Camping near Kootenai National Forest

This little campground was super easy to get to. The sites easy to access and the toilet is vey close and clean. There is a train track in the background but the trains are very short. They don’t bother me because I love trains. There is a boat ramp and trail head within walking distance. There is a little bit of traffic and that’s just the boaters. There is a lot of wildlife (eagles, moose mountain lion, beaver, chipmunk). Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. You can stay up to 16 days here. There is a beautiful campsite for backpackers/bicyclists. I believe there are 5 sites for campers with vehicles and you park directly next to your site. There are a lot of mosquitoes at dusk and dawn this time of year.

Please do your due diligence in this area. This is the ONLY park for the whole county as well as the parks and recreation (soccer, baseball, tennis, etc). Being mindful to local families by not parking sideways along the fence line and do not block the business in the log cabin. I think train noise is the least of your worries as the summer this area is where ALL of the events take place. This is not an area where locals want free camping as it has caused lots of issues. Let me say it again, there are many campsites in the area including North Haven Campground up the road ($35 a night for full hookups) that welcome you. This area does not welcome you. Please stay away.

Pulled in for the night and we were impressed with the wide parking area and facilities, however, a train engine was going back and forth on the tracks at 1:00 am, then idling with air pressure releases for about an hour waiting for another train to pass. It was so loud it vibrated the trailer. When the other train finally came, they must have been crossing the road back because it blew its whistle many times right beside us. We parked close to the road out of the way, but it was about 50’ from the tracks, so it kept us up all night. We don’t mind the sound of trains, but this was ridiculous!

Picnic table and fire pit at most sites. Firewood available for sale. *No tent policy. Showers, restrooms, laundry available, and cleaned daily. On site hosts are friendly and helpful. Mcgregor lake lodge and restaurant across the street. There is a nice well maintained walking path that goes around the park. The exit road to the highway also goes behind the park to little Mcgregor lake. Pictures on the website

Back-In Rate Information: Daily – $48.00 Weekly – $288.00 Monthly – $925.00

Pull-Thru Rate Information: Daily – $52.00 Weekly – $312.00 Monthly – $989.00

The Bad? By the time you see this the onsite manager will have quit because of the owner. The manager was awesome but isn’t allowed to enforce policy or contact law enforcement. During my stay, and other said has happened many times, there were “visitors” parking in other sites of in the middle of the road, loud drunks, even s family that left a kid to young to speak outside after yelling at him. Unfortunately the manager can only say what will happen but can’t make it happen and the bad guests figure that out fast. Only because so many of us complained and decided we would contact the sheriff’s office did anything happen. So this is why it’s not 5 star.

Also, if you are not white or obviously white do not go to the restaurant across the street. They do not care and this is deep in Montana, just sayin

Details: Large bathrooms, cleaned daily Laundry available for a flat rate Most sites are flat Nice lawns and walking trails Room at most sites for very large RVs Long drive to Kalispell but an easy hwy drive Plenty of local lakes to fish Head to marion and eat at the bar and grill

Nice open spots past the intersection but are typically full of trailers left on site for when locals want to come by. Rules not enforced and no one to complain to.

Large, wide open, not many on the river. The best spot on the river: drive in, go past the main sign to the right, turn left on the intersection where the chain link fence is, as soon as the road widens pull up on to the right and you’re there. Big rig friendly. Be aware of quicksand that is advertised to be in the area and bears fishing in the fall. Be advised, the one pit toilet at this point is almost full and filthy, it has not been cleaned in months or years.

Details: Don’t leave kids unattended High grizzly population in the fall Kokanee in the river, check reports Sandy and quick sand areas Quiet, mostly abandon RVs to keep sites on hold No water, toilet, trash Town is 5 minutes away Free, time limit seems to fluctuate but it’s clearly not enforced