Searching for a dispersed camping spot near Thompson Falls? Dispersed camping means that no facilities or amenities are provided, so that you can truly disconnect and get back to nature. Find dispersed campsites you've visited before, or discover new spots from other campers.
There are many dispersed camping opportunities on the forest. For the best information on dispersed camping opportunities, please contact the ranger district offices.
15 dispersed campsites above the Clark Fork River with fire rings. Fishing, rafting, and swimming opportunities are nearby. No water or trash receptacles are available. Pack it in/Pack it out.
There are many dispersed camping opportunities on the forest. For the best information on dispersed camping opportunities, please contact the ranger district offices.
Ranger
This is primitive off grid camping. No services, no water, no tables, just a bathroom in a field with a few campsites around it near the creek. Great location to stay if you're doing the Hiawatha trail and want to camp in the area. The busses picking up hiawatha trail users go right by the campground multiple times a day in the summer.
Scout
So gorgeous! Tent camped along the river! Very spaced out campsites, nice for lots of privacy and quiet! Signs to be aware of bear country but took precautions. Rock fire pits at each site. Super easy for quick stop road tripping (0.5 miles off main road)! Stayed in early September on a road trip to Glacier, was able to find our site decently well in the dark! Verizon cell service 3-4 bars! Loved it!
The west is the only safe way to enter onto the road to the campsites. On the map, it looks like you can enter/exit either way from 135… but the east side of the road to get back onto 135 is impossible… so we just had to turn around and exit the same way we came in (from the west).
TravelerDispersed camping at the "Peninsula" Recreation Area. 6 day stay limit according to the sign. No potable water. Stone fire rings throughout.
We stayed mid week during August. Stayed in a medium sized site on the river. Small steep slope to the water.
Pros:
Plenty of space, both large and small sites.
Room for a 30' in a couple of the sites.
3 bars Tmobile.
Some sites on the water with a short steep slope down.
12 miles to gas station.
Beautiful views.
Cons: No pit toilets (edit: another camper said they are at the end of the campground) No potable water. Road/train noise. POISON IVY (found it... found all of it)
Overall we loved this spot. Being ok the water in a mostly private setting with such amazing views is our goal. Little bit of road noise but hardly noticeable over the wind in the trees.
Sites were clean but well used, so thank you to all the campers that took care of this place!
TravelerI was alone while camping, parked my car at the first fire pit I saw open and it was perfect. Absolutely beautiful river, beautiful spot. Great for fishing, swimming, etc.
GuideTurn onto the road, once you reach end of that road, there’s more spots to the left. If you drive far enough you’ll find pit toilets. We had good service on Verizon and T-Mobile to work. River is beautiful. Would definitely come back
Scout
The further you drive on the road the closer you can get to the river! There are some pit toilets too! Absolutely beautiful!
Ranger
This was a great stay right on the river with night sites and a vault toilet. Only issues I had was the train across the river runs throughout the night and it sounds like it’s coming right through your tent
TravelerPulled off, quickly found decent dispersed site. A bit buggy, no mosquitoes though. Great night sleep until OHVers came screaming through early
TravelerGreat location. Road is in great shape. All the sights are great.
TravelerMuchwater has earned a top spot for my camping areas. There’s a river nearby that’s great for fishing or swimming. The campgrounds has fire pits ready to go and well maintained. There’s plenty of space between you and your neighbor. And it’s dog friendly. Oh and the hiking is pretty good too.
ScoutFound a great spot - level with access down to the river. Fire pit. So peaceful. No service with Verizon. A little buggy.
Travelerstayed in site 1 first campsite on your right-hand side, big rig friendly plenty of room for our set up 70+ ft RV and trailer short walk to the river. quiet, clean and plenty of space between camps. it was cool to see and hear the trains go by. will definitely be back.
ScoutThis place is incredible! Wish we came sooner. Stunning views, several sites to choose from, some have access to the river. The road conditions are wonderful—towed a 20 ft trailer. Some spots are more open to use Starlink. Highly recommend this site. There are a few bathrooms which are very clean
GuideGreat spot there’s three to the right off train bridge and a lot on the left side of it I pulled into first on from left. Had 3-4 bars of Verizon cell service.
GuideThis is by far one of my favorite camping spots. Dispersed. Pet friendly. Quiet. Plenty of space between you and other campers. A river right by you. What more could you want? Oh and it’s right by a hot springs resort, in case you want to take a dip while you’re camping.
TravelerStayed here on our way through headed back to Bozeman, Great spot with plenty of room for activities campers, tents, hammocks, and friends. Lots of room for multiple campers. Verizon and Atnt had service the whole time, close to Highway, and railroad so not super quite spot. But overall great overnight pullover spot!
TravelerBeautiful secluded site with view of the river. Easily can fit multiple rigs. I have xfinity mobile and had 3-4 bars the whole time.
