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Camping Over the Three-Day Weekend

By Beacon Staff

Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of summer for many, and in Northwest Montana that means going camping.

There are plenty of scenic areas to check out during the three-day weekend, including state parks, Glacier National Park and national forest campgrounds. Not every campground takes reservations, however, so be sure to check online or with the appropriate ranger station about reservation statuses.

State parks are maintained by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and some are available for reservation. The state has a handy website to accommodate a camper’s specific needs, and it is available at www.stateparks.mt.gov/parks.

In Glacier Park, the Going-to-the-Sun Road is not fully open yet and while most of the campgrounds will be open by May 25, several will not open until later in the season.

Some campgrounds have water available, but none have electric or water hookups.

Be sure to check out www.home.nps.gov/applications/glac/cgstatus/cgstatus.cfm for campground status checks. This will tell you if the grounds are open, full, or fully operational.

Most Flathead National Forest campgrounds opened up in mid-May, though the Lid Creek campground could open by May 24, weather depending. Here’s a list of campgrounds and their contact information, provided by the U.S. Forest Service:

Big Creek Campground is located approximately 20 miles north of Columbia Falls along the North Fork of the Flathead River. There are 22 campsites and a group site. The campsites are first-come, first-serve, and the group site is available by reservation at www.recreation.gov or 1-877-444-6777. The fee is $13 per camping unit per night and an additional fee for the group site. The day-use area, which includes a boat launch, has a day-use fee of $4 per vehicle, or a season for $30. For more information contact the Hungry Horse-Glacier View District at 387-3800.

Emery Bay Campground is located on the east shore of the Hungry Horse Reservoir off of Road 38, approximately six miles from Martin City. There are 26 campsites and two group sites. Amenities include a boat ramp and water. Single units are $13 per night. The campsites are first-come, first-serve, and the group sites are available by reservation at www.recreation.gov or 1-877-444-6777. For more information contact the Hungry Horse-Glacier View District at 387-3800.

Holland Lake Campground is located approximately one and a half hours southeast of Bigfork, about 10 miles south of Condon, off of Montana Highway 83. There are 27 sites available on a first-come first-serve basis and 13 individual campsites available by reservation. The fee is $15 per camping unit per night. A group site is also available for reservation. Reservations are available through www.recreation.gov or 1-877-444-6777. For more information contact the Swan Lake District Office at 837-7500.

Swan Lake Campground is located directly south of the community of Swan Lake, approximately 15 miles southeast of Bigfork off of Montana Highway 83. The campground offers 36 family-sized campsites and a group site. Eleven of the family sites and the group site are available by reservation. The remaining campsites are available on a first-come first-serve basis. The fee is $15 per camping unit per night. There is a $25 fee for the group site plus a $15 fee for vehicle at the group site. The day-use area, across the highway from the campground, includes a boat launch, beach and a day-use group site that can be reserved. The day-use fee is $4 per vehicle or a season pass for $30. Reservations are available through www.recreation.gov or 1-877-444-6777, and a day-use season pass is available from the concessionaire. For more information contact the Swan Lake District Office at 837-7500.

Tally Lake Campground is about 12 miles west of Whitefish, and offers a wide variety of recreation facilities and activities. The campground has 40 campsites and a boat launch, open-air pavilion, beach area, picnic site and water. The site has parking for 50 vehicles, a double vault toilet, picnic tables, fire grill, group fire ring, horse pit, volleyball court, and nature trail. There are several trails nearby and two trails within the campground. One group site (site 39) and the pavilion can be reserved through the national recreation website www.recreation.gov. There is an accessible dock at the boat launch, parking for 15 boats/trailers and vault toilet. For more information contact the Tally Lake District Office at 758-5204.

Doris Point Boat Launch site is approximately eight miles south of Hungry Horse on the West Side Hungry Horse Reservoir Road. The site features a two-lane boat ramp with a dock, parking for approximately 70 vehicles with trailers, two vault toilets and a day-use picnic area. The day-use fee is $4 per vehicle or a season pass is available for $30. For more information contact the Hungry Horse-Glacier View District at 387-3800.