U.S. Forest Service · Lolo National Forest · MT

Big Larch Campground

Big Larch Campground Entrance Sign. It reads: Big Larch Campground, Lolo National Forest, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Campground. Western Larch trees displaying fall colors can be seen in the background.Photo · USFS
Not publishedStatus
ReservableAccess
58Sites
51 ftMax rig

The place

Big Larch Campground is located on the east shoreline of Seeley Lake within the Lolo National Forest in Montana. A great place to cool off on a hot day, it has a beach and a boat ramp, as well as ample shade for those who just want to relax and enjoy nature. The campground is a favorite of locals, with plenty of space for camping, picnicking and recreating on the water. Recreation • The campground is popular for swimming, fishing, biking, paddling and boating. Anglers cast for a variety of freshwater fish including Kokanee salmon, bass, whitefish, pike, trout and perch, among other species. Keep reading

Water skiing is a popular activity on the lake. • The Clearwater Canoe Trailhead just North of Seeley Lake offers excellent flat water for viewing wildlife such as blue herons and river otters. The water trail is popular with canoeists and kayakers as it stretches 3.5 miles, or a couple of hours, down the river. • The Morrell Falls National Recreation Trail on the East side of the valley offers an incredible day hike exploring recent burns, dense forests, and a large waterfall. Facilities Two group camping areas, 29 individiual RV/tent campsites, and three bicycle campsites are available for reservation the Friday before Memorial Day to Labor Day. These campsites will transition to first-come/first-serve outside of these dates. 19 individual sites are available on a First-Come/First-Serve basis . These campsites can be paid for onsite by scanning a QR Code using the Recreation.gov mobile app. Visitors will need to download the free recreation.gov mobile app through Android or iOS. This is best done prior to arrival All campites are each equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings with grills, and a large paved parking area. Accessible vault toilets, drinking water and trash receptacles are avaliable throughout the campground. Campground hosts on site 24 hours a day. The campground also offers a spacious day use area that includes a roped-off swimming beach, a boat ramp, a dock, boat trailer parking, and several picnic areas. Day use facilities are open year-round from 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily. No fees or reservations are required for day use. Natural Features Big Larch Campground is located on the east shoreline of Seeley Lake, a 1,025 acre, glacial-formed lake within the "Chain of Lakes" - through which the Clearwater River flows. The campground is nestled in a mixed conifer forest, including plenty of tall larch and pine trees. While there is ample space between sites, the lack of understory makes for minimal privacy. At an elevation of about 4,000 feet, temperatures are pleasant throughout most of the summer months. The area contains a wide variety of wildlife and is home to white-tailed deer, elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, moose, grizzly and black bears (learn about bear safety ). Both the bald and golden eagle reside in the forest, along with trumpeter swan, herons and dozens of varieties of ducks. Nearby Attractions • The town of Seeley Lake, MT on the southeastern tip of the lake offers a variety of recreation services such as boat, canoe, and kayak rentals as well as guide services and resorts. Services like gas, groceries, restaurants, and lodging can also be found in town. Access to a variety of forests, sweeping views, mountain lakes, and rugged peaks can be discovered just a short drive up any of the nearby Forest Service roads. • Just a day trip away from Seeley Lake, Glacier National Park is known for a variety of opportunities to explore alpine landscapes, active glaciers, and view unique wildlife. Contact the park for current conditions. • About an hour from Seeley Lake, Missoula is one of Western Montana’s outdoor recreation hubs. Missoula is a full-service city with 2 hospitals, an international airport, and access to services, hotels, and outdoor activities.

The sites · 58

LoopSiteTypeMax rigElectricADA
1BL Bike Site 1standard nonelectric
1BL Bike Site 2standard nonelectric
1BL Bike Site 3standard nonelectric
1BLS01standard nonelectric20 ft
1BLS02standard nonelectric24 ft
1BLS03standard nonelectric22 ft
1BLS04standard nonelectric25 ft
1BLS05standard nonelectric20 ft
1BLS06standard nonelectric23 ft
1BLS07standard nonelectric23 ft
1BLS08standard nonelectric21 ft
1BLS09standard nonelectric22 ft
1BLS10standard nonelectric27 ft
2BLS14standard nonelectric32 ft
2BLS15standard nonelectric23 ft
2BLS16standard nonelectric28 ft
2BLS17standard nonelectric27 ft
2BLS18standard nonelectric22 ft
2BLS19standard nonelectric23 ft
2BLS20standard nonelectric25 ft
2BLS21standard nonelectric22 ft
2BLS22standard nonelectric20 ft
2BLS23standard nonelectric20 ft
2BLS24standard nonelectric22 ft
2BLS25standard nonelectric25 ft
2BLS26standard nonelectric21 ft
2BLS27standard nonelectric24 ft
2BLS28standard nonelectric27 ft
3BLS34 (Host Site)management20 ft
3BLS35standard nonelectric39 ft
3BLS36 (Host Site)management20 ft
3BLS37standard nonelectric45 ft
3BLS38standard nonelectric46 ft
3BLS39standard nonelectric36 ft
3BLS40standard nonelectric42 ft
3BLS41standard nonelectric39 ft
3BLS42standard nonelectric36 ft
3BLS43standard nonelectric43 ft
3BLS44standard nonelectric20 ft
3BLS45standard nonelectric42 ft
3BLS46standard nonelectric51 ft
3BLS47standard nonelectric45 ft
3BLS48standard nonelectric48 ft
3BLS49standard nonelectric43 ft
4BLS11standard nonelectric25 ft
4BLS12standard nonelectric24 ftyes
4BLS13standard nonelectric27 ft
4BLS29standard nonelectric26 ft
4BLS30standard nonelectric22 ft
4BLS31standard nonelectric22 ft
4BLS32standard nonelectric20 ft
4BLS33standard nonelectric20 ft
4BLS50standard nonelectric29 ft
BLUA00Agroup standard nonelectric20 ftyes
BLUB00Bgroup standard nonelectric20 ftyes
S&PBike Campsitemanagement
S&PGroup Campsitemanagement20 ftyes
S&PStandard Campsitemanagement20 ft

Booking

183 daysBooking window before arrival

Recreation.gov default: most campsites can be booked six months prior to arrival date. Most campgrounds go on sale at 7am PT / 8am MT / 10am ET, but not always; check the facility Seasons and Fees tab. Some locations also offer shorter supplemental booking windows.

Book on recreation.gov

Fees

The nightly fee for individual RV/tent campsites is$20.00 through peak season (Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day). The nightly fee for group campsites is $50.00 through peak season. The nightly fee for bicycle campsites is $10.00 through peak season. Parking is allowed in the designated parking spur for each campsite only. Vehicles that do not fit must deposit an additional vehicle fee of $5.00 and must park in the day-use area. No parking along roadways. Outside of peak season (Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day), all campsites will be available free of charge on a first-come, first-serve basis. Day use facilities are free of charge and are open from 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily.

Your representative

This campground sits in MT-01. This member’s public-lands record →

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