LegendThis is a wonderful camping area right off of quiet rt 56 along the Clark Fork river. I only saw one other van there. It’s a nicely maintained gravel road to the campsites and there are two tracks that give you access to the river. I didn’t get any Verizon service here, however.
ScoutBeautiful site right next to the river.
Legend
Lovely dispersed camping area. Very pretty. We stayed for a night and were in good company. By the end of the day each site was filled and there were several folks driving through still looking for sites.
They’re spaced out well from one another giving all campers lots of privacy. Very wooded with paths down to the water. We hung out on a hammock most of the day but it rained throughout the night and into the next day so I wasn’t able to snag any good photos.
We small camper trailers, tents, single cots, and full RVs in this campground. Our site and seemingly most sites could have supported a 50 footer.
Although a popular spot, it wasn’t loud and we didn’t really interact with other campers.
There is a single vault toilet but no hookups. It’s dispersed camping. No water source beyond the river.
Great spot, highly recommend. I would try to get there early to grab a spot (first come first serve.) We went late September and every spot ended up filled.
ATT & Verizon service work well. Sites very unlevel
GuideYes, there are railroad tracks across the river, but the trains don’t use their horns here. The train noise is infrequent, brief, and mostly just a low rumbling.
The area is large, and individual spots are gigantic by most standards. Spots have tables and fire rings with grills, and there are toilets available. Sites are flat, clear, clean, and easy to maneuver in. Road is gravel but very well maintained.
You aren’t “on” the river, but you are on a small bluff above the river. Riverfront sites have paths down to the water, though some are steep and unstable.
GuideWe loved our time here at Muchwater. As people have mentioned before the only real drawback is the trains on the other side of the river. During our 12 day stay her we averaged about 6-10 per day. A couple of times they rolled thru at 2am but all the positives outweigh getting woken up a few times.
Very easy access, two pit toilets in the camping area. Plenty of spots to pick from and not very busy during our stay. State route 135 currently has construction just outside the campground so there are often cars backed up for as long as 20minutes at a time. You get a little road noise but nothing that is too bad. I imagine when the construction is finished you won't even hear the road.
Couple items to mention if you are planning to stay for a while. It has been pretty difficult to find potable water in the area. The"free spring" just south of Paradise has been turned off as of August 2022 and locals say it is unlikely to be turned back on. Closest gas is down in St. Regis(about 15 minute drive). Closest Grocery is in Plains(about 20 minute drive).
No Verizon or Tmobile but had a nice spot on the river that gave us great Starlink service.
We have also done a video review for our Youtube Channel if you want to check it out. https://youtu.be/ZmWOcAWBiHg
Traveler
By far one of my favorite Mt lake hikes! With great camping at both the lower and upper lakes, I recommend using the trails app to help navigate through the switch backs, and have lots of water! Me and my friends stayed at the lower lake, both hammock and tent camping.
ScoutPros:
Cons:
Conclusion: for me, this is not going to be a repeat. There's a lot to love, but I need the rest overnights!
ScoutWe are just traveling through and this was a great stop over. There were many big rv there for the weekend.
Guide
This was my first ever backpacking experience and was a great introduction for me. We did the 3.5-mile trail. It was challenging and encouraging. My dog loved it too, and she's a larger breed! I would recommend this trek for anyone who is wanting to learn and practice backpacking skills. There are a few cleared areas for dispersed camping at the lake and a few other locations along the 3.5-mile trail and the 11-mile trail to Engle Lake. It is mostly uphill along both trails, though, so be mindful of that when considering equipment and weight. It is a gorgeous spot and is close to the Engle Peak summit with 360-degree views of the Cabinet Mountains. When we were here, there were a lot of Elk and Moose foot-traffic. They probably won't bother you. Just be aware of them and store your food properly. There have been grizzly bears spotted here, but not that frequently, apparently. Nonetheless, bring a bear canister and place it 100-300 feet from your tent. Enjoy the preserved and lightly trafficked gem! And as always, leave no trace and follow COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines :)
RangerI stayed here back in May. Decent stretch of campsites nestled between the road and the river. Toilets and firepits available. Some sites are closer to the road and you can hear the cars, others are right up against the river. It was pretty popular when I was there so I had a spot at the end that was both near the road and the river. Irrespective of road or river, be ready to hear the trains rolling through in the night. The track is just on the other side of the river and they are loud. I like the sound of trains, but if you're noise-sensitive, this might not be the campground for you.
Lots of smaller downed trees when I was there. Still fresh, so not ideal firewood, but we still gave it a go.
Nothing all that special, but definitely works and costs zero. Can't argue with that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Thompson Falls, MT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Thompson Falls, MT is Dispersed Site - Lolo National Forest Recreation Area with a 4.8-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Thompson Falls, MT?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 dispersed camping locations near Thompson Falls, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
