In the northwest section of Montana in the Rocky Mountains, the Flathead National Forest spans over 2,400,000 acres, of which one million is designated as wilderness area. Elevations here range from about 4,500 to 8,500 feet, which gives visitors plenty of opportunities for rock climbing, skiing, and hiking. There are 219 miles of river and thousands of acres of lakes and ponds including Flathead Lake, which has 160 miles of shoreline. It is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Missouri River and has tons of bass, catfish, and huge lake trout, up to 20 pounds or more.
Besides fishing, you can also do some hunting whether you are looking for big game like elk, bison, deer, or bear, little critters like squirrels and rabbits, or if you want to look for some fur bearing critters like wolverines, foxes, otters, and minks. If you would rather shoot wildlife with your camera instead of a gun or bow, you can take a hike on 2,600 miles of trails. In the winter you can try skijoring, cross-country skiing, or snowmobiling on many of these trails. Although camping is allowed almost anywhere within the Flathead National Forest, there are 10 campgrounds with RV access. Check out the details on our top three picks that we have highlighted below.
Flathead National Forest lies mostly in Flathead County, Montana but there are smaller sections that span out into five other counties. It is bordered on the west by the Kootenai National Forest, the south by the Lolo National Forest, Lewis and Clark and Glacier National Forests to the east, and Canada to the north. Just 150 miles from Missoula and 200 miles from Helena, and just a couple of hours from Canada, you are surrounded by gorgeous forests and mountains wherever you come from.
Interstate 90 will bring you to the forest from the south or west, or you can take Highway 2 from the north or east. Once you get deeper into the forest, you will need to take Highway 2 or 83, because those are the only highways that go into the forest due to the preserved wilderness areas. There is always something to see out your window though, so make sure you have your passengers ready with a camera. Whether you want to get some pictures of the Rocky Mountains or some other mountain ranges up here, there will be plenty of opportunities on the way in and out of the forest.
When you get to your destination, it is probably best to park the RV or campervan at your campsite and then hike or ride to where you want to go. The roads inside most of the campgrounds are narrow and hard to maneuver when you are driving one of the big rigs or pulling a trailer.
The beautiful mountainous Holland Lake Campground near Condon, Montana has 40 campsites open from Memorial Day until Labor Day. Most of these are reservable so reserve your spot in advance or plan to get here early since they fill up fast, especially on holidays and weekends. All the campsites have their own picnic table, a fire pit, and grill for cooking with a pad length of up to 50 feet in length. There is an RV dump station nearby, vault toilets, and 10 potable water spigots around the park. No hookups are available.
Holland Lake is 416 acres and holds plenty of Cutthroat Trout and Kokanee Salmon. They have a boat ramp for your convenience and several large swimming areas. If you don’t have a boat, you can rent canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards at the camp store. Go ahead and bring your pooch because pets are welcome as long as they are supervised and restrained during your stay.
On the shores of Tally Lake, the Tally Lake Campground has 39 campsites near Whitefish, Montana that are open from mid-May until October. They each have a picnic table and campfire ring with a grill for cooking. They can accommodate RVs and campers up to 52 feet in length. All but 17 of these are reservable so reserve your spot in advance or plan to get here early since they fill up fast, especially on holidays and weekends. The campground also has vault toilets and nine water hydrants for drinking.
The 1,326-acre lake has a beach and a boat ramp for launching your boat. If you don’t have a boat, you can rent canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards at the camp store. You can also enjoy some volleyball at the large volleyball court, take a hike, or just relax on the beach. If you want to fish, there are three kinds of trout, Kokanee salmon, and northern pike. Dogs and cats are welcome as long as they are supervised and restrained at all times.
Swan Lake Campground has 35 campsites near Whitefish, Montana open from May until October with parking pads from 20 to 56 feet in length. All the sites have large picnic tables and campfire rings with grills to cook on. Most of these are reservable so reserve your spot in advance, especially on holidays and weekends. They also provide several drinking water hydrants and vault toilets in various places around the campground.
The 2,680-acre lake has northern pike, Kokanee Salmon, and four kinds of trout as well as crappie and bass. There is also a gravel beach and a large boat ramp for launching your boat. If you don’t have a boat, you can rent canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards at the camp store. You can also bring your dog because pets are welcome as long as they are supervised and restrained at all times during your visit.
Be sure to pack your fishing gear in the RV before heading out because there are seven large lakes and dozens of small lakes to try your luck fishing. Several of the larger lakes have boat launches such as Tally Lake, Swan Lake, and the Hungry Horse Reservoir. If you would rather fish in the river, the three forks of the Flathead River are all great places to catch some trophy-sized trout and other fish. Just don’t forget your fishing license and bait in your camping trailer.
If you want to do some mountain biking while you are here, you are in luck so attach the bikes to the RV. The Flathead National Forest has more than 50 biking trails for all skill levels from under a mile to over 30 miles long. The Run Away Train and Summit Trail located at the Whitefish Mountain Resort are specifically for experienced mountain bikers who are looking for a thrill. If you would like a more mellow and easier trail, try the three-mile Lupine Lake Trail.
Whether you have a dirt bike, four-wheeler, or a four-wheel-drive vehicle, you can bring them along too. The Flathead National Forest has three areas set aside for OHV riding. The Hungry Horse Motor Cross Area has 10 different trails. The Swan Lake Area has eight OHV trails. And the Tally Lake Area has the Ashley Lake ATV Trail #812, which is seven miles by Whitefish, Montana. There are other roads and trails that can be used for OHV riding as well, with over 1,000 miles of trails in total.
Flathead National Forest boasts 200 miles of designated hiking space and 2,600 miles of hiking trails. The trails feature river bottoms, valleys, peaks, and lakes as well as a diverse ecosystem with tons of wildlife. Holland Lake has a half-mile nature trail and the 1.6-mile Holland Falls Trail that follows the shores of the lake to the base of the waterfall, climbing 750 feet. Tally Lake also has a 1.2-mile trail that takes you around the 1,326-acre lake. With over 40 named trails, you should be able to find your favorite.
If you have always wanted to try skijoring, go ahead and pack up your stuff in the camper and don’t forget your pooches that will be pulling you. Skijoring involves being pulled on skis by animals, usually dogs. Skijoring is a fairly common sport in other countries but not as well-known in the United States. Both Swan Lake and Tally Lake Ranger Districts provide special access to skijorers and their dog teams, and there are three areas that have groomed ski trails. The Izaac Walton Trail is 20.5 miles, the Blacktail Nordic Trail is 13.7 miles, and the Round Meadow Trail is 12 miles long.
For those who would rather go skiing without their canine kids, there are two resorts with a total of 4,000 acres of trails to enjoy. The Blacktail Mountain Ski Area is 6,780 feet with a vertical drop of 1,440 feet. The longest run is 1.75 miles with 15% of the trails for beginners and 85% for intermediate and advanced skiers. Whitefish Mountain Resort gets about 300 inches of powder a year with an elevation of 6,817 feet and a vertical drop of 2,353 feet. The longest run is 3.3 miles with 15% for beginners, 35% for intermediate, and 50% for advanced and expert skiers.
