Kootenai National Forest

Those who come camping at Loon Lake Campground will leave anew from nature's teachings. Learn the loveliness of this area yourself by boating, canoeing, or fishing for trout. Both first-come, first-served and pack-in, pack-out, this primitive campsite is the perfect place to get away from it all. Read more...

Who's ready to have a ball at North Dickey Lake Campground? This practically perfect place has everything you need in a weekend getaway: plenty of amenities to make you feel at home, a pets-are-welcome policy, and a whole lineup of activities for you to do. Hike, fish, swim, and boat your way through the weekend, and check out the interpretive are Read more...

There might not be many sites at Little Therriault Lake Campground, but there are a whole lot of amenities to enjoy once you arrive! Our fave feature is that you can bring your pooch (leashed, of course), but the hiking trails, lake and pond fishing, and boating spots aren't too bad either. First-come, first-served and open to RVs up to 32' long, Read more...

Webb Mountain Lookout sits high in the big, blue Montana sky. . . 5,988 feet up to be exact. This little stunner offers plenty of sleeping space, a woodstove, an outdoor restroom, and a table. The road to get to this killer camping cabin is accessible to all sorts of vehicles—only the last quarter mile requires a high clearance. Packing in water, Read more...

Yakkity, yak, don’t look back; just look forward to an incredible stay high atop the trees at Yaak Mountain Lookout. It offers stunning views of the town of Troy and the Kootenai River valley, and we hear this sweet little spot is THE place to be on the 4th of July. The lookout sleeps you and your closest crew and comes equipped with beds, propane Read more...

Upper Ford Ranger Station is comfy and quaint in all seasons! Whether you’re visiting in the winter to snowshoe or in the summer for incredible fishing on the Yaak River, this cabin is the dopest command post in the rockies for you and your crew. It's got enough beds for 10, a propane stove, heat and a fridge, as well as plenty of seating and a re Read more...

The Big Creek Baldy Lookout offers panoramic mountain views perfect for those who want to get out and experience high elevation camping. While this spot isn’t great for kiddos or pets, friends, couples, or solo travelers looking for an up top wilderness experience need only bring their own water, food, TP, dishes, and sense of adventure. The looko Read more...

Enjoy a pink sky sunset from the balcony of Garver Mountain Lookout. This quaint observation tower comes equipped with two beds, an outhouse, a wood stove, a table, and chairs. The rest of the adventure is yours to choose, though water, bedding, food, and cookware are must-brings for a comfy stay. Spend your days exploring alpine lakes or Garver C Read more...

Find yourself a little slice of wilderness paradise on the west end of the 90-mile long Lake Koocanusa at McGillivray Campground. This campground has all the fancy bells and whistles to attract even the most softcore campers. Paved roads on which to park your RV (up to 40 feet in length), shady pavilions, a fully developed boat launch, and a swimm Read more...

For all you folks looking for a campsite that will not only accommodate you, but will really charm the pants off you, Camp 32 Campground is the spot. Nestled between the tall fir trees of the Kootenai National Forest and a pleasant mountain meadow, this campground is perfect for people who want to pitch their tents or park their RVs in the middle Read more...

It’s easy to see why Peck Gulch Campground is a favorite destination for travelers from all over Montana and its neighboring states. Situated in the beauty of the Kootenai National Forest, this campground boasts five total acres of wide-open space where you can park your RV or pitch your tent right alongside the 90-mile long Lake Koocanusa. Use th Read more...

Like other campgrounds in the adjacent area, Rocky Gorge Campground is well-equipped with drinking water, vault toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, a boat launch, and accessible trails that comb Lake Koocanusa. That would be why it's considered a hot spot! It's also first-come, first-served, so get your booty to these dune beaches and snatch a sit Read more...

It's primitive, it's petite, and it's the perfect place to escape from city life. It's Caribou Campground! (It's also free—yippee!) Located in the Kootenai National Forest, this spot offers lake and stream fishing, trails for day hikes, and undeveloped awesomeness to explore. Into it. Read more...

Come camp the primitive way at Kilbrennan Lake Campground. It's got you covered on a vault toilet, fire rings, and picnic tables, but all the other necessities are on you. Motorized boating, lake & pond fishing, and top-notch nature-enjoying are popular pastimes at this small area, so come enjoy!Read more...

