Camping in Flathead Lake State Park - Yellow Bay Unit

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Top-rated campgrounds near Flathead Lake State Park - Yellow Bay Unit

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❤️ Glacier Park HipCamp 🏕️

23 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · Coram, MT
Come enjoy peace and quiet in the beautiful meadows near our home. We are located on 40 acres that include forested trails, a large pond, two small ponds, a creek, and frequent wildlife as well as spectacular stargazing at night. All sites have a campfire ring and picnic table. We provide a unique eco-camping experience in contrast to the crowded campground/RV park, and we are only 6 miles away from the entrance to Glacier National Park! Please let us know if you have multiple tents or vehicles as some sites may be a better choice for you than others. No hookups are provided – dry camping only. Parking for larger vehicles/trailers is available at sites 1-6 - an open, flat meadow with the pond on the other side of the road. Tents are welcome in all sites; although, we recommend the back meadow sites (7 and up) for more secluded tent campers (especially in July) as it has less traffic and more privacy. Sites 7-20 (the back meadow sites) have parking for vehicles 26' or less in total length. All sites have access to vault toilets, and all sites are back-in sites with partial shade. Because of the proximity to Glacier National Park and the main HWY, traffic noise and train noise can be heard at the campsites. Visitors are ask to keep their speed to a minimum to reduce dust on the dirt on Greens Road. We are just a short bike ride away (two minutes by car) from attractions such as the Whiskey Barn, The Paul Bunyan Bar & grill, Glacier Hi-Line Ropes Course, and the Amazing Fun Center, maze, and mini golf. It is also easy access to the Gateway to Glacier Bike path. E-bike rentals are across the street from us. Closest Gas station is the Cenex in Coram (1.5 mi away). Closest public (free) landfill dump is 2.2 miles toward Columbia Falls at 9626 Us HWY 2 E. Near Paul Bunyan Bar and Grill (which is also a good restaurant near us). Look for the gated entry and small sign marking Flathead Landfill. Closest grocery is in Hungry Horse at Canyon Foods Grocery (3.5 miles away). There is a laundromat next to this grocery store. Closest dump and water fill up for a vehicle with a holding tank is Mikes Conoco at 1645 9th st W in Columbia Falls (8.9 mi away). Closest town with wifi, cafes, restaurants, urgent care and larger grocery stores is Columbia Falls (9 miles away). We sell solar shower bags, sun screen, card games, cream soda, frisbees, bug spray, coffee, firewood, and more at Sam and Molly's mercantile by our house in the middle of our property. To watch a video tour of the campground: https://youtu.be/EYYuGGWRtag
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$42
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Outback Montana RV Park & Campground

