State Parks

Travelers’ Rest State Park. © MICHAEL GRAEF

If your getaway goals include epic outdoor experiences, alpine sunshine and pure mountain air, you’ve come to the right place. Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness are both worthy destinations to experience our true nature, but there are plenty of other areas in Montana for authentic outdoor adventures, like national forests and state parks.

Montana boasts 56 state parks, 22 of which are in Glacier Country. Each park provides access to some of the region’s best nature-based experiences. Overnight campsites are available at Thompson Chain of Lakes, Logan, Lake Mary Ronan and Beavertail Hill state parks, and day-use recreation can be found at Lone Pine and Frenchtown Pond state parks. Many of the region’s state parks also offer a look into Montana’s history. Of note: Missoula’s Council Grove State Park and Milltown State Park, Fort Owen State Park in Stevensville and Travelers’ Rest State Park in Lolo.

East of Flathead Lake, the 90-mile-long Seeley-Swan Valley is home to countless lakes, rivers and forested land ideal for boating, fishing, kayaking, swimming, hiking and camping. Numerous public campgrounds, picnic areas and maintained trails can be found throughout the valley. Salmon Lake and Placid Lake state parks offer overnight camping, public boat launches, showers and RV hookups.

Additional recreation opportunities can be found at off-the-beaten-path parks, including Painted Rocks State Park near Darby, perfect for an ATV adventure. Also visit Fish Creek State Park near Alberton and Thompson Falls State Park in Thompson Falls. Fun fact: Many Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks fishing access sites offer dry camping. Dry camping sites can’t be reserved in advance, however, so make sure you have a backup plan.

For a complete overview of Montana State Parks, or to book a campsite, visit stateparks.mt.gov. You can also learn more about our wilderness areas, as well as state parks and national forests, at glaciermt.com/parks. Remember to Leave No Trace, which you can learn more about at RecreateResponsiblyMT.com.