Swan Lake Campground
Flathead National Forest
This recreation area is located near the village of Swan Lake at the north end of the scenic Swan Valley in northwest Montana. The campground consists of two loops. Ponderosa Loop offers open, large sites with plenty of space, while sites at Birch Loop are shaded and more clustered together. There is also a reservable group site which accomodates up to 100 people. Here, we have 38 rentable sites. 24 sites are reservable and 14 sites are for our walk-up visitors. The stay limit is 16 consecutive days.
The campground has 38 family-sized campsites and large group site with paved parking areas, fire rings and picnic tables. Drinking water and vault toilets are available. There is no dump station at this campground but there is a fill station as you enter the park on the right just passed the Pay Kiosk.
Some sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you want to move your reservation to a first-come, first serve (walk in) site upon arrival, you will have to pay for the new spot as you held a reservable spot that fellow campers were not able to book online.
Notifications and Alerts
Starting 2025, Swan and Holland Lake Group site will require a non-refundable down payment. Reservations will require a down payment equal to 50% of the full nightly rate. The remaining balance must be paid no later than 30 days prior to check-in. The Recreation.gov site will send the guest up to two reminder emails with links to facilitate payment. Those emails are sent seven days and 24 hours before the 30 day deadline. Down payments are non-refundable.
If you do not complete the payment by the 30 day deadline, your reservation will be cancelled and the down payment forfeited.
Need to Know
Camping fee is per camping unit. A camping unit is an RV, motorhome, camper, tent, mobile camping unit, etc. Many spots can accomodate more than one camping unit. Recreation.gov can only charge per site, if you have additional camping units be prepared to pay the additional $22/per nite (cash or check) at the fee tube or to the camphost.
CHECK OUT TIME IS 11:00 A.M. Check in is at 2:00 p.m.
If a site is not available for reservation online, it is shown as a first-come, first-served (FF) or walk-in (W) site. These sites will be identified at the campground on maps and campsite post markers with a W.
Reserved sites will be held until check out time (11am) the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of that following day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released.
We do not allow reservation holders to change campsites and move to a Walk-up campsite upon arrival. Most of our campsites are available for advanced reservations, and you must occupy the site you reserve.
You are allowed 2 passenger vehicles per site, the first vehicle is included in the site fee and an extra vehicle charge of $5.00/vehicle per night will be collected at the campground. Sites that are identified as double occupancy can accommodate an additional camping unit. In this situation, you will be charged for each camper.
Drop Camping is illegal without a Forest Service permit. If you rent a camper it may not be delivered by the owner.
There is a food storage order in effect on the Flathead National Forest. Know how to store all attractants all the time. See your Campground Host for more information or visit:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/flathead/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5347448
- Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.
- Sites 6, 8 and 14 are not recommended for tent camping
- Horses are not allowed in the campground
Click here for more information about Flathead National Forest
Changes and Cancellations
If I book this reservation today, what are my options to change or cancel?
Please remember that reservations at these facilities prevent other visitors from using these sites. Planned changes to your stay should be made as far in advance as possible. You can make changes to your reservation ahead of your arrival date in Reservations.
Changes
If your new stay dates are completely different from your original stay dates, there is a $10 change fee (per reserved site).
Cancellations
Starting 2025, Holland Lake Group site will require a non-refundable down payment. Reservations will require a down payment equal to 50% of the full nightly rate. The remaining balance must be paid no later than 30 days prior to check-in. The Recreation.gov site will send the guest up to two reminder emails with links to facilitate payment. Those emails are sent seven days and 24 hours before the 30 day deadline. Down payments are non-refundable.
If you do not complete the payment by the 30 day deadline, your reservation will be cancelled and the down payment forfeited.
If you place a reservation 30 days or less prior to check-in, you must pay the down payment and the remaining rental fee at the time of reservation. If you cancel after that point you will be responsible for the $10 cancellation fee and forfeit the down payment. If you cancel within 14 days of the check-in date, you will forfeit the down payment and one day at the rental rate, as well as the $10 cancellation fee.
This is an automated process and Holland Lake personnel cannot make changes.
Natural Features
In the heart of the Rocky Mountains lies the 2.4 million acre Flathead National Forest. Home to lynx, grizzly bear, and bull trout, with numerous lakes, streams and rivers to enjoy, the forest is the premiere destination for visitors looking to experience natural landscapes of the American West.
Swan Lake is surrounded by dense conifer forest and the craggy, snow-covered peaks of the Swan Mountain Range.
Nearby Attractions
Glacier National Park is within an hour drive. About a mile from the campground is the Swan River National Wildlife Refuge, with a wildlife and bird observation
area.
Recreation
Campers and day-use visitors have access to a boat ramp and a beach. Both power and non-motorized boating is permitted.
This campground also offers Kayak, Paddleboard and Canoe rentals and firewood for sale.
Anglers can fish for several kinds of trout as well as Kokanee salmon and Northern Pike. Bike lanes wind throughout the campground.
Changes & Cancellations
Please cancel 4 days prior. For day of arrival cancellations please call Leona at 406- 210-8199 so we can get the information to the Campground Host. All Considerations will be made after your original reservation dates have passed.
*No shows have no chance of a refund.
Contact Information
Default
200 RANGER STATION RD BIGFORK MT 59911
Physical
21770 Hwy 83 Swan Lake MT 59911
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 406-752-7924 FOR RESERVATIONS CALL: 1-877-444-6777
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Bigfork, Montana, take State Route 209 east for 4.9 miles to Swan Lake/State Route 83. Turn right and go 10.9 miles to the campground sign. Turn left at the sign into the campground.
Available Campsites
- Site 012, Loop BIRC, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 006, Loop BIRC, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 029, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 030HOST, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 016, Loop BIRC, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 002, Loop BIRC, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 008, Loop BIRC, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 011, Loop BIRC, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 020, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 024, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 031, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 009, Loop BIRC, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 023, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 010, Loop BIRC, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 004, Loop BIRC, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site D1, Loop Day Use, Type Group Picnic Area
- Site 022, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 038, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 032, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 034, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 015, Loop BIRC, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 036, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 021, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop BIRC, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 037, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 005, Loop BIRC, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 035, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 028, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 026, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 027, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 017, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 025, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 001, Loop BIRC, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 003, Loop BIRC, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 039, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 033, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 018, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 019, Loop POND, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 013, Loop BIRC, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site G1, Loop A Loop, Type Group Standard Nonelectric
- Site 007, Loop BIRC, Type Standard Nonelectric
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