42 sites · RVs, Tents15 acres · Bigfork, MT
WELCOME TO OUTBACK MONTANA RV PARK! Nestled between Woods Bay and Downtown Bigfork, Outback Montana RV Park is in a prime location for you to explore the BEAUTY that is Flathead Lake and Montana’s most spectacular national forests. Our campsite is unique in that it is heavily forested, shaded, and outdoorsy. We’re not one of those paved glorified parking lots. Outback is an authentic camping experience. We provide everything from 50/amp pull-thru with full water and septic, to grassroots campsites where you can sit back and enjoy the stars. A stone's throw from Flathead Lake, our park is a short distance to several boat launches, and minutes from restaurants and activities ON THE WATER! Come and enjoy Montana with us, we offer exceptional service and our staff is here to help with every aspect of your vacation in paradise! OUR STORY Established in 1976, Outback has a rich history within the Bigfork community. Home to many craftsmen, artists, ranchers, and entrepreneurs. Bigfork was originally a frontier town, and has grown into what some refer to as “The Jewel of the Flathead Valley”. Minutes away, Outback has been a vital support system for the community for over 45 years, housing guests and locals year-round. Outback is proud to support our travelers from abroad, and introduce them to all of the colorful events and festivities that make Bigfork such a wonderful destination! Learn more about local events here. With so many opportunities, and resources yet untapped, we are always upgrading and growing. Learning new things, and new ways to create and support experiences within this beautiful space. Join us! We are so happy to meet you along the way. OUTBACK & BEYOND Outback is proud to support our travelers from abroad, and introduce them to all of the colorful events and festivities that make Bigfork such a wonderful destination! From Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park, boating on Flathead Lake, to running the Spartan Race, or braving the rapids in our Annual Category 4 Whitewater Festival! Outback is your base camp for mission MONTANA THINGS TO DO: •FLATHEAD LAKE Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi in the lower 48 states, with over 200 square miles of water and 185 miles of shoreline. Recreation on and around the lake includes sailing, power boating, waterskiing, swimming, fishing, picnicking, and camping. In the summer, roadside stands along the east shore offer a variety of locally grown cherries, apples, plums, and other fruits. •GLACIER NATIONAL PARK Experience Glacier's pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains, and spectacular lakes. With over 700 miles of trails, Glacier is a hiker's paradise for adventurous visitors seeking wilderness and solitude. Relive the days of old through historic chalets, lodges, and the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. Explore Glacier National Park and discover what awaits you. •FLY FISHING The Flathead River system of northwestern Montana offers memorable fishing opportunities. From sites of easy access to that remote wilderness, the Flathead waters can provide diverse fishing experiences. Three main branches, the North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork, eventually come together to form the main stem of the Flathead River that flows into the 28-mile-long Flathead lake. Access to the three forks and the main Flathead is readily available in places, but to effectively fish the best of the Flathead, floating is suggested. The hardest thing about fly fishing in this part of northwestern Montana is keeping your eye on your fly and not the spectacular scenery. •BIGFORK SUMMER PLAYHOUSE The Bigfork Summer Playhouse was founded in 1960 by Dr. Firman ‘Bo’ Brown and his wife Margery Hunter Brown as a place for University of Montana theatre students to perform in the summer. In the early days of the Bigfork Summer Playhouse, the company ate group meals, rehearsed, and lived in the same place. There were no facilities to build scenery, nor extra storage of any kind. As a matter of fact, the building didn’t even belong to the Bigfork Summer Playhouse — it was a Community Hall owned by the Masons and the Eastern Star and seated approximately 200 people. The summer group would rent the facility and bring in the stage, risers, and seats for the audience. We’re pleased to say that now the playhouse is a 435-seat air-conditioned theater with great fly space, a spacious lobby that contains a concession area, and wonderfully comfortable continental-style seating for hundreds of guests. Numerous spaces off-site to accommodate production needs including a dormitory facility for the actors; living quarters for the directors, technicians, and musicians; costume shop; scene shop; and rehearsal space. •SPARTAN RACE Spartan Race is a series of obstacle races of varying distance and difficulty ranging from 3 miles to marathon distances. They are held in the US and have been franchised to 30 countries including Canada, South Korea, Australia, and several European countries. The series includes the Spartan Sprint, the Spartan Super, the Spartan Beast, and the Spartan Ultra. •WHITEWATER FESTIVAL The Bigfork Whitewater Festival is celebrating 46 years of extreme whitewater action and community-oriented fun! This is the longest-running event in Bigfork and is one that the entire Flathead Valley looks forward to each year. Participants come from around the world to race. Spectators are also a huge part of this festival and come to enjoy the races and other events held in town. •BIGFORK FESTIVAL OF ARTS It was in May of 1978 when the idea of a Bigfork Festival of the Arts was first proposed. As so often happens in Bigfork, it started with a conversation on Electric Ave. between members of the community. The first festival was held on the first weekend in August of 1978. It was a resounding success despite the committee’s inexperience. The feedback from the community was very positive and the group agreed that it should become an annual event. Over the years, the festival has grown steadily to its current size. In 2019, there were more than 140 booths representing a wide variety of arts and crafts by nationally and internationally recognized artists and craftsmen. Festival attendance is estimated to be more than 6,000. •4TH OF JULY PARADE Bigfork knows how to throw a party. And when it’s our country’s birthday, Bigfork really knows how to celebrate. The centerpiece of the celebration is the annual parade through Bigfork which begins at noon. Bring your whole family to view our great parade to celebrate the birth of our country. The 4th of July Parade in Bigfork has been voted “Best Parade in the Flathead” year after year.
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$30
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67%
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Woody's On Flathead Lake

