Lolo 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
- 4,102 sq mi
- Managed by
- Forest Service
- Campgrounds
- 51
- Longest rig
- 64 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 · 51 campgrounds shown
- Bend Guard Stationto 40 ft · 1 sitesReservations accepted
- Big Hole LookoutJune 10 – October 14 · Reservations accepted
- Big Larch Campgroundto 51 ft · 58 sitesSpring – Year round, not plowed · First-come, first-served
- Big Nelson CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Bighorn CampgroundMay 9 · First-come, first-served
- Bitterroot Flat CampgroundMay 9 · First-come, first-served
- Bob Marshall Wilderness ComplexSeason not published
- Cabin City CampgroundMay 20 · First-come, first-served
- Cascade Campgroundto 30 ft · 2 sitesMay 7 · First-come, first-served
- Clark Memorial CampgroundMay 21 · First-come, first-served
- Clearwater Crossing CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Copper King CampgroundMay 14 · First-come, first-served
- Cougar Peak Lookoutto 10 ft · 1 sitesJune 13
- Dalles CampgroundMay 9 · First-come, first-served
- Deer Creek CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Double Arrow Lookoutto 20 ft · 1 sitesMay 23 · Reservations accepted
- Fishtrap Lake CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Gold Rush CampgroundOpen year-round, not plowed. · First-come, first-served
- Grizzly CampgroundMay 9 – September 30, 2024 · First-come, first-served
- Harry's Flat CampgroundMay 9 · First-come, first-served
- Hogback Homestead1 sitesApril 1 – November 30
- Kreis Pond CampgroundApril 1 – December 1 · First-come, first-served
- Lake Alva Campgroundto 64 ft · 42 sitesSeason not published
- Lake Inez CampgroundSeason not published
- Lakeside CampgroundMay 28 – September 30 · Reservations accepted
- Lee Creek CampgroundMay 16 · First-come, first-served
- Little Joe Campground - Lolo NFSeason not published
- Lolo Creek Campground and Picnic AreaMay 16 · First-come, first-served
- Monture Creek CampgroundSeason not published
- Monture Guard Station Cabin1 sitesDecember 1 – April 14
- Morgan-Case Homestead1 sitesJanuary 1 – December 31
- Muchwater Dispersed Campground and Recreation AreaOpen year-round, not plowed. · First-come, first-served
- Norton CampgroundMay 9 · First-come, first-served
- Peninsula Dispersed Campground and Recreation AreaOpen year-round, not plowed. · First-come, first-served
- Quartz Flat CampgroundMay 21 · First-come, first-served
- Rainy Lake CampgroundOpen year-round, not plowed. · Reservations accepted
- River Point CampgroundFriday before Memorial Day – Labor Day · Reservations accepted
- Savenac Bunkhouseto 60 ft · 1 sitesReservations accepted
- Savenac Cookhouseto 60 ft · 1 sitesSeason not published
- Savenac East CottageReservations accepted
- Savenac West Cottageto 60 ft · 1 sitesSeason not published
- Seeley Lake CampgroundMay 28 · Reservations accepted
- Selway-Bitterroot WildernessSeason not published
- Siria CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Sloway CampgroundMay 19 · Reservations accepted
- Thompson Peak LookoutMay 8
- Trout Creek CampgroundMay 1 · First-come, first-served
- Up Up 40-Foot Lookout TowerJune 12
- West Fork Butte Lookout1 sitesMarch 31, 2025
- West Fork Fishtrap Creek CampgroundMay 14 · First-come, first-served
Lolo National Forest
Lolo National Forest is a national forest located in western Montana, United States with the western boundary being the state of Idaho. The forest spans 2 million acres (8,000 km2) and includes four wilderness areas; the Scapegoat and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness are partially within the forest while the Welcome Creek and Rattlesnake Wildernesses are solely in Lolo National Forest. The forest was created in 1906 from 4 different previous forests which were combined for administrative purposes. Lolo National Forest is west of the Continental divide and has a biodiversity influenced by both continental and maritime weather creating a transitional forest that has a high number of different plant and tree species.
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.
- Rattlesnake Wilderness34,313 acres
- Welcome Creek Wilderness28,247 acres
Byways through this country
Places worth pulling over
Drive to Lolo 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.