Plopped near the Yaak River, Pete Creek Campground is welcome respite for fishers and non-motorized boaters. It's light on the amenities, but luxurious in terms of nature, so pack-in, get your fill of riverside goodness, campfire vibes, and picnic perfection, and pack back out 'til it's time to escape again. Read more...

A visit to the tiny Red Top Campground is sure to make your outdoor-minded friends back home green with envy. Nestled alongside the beguiling backdrops of Kootenai National Forest, the area’s strung together by just a few primitive campsites that are only equipped with vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. Pack-in (including your pet!), pa Read more...

Undeveloped access to the Yaak River? We’re sold. After a wild river ride in the boat you brought along (make sure it's a small, packable one!), plop down at Whitetail Campground. You may not be able to take a warm shower when you arrive, but you will have access to drinking water, vault toilets, and a fire pit 'n' picnic table to facilitate dinne Read more...

Yaak Falls Campground is only 16 miles away from the town of Troy, making it an accessible escape worh taking. Its only amenities are vault toilets, campfire rings, and picnic tables, meaning this pack-in, pack-out area’s geared toward the backpacker or camper who travels lightly and blends seamlessly in with nature upon arrival!Read more...

Popular among visitors to Kootenai National Forest, Rexford Bench Campground is an ideal destination for those wishing to escape into the wilderness. And that's all of us, right? Because of this, you gots ta make a reservation before hand. Once that's taken care of, pop on by and live up the fishing, hiking, swimming, and boating opportunities her Read more...

Eleven miles from the Montana/Idaho border, the Bull River Campground and Group Site are situated smack dab in the middle of some of the Montana’s most impressive forests. Right at the confluence of the Bull River and the Clark Fork River, there’s a little something for everyone at this spot, with plenty of opportunity for fishing, swimming, saili Read more...

Summers should be spent at the beach, and lucky for you, even in landlocked Montana you can get your fill of lakeside beach lounging at Dorr Skeels Campground. Nestled right up against Bull Lake in a gorgeous mountain setting, this campground boasts a swimming beach (no lifeguard) and a fully developed boat ramp, so that you can enjoy the lake in Read more...

You might feel a bit like you’re stepping into a postcard when you drive up the Spar Lake Campground in Montana’s Kootenai National Forest. Mountains exploding with giant cedar and hemlock trees surround the clear blue water of Spar Lake, inspiring a deep breath to take in the fresh air and serenity of this spot. Enjoy a stroll through the forest Read more...

Come to Big Therriault Lake Campground prepared to have to pick your jaw up off the ground after taking a peek at its lakeside view for the first time. Lake and pond fishing offer opportunities to catch Westslope cutthroat trout and other species of fish, while hiking trails are at your disposal. Back at camp, fire rings and tables are available o Read more...

Pack-in, pack out? Check. Stream water for a filter-and-drink experience? Check. Yep, Grave Creek Campground is an itty-bitty, first-come, first-served spot where you can get that authentic camping experience. Bring your fishing rod, plus your pet if you wish, and prepare to unplug all over the place out here!Read more...

No smoking at Tobacco River Campground! All we want those lungs to breathe in is fresh air—and you may be gasping for it after a long, fulfilling hike or a turn tubing on the river. There aren't too many campsites at this walkup spot, but should you get your hands on one, you'll have a ball fishing, building fires in the provided rings, and observ Read more...

Bad Medicine Campground may be a bit of a misnomer since we think that mountain landscapes, a crystal-blue lake, and forests bursting with trees may be just what the doctor ordered. This camping escape lies 25 miles south of Troy, Montana at the southern end of Bull Lake. You don’t have to sacrifice comfort for nature here, since this campground o Read more...

Put on your widest brimmed hat and come play ranger at the Bull River Guard Station! Built in 1908, this ranger cabin is now furnished with period furniture, beds, heating, an outhouse, and a stove for your stay. You’ll have to bring in water, food, and that brew you’ve been saving for a special occasion—the view of the Cabinet Mountain from the n Read more...

You know what they say: a picture’s worth a thousand words, and the snaps you're soon to take at Howard Lake Campground could tell a novel. It's dotted with just a few sites, some of which are pull-throughs, and there’s little in the way to distract you from the pristine beach that you'll grow to love whilst swimming, boating, and fishing your day Read more...