80 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents2 acres · Somers, MT
Welcome to Woody's Basecamp, typically reserved for our tribe of wild firefighters and 1st responders, to put our cheese back on our crackers, between dispatches fighting wildfires and disasters. This is our refuge from the hurricanes that chase us, called Trauma and her cousins, Chaos and Turmoil. In memory of Hurricane Rachael. Our Dirty Secret, we survive the impossible, saving others, only to die by our own hand.......sad stats, but true. Worse yet, we can lose our careers if we seek help. This place started as a garden, Woody planted, to ground himself again, it kept growing into what it is now, because of a vision for healing. We're a work in progress, so is this camp. A little rough around the edges, but working hard to smooth things out. We are wild firefighters, welcome to our world, Plumb Crazy! Super chill and tranquil with a great location, lake out front, hiking out back. A quiet spot, carved out of the base of a mountain. It's walking distance to the Somers Beach and Boat Launch. Blacktail Mountain is next door, Hot Springs, Glacier NP, down the road. There's plenty to do on the lake, in the mountains, or in the towns nearby. Go burn some energy and come back here to ground and re-charge. If you love quaint little towns, you'll love Somers. It offers a post office, café, bar/restaurant, hardware/lumber store, a museum, mansion and a yacht club. Culture, history and beauty here. If you love beaches, the Somers Beach is a great spot with a swimming area and place to launch paddle boards, kayaks, canoes and rafts from. There are spots tucked away next to the shoreline, among the pines, that are super sweet for picnics, or hanging out, whilst the kiddos frolic in the water. The Somers State Park is a part of a Waterfowl Preserve. It's outside of town and pretty secluded. It has a very nice sandy beach and is in a shallow cove. Likewise, it's shallow for a long ways out, so there is no boating traffic here. Perfect for SUP's, kayaker s, kids and dogs. If you love to sail, The North Flathead Yacht Club is a great place to meet locals and hitch a ride on a sailboat For whooping it up! Del's Bar is a great place. Lakeside and Big Fork offer even more, a short drive away. We even have gemstones, a roller coaster and Flathead tours.
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$10
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96%
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The Mooseshroom

15 sites · Lodging, Tents9 acres · Coram, MT
The Mooseshroom is an awesome camping community that is just 7 miles from the west side of Glacier National Park. Community fire pits near the Commons are a short walk from whichever tent spot guests are assigned. The Commons also houses the bathrooms and inside/outside kitchen areas. There is plenty of seating, hammocks and picnic tables for guests to use as well. We also have two yurts available for booking on our property. The Mooseshroom is a licensed business that is limited to hosting 18 guests per night. Guests should expect a quiet, peaceful camping experience with plenty of room to enjoy their surroundings. ***This property is adjacent Highway 2 and there is a fair amount of road noise. There's also a train that's fairly close. The noise kinda comes with the territory, guests are also 10 minutes from the west entrance to the park. The noise does tend to subside considerably at night, but for those bothered by this type of noise, you might consider an alternate location. Most guests are truly fine with it.
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$59
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98%
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Wildiron Bigfork

