Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Libby, MT

Blackwell Flats is one of 4 free, first come campgrounds in the Libby Dam coriander. It is manged by the US Army Corp of Engineers. The campground has 7 sites and is located on the West side of the Kootenai River approx 3.5 miles downstream from Libby Dam. Access from Forest Road 228.  There is a boat ramp with day-use parking onsite. There is little to no shade and there is road noise, but for free, it is terrific. For an amazing tour, drive Forest Rd 228 North, maybe 30 miles, until you come to bridge that closes the upper end of the Reservoir. Cross over and follow that road South until it meets back up with 228. A beautiful scenic drive.

We stayed here off season, we pulled our trailer through a pull through site on the edge of the river. You could walk down to the river and fish in the river, but it wasn't really a place for people or pets to play. The sites are primitive with fire rings but no power or water hookups. 

The campground is pretty small, has big trash bins to avoid bears, but it didn't look like it was a problem when we were there. 

There are roads on both sides of the river, one being the highway, but the river helps drown out some of the road noise. The mountains are tall on either side of the river valley and so the sun goes down a little sooner than expected, but the views from camp are nice. There is a big open area in the center of the playground for people and pets to run around. 

We would definitely stay here again.

Tucked into the dense Kootenai Forest is a true gem off the beaten path. This was one of our favorite N F S campgrounds in Montana. The host was great. The campground well maintained. The sites were well spaced. I think 32 ft is the max. There is potable water avail. No cell. So just string up your hammock and enjoy all the sounds of nature. There is a boat launch area on the Koonusa River/lake/Reservoir. Check out Libby Dam and the Kootenai Falls and swinging bridge. It's worth the extra drive. Also, for a beautiful scenic drive, continue north on 228 until you get to the bridge that crosses over the north end, take it across and head back south until it meets back up with 228. Even though it was smokey when we did it, it was still beautiful.

I love this area and would have loved to have broken down each area as they are quite different even though they are grouped closely together. Although I like them all for varying reasons Horseshoe is my favorite. Crystal clear water and breathtaking views. If you have off road toys or a truck make sure you explore down the forest service roads. From fishing to exploring, these lakes have it all!

From www.stateparks.mt.gov

Thompson Chain of Lakes State Park covers approximately 3,000 acres and stretches over 20 miles along Highway 2, halfway between Kalispell and Libby. This extensive park includes shoreline access to 18 lakes including McGregor Lake, Little McGregor Lake, Lower Thompson Lake, Middle Thompson Lake, Upper Thompson Lake, Horseshoe Lake and Loon Lake.

Visitors enjoy swimming, boating, camping, and water skiing, and the lakes are especially noted for great fishing. Thompson Chain of Lakes State Park also offers some of the most outstanding opportunities for wildlife viewing in northwest Montana.

There are 83 standard campsites and 8 group campsites, all of which require a fee for overnight camping. Sites are rustic; there is no drinking water available. Concrete boat ramps are located at Little McGregor Lake, Boisverts on McGregor Lake, the Peninsula on Lower Thompson Lake, Upper Thompson Lake, Horseshoe Lake and Loon Lake.

Roads are primitive and not recommended for motor homes and large trailers. However, the 37 developed campsites at Logan State Park, located on Middle Thompson Lake, are suitable for large camping units.

We have stayed at many COE parks, but never have we run across one that is free. It is all disbursed camping. The sites are spaced far apart. They circle a large open field PERFECT for star gazing. We watched The Perseid Meteor shower. Spectacular! We were fortunate to snag a spot next to the river. During the day it was hot, but cooled off nicely when the sun dropped behind the mountains. Libby is not too far away. A cute little town with much to offer. We enjoyed Riverfest. A great grocery with lots of good ready made foods at the deli. We drove the entire scenic hwy/rd around the lake....up east side to Eureka/Canadian border and back down the west side. It is a full day, but worth it. The views are amazing if there is no smoke from the summer wildfires. No AT&T service. There is a free dump station in town.