With a full catwalk encircling Mt. Baldy-Buckhorn Mountain Lookout, you’re fo’ sho’ gonna wake up (and go to sleep) to insane mountain views! High above the trees you can gaze Rock Candy Mountain and count practically every star in the sky. This car-accessible lookout (high clearance recommended!) is equipped with bunk beds, a propane stove, a hea Read more...

When you pop open the shutters at Mt. Wam Lookout you’re going to be glad you endured the hike to get to these epic mountain views! One of three trails can be hiked to this tiny peak-teetering cabin, none of which are recommended for kiddos, just full sized adventurers. It comes equipped with an outdoor restroom, platform beds, a woodstove, and th Read more...

It’s not difficult to unplug and unwind at Lake Creek Campground in the Kootenai National Forest. This small campground is perfect for those who prefer the minimalist style, since any facilities aside from drinking water and toilets lie 32 miles away in the nearest town (Libby, Montana). To venture out to this isolated spot, you’ll want a high cle Read more...

Next time you’re traveling through the open country of the American Northwest, make sure to take a pit stop at Big Eddy Campground, just 8 miles from the Montana/Idaho border. Adjacent to the Cabinet Gorge Reservoir in the Kootenai National Forest, this quiet little campground provides a shady place to relax and pass the time fishing and boating. Read more...

Sylvan Lake Campground is one of those places that once you’ve discovered it, you can’t get it out of your mind and keep coming back for more. Hidden amongst tall evergreen and fir trees, this secluded cluster of campsites is the kind of place that you’ll be bragging to your fellow wilderness friends about how you found it first. Surrounded by the Read more...

Nestled high atop the trees in the Clark Fork River Area, Gem Peak Lookout the perfect place to get back to nature! Explore over 400 miles of trails, fish, or simply come in the springtime to take in the wildflowers that blanket the hills surrounding the cabin. Beds, firewood, a wood stove, and a restroom are already waiting for ya; water, food, c Read more...

Right in the heart of the Thompson Chain of Lakes in Montana’s Kootenai National Forest, you’ll discover the pristine McGregor Lake Campground along Highway 2. This collection of campsites has a little bit to offer for everyone from RV-lovers to tent-camping aficionados, all nestled up right on the banks of the west end of McGregor Lake (the large Read more...

Of the several campgrounds located around Noxon Reservoir, North Shore Campground is the place to go for those seeking amenities and convenience. With a fully developed boat launch on-site, paved roads and parking, and grocery stores and showers within three miles, there’s not much more you could ask for to make a relaxing camping vacation. Lace u Read more...

Venture a little bit further off the grid—19 miles from the nearest town, to be exact—and escape into the Kootenai National Forest at Willow Creek Campground. Bumping down the gravel road, you’ll know you’ve reached the destination when you’re surrounded by forests and mountains rather than shops and people. Kick back for a few days and lounge aro Read more...

With 360 degree forest and mountain views, Minton Peak Lookout makes for high elevation camping with high style! Renovated to offer beds, a cozy wood stove, and a propane cooktop, the cabin also has a restroom nearby. Relax under the starry sky by the outdoor fire pit and spend your days exploring Minton Creek or the surrounding forest. The site i Read more...

Enjoy the majestic views, comfy beds, wood stove, and other amenities at this majestic mountain lookout. You'll need to haul your own water, food, bedding, and whatever else strikes your fancy into the middle of the woods, but it'll be worth it once you're snuggling under a million-star skies or staying cozy on the balcony. Read more...

At Jackpine Flats Campground you’ll really be doing some off-the-grid camping. Located in the densely wooded Kootenai National Forest about four miles from the border of Montana and Idaho, this small campground is the place to go if you’re looking to spend some alone time out in the wilderness. With only one campsite, you’ll be able to stretch out Read more...

Have a hoot on the horseback riding trails and day hiking paths at Swisher Lake Campground! A mere 8 miles from the town of Eureka, this small camping spot is setup with a vault toilet, picnic tables, and fire rings—but no drinking water, so be sure to think about that before arriving. Those with boats will enjoy the 9-acre lake that after which t Read more...

Make your way to Marten Creek Campground for the ultimate relaxation. Located along the Marten Creek Bay of the Noxon Reservoir, this small-but-mighty campground has everything you need for a trip full of boating, fishing, and hanging out in the shade with a cold brew. Opt for a sheltered site or the large group site for a picnic or family gatheri Read more...