18 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · MT
We live on 10 acres of mixed forest and field. In the summer we have an active blacksmithing school and flower farm here. The idea of a sustainable, self reliant lifestyle has always been part of our life and passing it down to others is a joy for us. We sustainably manage our food and forest to be the best stewards we can for our environment and our neighbors. Our Cabin and structures were built primarily of materials that were recycled or milled on site. which makes them warm and inviting. The Cabin is located close to our shop which houses an active blacksmithing school in the summer months where the rest of the structures are separate and in an area tucked away on the edge of the woods.Jeffrey and Betsy work to make your stay as welcoming as possible. We maintain a small orchard of fruit trees, a garden which feeds us year round and a small flower farm on the property. Avid skiers, bikers, paddlers and hikers, offering the property for others to enjoy was a conscious decision made when planning all of our infrastructure. Come and enjoy all the beautiful Flathead Valley has to offer.
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$30
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Camp By Glacier_ Camping & Cabins

3 sites · RVs, Tents1 acre · Coram, MT
Welcome to our rustic Montana dry camp, tucked between the pines in a quiet rural neighborhood just minutes from the west entrance of Glacier National Park. Though located in a small community, each site feels woodsy—designed to give you that "off the beaten path" vibe without straying far from your route through the Flathead Valley. These dry camps are part of our quaint, locally owned cabins and camping getaway—continually crafted with care to reflect Montana’s rugged beauty and small-town charm. Our camp is simple, raw, and peaceful. It’s a pack-in, pack-out experience—there are no toilets or showers, and we ask that all guests leave no trace. Fresh water is available, but otherwise it’s a true dry camp suited for the self-contained traveler. The community firepit is available for use when Flathead County isn’t under a burn ban. There’s also a BBQ grill nearby for cooking up meals under the open sky, year-round. Our sites are best for tent campers, truck campers, overlanders, and nomads traveling light. Unfortunately, the space isn’t suitable for full-size RVs or large trailers. You might hear the nostalgic sound of trains rolling through in the distance—echoing gently across the valley, adding to the timeless mountain atmosphere. Whether you're just passing through or setting out for the wilds of Glacier, this is the perfect place to slow down, breathe deep, and soak in the Montana mountain air. To help protect local wildlife and preserve the peaceful nature of our basecamp, we kindly ask that guests not bring pets. We also ask that you help us keep the mountain air fresh—please, no smoking anywhere on the property due to high wildfire risk.
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$25
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Other options near Flathead Lake State Park - Yellow Bay Unit

Camping in Flathead Lake State Park - Yellow Bay Unit guide

Overview

About

Located on the eastern shore of Flathead Lake, Yellow Bay offers the best sunset east of San Diego. Come in spring to beat the crowds and enjoy the sight of Montana’s famous sweet cherries growing on the hillside. It’s a feast for your eyes and tastebuds, but don’t eat so many cherries you forget to enjoy the beautiful lake view! Cherry pie, cherry crisp, cherry tarts, cherry clafouti! If Julia Child liked to camp, there’d be a site named after her here here at Yellow Bay. And if you’re looking for some activities a little lower on the glycemic index, visit Yellow Bay for a summery weekend of canoeing in the middle of sprawling Flathead Lake, or get your adrenaline fix with a day of water skiing. Just don’t go being a big shot on a lake this big—if you drop a ski, you might never find it again.

Tips for snagging a campsite

  • Arrive early to secure a spot, as the campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Visit during off-peak seasons for a better chance at snagging a campsite.
  • Keep an eye on the weather forecast to plan your trip during favorable conditions.
  • Explore nearby camping options to ensure you have a backup plan if Yellow Bay is full.

When to go

The best time to visit Yellow Bay is from mid-May through Labor Day when the water is available and facilities are fully operational. The park is open year-round, but services like flush toilets and the dock are seasonal. Winter offers a tranquil escape, though with limited amenities.

Know before you go

  • Check the park's Facebook page or call the ranger station for updates on dock status and facility availability.
  • Remember to store food properly as the area is bear country, with bear-resistant dumpsters provided.
  • Non-residents should expect to pay a day-use entrance fee, with discounts for walk-ins and cyclists.
  • Accessibility is a priority, with ADA accessible features ensuring everyone can enjoy the park.
  • For fishing within the reservation, a tribal license is required, so plan accordingly.
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  1. Flathead Lake State Park - Yellow Bay Unit