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Signs & Maps

Established Camping

Big Larch Campground

Warning 2 Alerts are In Effect

There are 2 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!

Bike Sites are designated for bicyclists only. Motorized vehicles not allowed, there is no parking area.

Alert: Bike Sites are designated for bicyclists only. Motorized vehicles not allowed, there is no parking area. Users who have a motorized vehicle will be removed and issued a citation.

Big Larch Campground, near Seeley Lake, is a solid spot for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors with a few essential comforts. With sites that come equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, it’s perfect for roasting marshmallows and sharing stories around the fire.

This campground is dog-friendly and features clean vault toilets, making it a practical choice for families and pet owners alike. Visitors have noted that while some sites are close together, there are nice trails nearby and access to the beach, which is a hit for those looking to cool off or enjoy a day by the water.

For adventure seekers, the area offers great hiking opportunities, including the scenic Morrell Falls, just a short drive away. Campers have also enjoyed the strong cell service, which is a bonus if you need to stay connected while soaking in the natural beauty. Just remember to keep your food secured, as black bears are known to roam the area.

Description

USDA Forest Service

Lolo National Forest

Overview

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. 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.

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 Montanas outdoor recreation hubs. Missoula is a full-service city with 2 hospitals, an international airport, and access to services, hotels, and outdoor activities.

Fee Info

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.

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Location

Big Larch Campground is located in Montana

Detail location of campground

Directions

From I-90: take exit 109 for MT-200 E and travel for 32.3 mi. Turn left onto MT-83 N and travel 14.0 mi to Seeley Lake, MT. Continue north on Highway 83 for 1 mile. The campground entrance is located on the west side of the highway. Directions to Group Sites: Continue straight at the first fork and the group sites will be on the left. To Sites in Loop 1 (sites 1-10): Turn left at the fork, then turn right at the first intersection. To Sites in Loop 2 (sites 14-28): Turn left at the fork, then turn right at the second intersection. To Sites in Loop 3 (sites 34-49): Turn left at the fork, then turn right at the third intersection. To Sites in Loop 4 (sites 11-13, 29-33, 50): Continue straight at the fork, follow the road past the group sites, swimming beach, and bike sites. Loop 4 campsites are located on both sides of the access road.

Address

Big Larch Campground 3335 MT-HWY 83 N
Seeley lake, MT 59868

Coordinates

47.1922222 N
113.4938889 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Fair
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Water Hookups

Contact

General Info

Reservations


Reviews

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13%

4.0

out of 5

8 Reviews

Reviewed Oct. 9, 2022

Mid-October

This was the only campground open in late season on Seeley Lake. Not many people. So, very quiet. Some sites are wide open with very little shelter or shade, others are nicely tucked into groves of trees. Almost all sites are angled to back an RV into. Many could handle 30 foot rigs easily. Really strong Verizon signal

Site33
Month of VisitOctober
Reviewed Jul. 15, 2022

Beautiful spots and lake

Campsites are close together but there is nice trails, clean vault toilets, picnic tables. Dog friendly but not near the lake.

Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Jun. 26, 2022

Enjoyed my week stay

Decided to stay here for 5 nights & all were enjoyable. During the week, it’s very quiet. Around Thursday evening, Friday morning, it fills up more but there’s about 50 sites and still had some free while I was there. You can walk to the beach access from the campground. Lots of people mentioned overgrown areas and the host was clearing the picnic table areas during my stay. Each site has a table and fire ring. There’s also several vault toilets and dumpsters scattered throughout the campground. My site was really open and gave me great sunlight for my solar. Also, keep everything locked up at all times. Black bears are active in this area and saw one during the afternoon in the field behind the few station. $20/night during the main season. There’s potable water stations in each loop. Be sure to visit Morrell Falls hike (about 25 min away) and Holland Lake on a warm day, both beautiful! Also had 2-3 bars of 5G AT&T service and was able to work just fine.

Site47
Month of VisitJune
  • Play button icon
  • Review photo of Big Larch Campground by Abby M., June 26, 2022
  • Review photo of Big Larch Campground by Abby M., June 26, 2022
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Jul. 9, 2021

Good beach area

Beach are is nice, campground is spread out with mix of day use and camp sites. Lacking some shade for some sites. Popular day use area for locals.

Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Nov. 13, 2020

By Seeley

Winter but nice level Sites. Nat forest still open till dec.

Reviewed Jun. 30, 2020

Greenest

Big Larch was a surprise - a sprawling, super-green, uber 🦌-y, ultra-shady respite.  If you choose well, you'll have space away from neighbors, though none of the sites are far from a campground road.  You just enter this lush cover of leaves right away, pulling you toward the trails, the water and the sun peaking through.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Big Larch Campground by Bjorn S., June 30, 2020
  • Review photo of Big Larch Campground by Bjorn S., June 30, 2020
  • Review photo of Big Larch Campground by Bjorn S., June 30, 2020
  • (19) View All
Reviewed May. 20, 2020

Be prepared for a big change.

This once lovely campground that was aptly named Big Larch, had been logged until almost unrecognizable. The campsites that are somewhat close but used to feel private because of the dense foliage are now out on display. You can easily see/hear all your neighbors. Not to mention the mess left from the recent logging. Sad to see such a beautiful campground reduced to this.

Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Aug. 27, 2019

Good spot on Seeley

Camped the last week of June here and it was one of the only places that had availability. The fee was 10 bucks and it was a nice facility. The beach and boating area was well maintained, and great for my son. The camp spots were a bit small but had a fire ring and potable water was every few campsites. Bathrooms were vaults but fairly close as well. Campsite maintenance had the wood from cutting stacked near each spot, so you could use it for fire wood. Nice spot and would recommend.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Big Larch Campground have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Big Larch Campground has water hookups.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Big Larch Campground?

    Big Larch Campground allows vehicles up to 51 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Big Larch Campground?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Big Larch Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Big Larch Campground have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Big Larch Campground does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Big Larch Campground?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is fair, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is unknown.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Big Larch Campground?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Big Larch Campground. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Big Larch Campground, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Big Larch Campground?

    There are 58 campsites at Big Larch Campground and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts