft · 25 sites · Pull-throughMay · Reservations accepted
- North Shore CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Oscar Miller Camping AreaFirst-come, first-served
- Peck Gulch CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Pete Creek CampgroundMay · First-come, first-served
- Pleasant Valley CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Red Top CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Rexford Bench Campgroundto 50 ft · 54 sites · Pull-throughLate April · Reservations accepted
- Rocky Gorge CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Spar Lake CampgroundMay · First-come, first-served
- Swisher Lake CampgroundSeason not published
- Sylvan Lake CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Timberlane Campground1 sitesMid May · Reservations accepted
- Tobacco River CampgroundSeason not published
- Triangle PondFirst-come, first-served
- Webb Mountain LookoutLate June · Reservations accepted
- Whitetail CampgroundMay · First-come, first-served
- Willow Creek CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Yaak Falls CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Yaak River CampgroundMay · First-come, first-served
Kootenai National Forest
The Kootenai National Forest is a national forest located in the far northwestern section of Montana and the northeasternmost lands in the Idaho panhandle in the United States, along the Canada–US border. Of the 2.2 million acres (8,900 km2) administered by the forest, less than 3 percent is located in the state of Idaho. Forest headquarters are located in Libby, Montana. There are local ranger district offices in Eureka, Fortine, Libby, Trout Creek, and Troy, Montana. About 53 percent of the 94,272-acre (381.51 km2) Cabinet Mountains Wilderness is located within the forest, with the balance lying in neighboring Kaniksu National Forest.
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.
- Cabinet Mountains Wilderness93,766 acres
Byways through this country
Places worth pulling over
National parks close enough to pair
Drive to Kootenai 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.