Swan Lake Campground
This recreation area is located near the village of Swan Lake at the north end of the scenic Swan Valley in northwest Montana. The campground consists of two loops. Ponderosa Loop offers open, large sites with plenty of space, while sites at Birch Loop are shaded and more clustered together. There is also a reservable group site which accomodates up to 100 people. Here, we have 38 rentable sites. 24 sites are reservable and 14 sites are for our walk-up visitors. The stay limit is 16 consecutive days.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Montana · reservable in Montana · big rigs in Montana · pets allowed in Montana · group sites in Montana
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 38 |
| Group sites | 1 |
| Tent-only | 1 |
| group picnic area | 1 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 75 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
41 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G1 | A Loop | Group | Back-in | 48 | Paved | Partial | 100 / 15 | ||||
| 001 | BIRC | Standard | Back-in | 61 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | ||||
| 002 | BIRC | Standard | Back-in | 62 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | ||||
| 003 | BIRC | Standard | Back-in | 59 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | ||||
| 004 | BIRC | Standard | Back-in | 63 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | ||||
| 005 | BIRC | Standard | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | ||||
| 006 | BIRC | Standard | Back-in | 61 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | ||||
| 007 | BIRC | Standard | Back-in | 59 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | ||||
| 008 | BIRC | Standard | Back-in | 55 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | ||||
| 009 | BIRC | Standard | Back-in | 65 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 75 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | To Make Reservations by phone please call: 1-877-444-6777. Individual Site Reservations: $22.00 per camper unit per night. Camping unit is tent, trailer, motorhome, mobile sleeping unit, etc. |
| Accessibility | Site 014 is listed accessible |
The campground has 38 family-sized campsites and large group site with paved parking areas, fire rings and picnic tables. Drinking water and vault toilets are available. There is no dump station at this campground but there is a fill station as you enter the park on the right just passed the Pay Kiosk.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Season | Mid May to Late September |
| Forest | Flathead National Forest |
| Booking | This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at www.recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Table of Campground Fees Single Site Double Site Extra Vehicle Day Use (per vehicle) $20 $40 $5 $5 Visit recreation.gov for details on large group camp and day use site fees. |
| Rules | 16 day stay limit. Food Storage required for human and stock food, garbage, and other attractants. Max trailer length is 50 feet. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Bigfork, Montana, take State Route 209 east for 4.9 miles to Swan Lake/State Route 83. Turn right and go 10.9 miles to the campground sign. Turn left at the sign into the campground.
| Nearest town | Swan Lake, Montana |
| Coordinates | 47.9364° N, 113.8506° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
Please cancel 4 days prior. All Considerations will be made after your original reservation dates have passed. *No shows have no chance of a refund.
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | Bish's RV ↗ | 25.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Rocky Mountain Outfitter ↗ | 27.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Swan Lake RV Park Impressions | Vernon, British Columbia
Worth a stop
Glacier National Park is within an hour drive. About a mile from the campground is the Swan River National Wildlife Refuge, with a wildlife and bird observation area.
- 0.2 miSwan Lake Day Use Pass ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.9 miSixmile Lookout ↗4.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1.2 miHall Lake Trail ↗4.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, snowmobile
- 1.5 miSixmile Sidehill2.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1.9 miCrane Mtn Snowmobile ↗20.2 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 2 miBond Creek ↗7.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3 miHall Lake Feeder0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Flathead National Forest.
- inFlathead National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,651,693 acres
- 1.3 miSwan River National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 1,937 acres
- 10.8 miGreat Bear Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 286,659 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Swan River BridgeStructure · Bigfork · 13.3 mi
- Swan River Community HallBuilding · Swan River · 13.7 mi
Natural features
In the heart of the Rocky Mountains lies the 2.4 million acre Flathead National Forest. Home to lynx, grizzly bear, and bull trout, with numerous lakes, streams and rivers to enjoy, the forest is the premiere destination for visitors looking to experience natural landscapes of the American West. Swan Lake is surrounded by dense conifer forest and the craggy, snow-covered peaks of the Swan Mountain Range.
Recreation
Campers and day-use visitors have access to a boat ramp and a beach. Both power and non-motorized boating is permitted. This campground also offers Kayak, Paddleboard and Canoe rentals and firewood for sale. Anglers can fish for several kinds of trout as well as Kokanee salmon and Northern Pike. Bike lanes wind throughout the campground.
Guidebooks for Montana
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Swan Lake Campground?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Swan Lake Campground?
To Make Reservations by phone please call: 1-877-444-6777. Individual Site Reservations: $22.00 per camper unit per night. Camping unit is tent, trailer, motorhome, mobile sleeping unit, etc.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Swan Lake Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Swan Lake Campground have?
43 sites, including 38 standard sites without power, 1 group site, 1 tent-only site, and 1 group picnic area.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Swan Lake Campground?
The longest site here provides 75 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Swan Lake Campground have hookups?
Yes, water hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Swan Lake Campground?
There is no dump station at this campground but there is a fill station as you enter the park on the right just passed the Pay Kiosk.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Swan Lake Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Swan Lake Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Swan Lake Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. 16 day stay limit.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Swan Lake Campground?
Site 014 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Swan Lake Campground?
Campers and day-use visitors have access to a boat ramp and a beach. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Swan Lake Campground?
Swan Lake, Montana. Glacier National Park is within an hour drive.
Source: Getting there