Big Larch Campground

Big Larch Campground is located on the east shoreline of Seeley Lake within the Lolo National Forest in Montana. A great place to cool off on a hot day, it has a beach and a boat ramp, as well as ample shade for those who just want to relax and enjoy nature. The campground is a favorite of locals, with plenty of space for camping, picnicking and recreating on the water. Swimming, fishing, biking, paddling and boating are all popular here, and water skiing is a popular activity on the lake. Anglers cast for a variety of freshwater fish including Kokanee salmon, bass, whitefish, pike, trout and perch. The Clearwater Canoe Trailhead just north of Seeley Lake offers excellent flat water for viewing wildlife such as blue herons and river otters; the water trail stretches 3.5 miles, or a couple of hours, down the river and is popular with canoeists and kayakers. The Morrell Falls National Recreation Trail on the east side of the valley offers an incredible day hike exploring recent burns, dense forests and a large waterfall. Two group camping areas, 29 individual RV/tent campsites and three bicycle campsites are available for reservation from the Friday before Memorial Day to Labor Day, transitioning to first-come, first-served outside those dates. Nineteen individual sites are first-come, first-served year-round. All campsites are equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings with grills and a large paved parking area, and accessible vault toilets, drinking water and trash receptacles are available throughout the campground. Campground hosts are on site 24 hours a day. There is also a spacious day-use area with a roped-off swimming beach, a boat ramp, a dock, boat trailer parking and several picnic areas, open year-round from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily; no fees or reservations are required for day use. Seeley Lake is a 1,025-acre, glacial-formed lake within the "Chain of Lakes" through which the Clearwater River flows. The campground is nestled in a mixed conifer forest, including plenty of tall larch and pine trees; while there is ample space between sites, the lack of understory makes for minimal privacy. At an elevation of about 4,000 feet, temperatures are pleasant throughout most of the summer months. The area is home to white-tailed deer, elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, moose, and grizzly and black bears, and both the bald and golden eagle reside in the forest, along with trumpeter swan, herons and dozens of varieties of ducks. The town of Seeley Lake, on the southeastern tip of the lake, offers boat, canoe and kayak rentals as well as guide services and resorts, plus gas, groceries, restaurants and lodging. A short drive up any of the nearby Forest Service roads gives access to sweeping views, mountain lakes and rugged peaks. Glacier National Park, known for alpine landscapes, active glaciers and unique wildlife, is a day trip away, and Missoula, about an hour from Seeley Lake, is one of Western Montana's outdoor recreation hubs, a full-service city with two hospitals, an international airport, and access to services, hotels and outdoor activities.