Situated in northwestern Montana near the Idaho border, Heron sits in the Cabinet Mountains at around 2,500 feet elevation. The area experiences warm summers and relatively mild winters, with early fall bringing cooler nights ideal for campfires. Nearby Mirror Lake provides exceptional trout fishing opportunities from late spring through early fall.
What to do
Hiking near Yaak Falls: Access the natural beauty of the Cabinet Mountains through the trail system near Yaak River Campground. "Stopped by on my way through Montana in May. The campground was empty except for 3 other families since it was still the off season, so it was a very quiet stay and I got to fall asleep to the sound of the river right behind my spot," notes one visitor.
Fishing at Farragut State Park: Just across the Idaho border, Lake Pend Oreille offers premier fishing. "The Gilmore campground was clean and well-managed and we found the camp hosts super friendly and helpful. The campground has vault toilets and a few flush toilets as well as private showers with hot water. Campsites were well spaced from one another," reports a camper at Gilmore Campground.
Gold panning: Howard Lake Campground provides access to public gold panning areas. "There's a public access gold panning area near this campground. There's also a nice little lake here. There is a pit toilet a short distance from the campground," explains a visitor.
What campers like
Lakeside relaxation: The area's lakes provide scenic beauty and recreation. "Gorgeous area, well run and maintained. Large lake, lots of trails, could easily make an extended stay here," writes a camper about Farragut State Park.
River camping: Many sites offer immediate river access. "Beautiful, wooded CG on the Yaak River near the confluence with the Kootenai. The Yaak actually goes through the CG so campsites are on both sides. Deep sites with privacy," notes a visitor to Yaak River Campground.
Swimming beaches: Round Lake State Park offers family-friendly swimming areas. "The swimming area is nice with kind of sandy beach, but there is a bit of seaweed in the swimming area. There are also two docks perfect for fishing. I had a great time casting off from them and even caught a couple of crappies and trout," reports a camper.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most popular glamping locations near Heron fill quickly in summer. At Gilmore Campground, a camper advises, "Need to book months ahead or get there early to get a spot."
Off-season benefits: Early fall offers quieter glamping experiences with fewer crowds. "The campground was empty except for 3 other families since it was still the off season, so it was a very quiet stay," says a visitor to Yaak River Campground.
Road noise considerations: Some campgrounds near highways experience traffic sounds. A camper at Trout Creek Motel & RV Park notes, "Is a little close to highway and there are trains all night, but the whole valley is like that. Tall trees on site nice and shady."
Limited cell service: Most glamping sites have spotty connectivity. At Farragut State Park, a visitor reports, "We had limited Verizon connectivity — 2 bars at most."
Tips for camping with families
Lake activities for kids: Round Lake State Park offers educational opportunities. "The camp visitor center has a cool place for kids to learn about the wildlife in the area with foot prints in sand, bird calls, samples of the different types of trees and more. They also have boards to rent and games as well," shares a camper.
Spacious campsites: Look for sites with room for children to play. "The campground has a big green for frisbee, horseshoes, etc.," notes a visitor to Farragut State Park.
Off-peak swimming: A visitor to Round Lake recommends, "If you're going to swim at one of the bays while there get there early. In the peak of summer, the parking lot will fill up by 10 or 11 am."
Nearby convenience stores: Camp Coeur D'Alene offers supplies for last-minute needs. "They have firewood for sale, a pool, and clean showers and bathrooms. We had a very comfortable stay and were able to connect to the wifi at our tent site," shares a recent guest.
Tips from RVers
Site length considerations: RV glamping requires careful planning for larger rigs. "I would not recommend anything over 25 ft but that's me. Our 34RLSA 5er couldn't get in. Deep woods feel with all the trees and shade. Solar would be a challenge," advises a visitor to Yaak River Campground.
Full hookup options: For luxury glamping, Kootenai River Campground offers complete amenities. "A very nice small campground. About 2/3 of the sites are full hookups. Rest water and electric. Tent sites. Owners are great people," reports a camper.
Level sites: Several RVers note the importance of level parking. One camper at Garfield Bay Campground warns, "Very small spaces and tight quarters. Not for very big RVs at all. Spaces aren't very level."
Winter hookup reliability: A winter visitor to Round Lake cautions, "Swung by here yesterday (late Dec) after calling to confirm hookups were still functional. There was only one hookup spot plowed, and its connectivity was not stable."
