Some forest campgrounds open Thursday

Holland Lake, Swan Lake and Big Creek campgrounds on the Flathead National Forest will open to the public on Thursday, May 12.  

These campgrounds are operated by the forest concessionaire, Big Sky Recreation.  

Holland Lake Campground is located approximately a 1 1/2 hour drive southeast of Bigfork, about 10 miles south of Condon, off of Montana 83.  

There are 27 sites available on a first-come, first-served basis and 13 individual campsites available by reservation. The fee is $15 per camping unit per night.  A group site also is available for reservation.

Reservations are available through www.recreation.gov or 1-877-444-6777.

The Owl Creek Packer Camp is located approximately one-half mile away with corrals, water and feed bunks available on a first-come first-serve basis for those with horses. For more information, contact the Swan Lake District Office at 837-7500.  

Swan Lake Campground is directly south of the community of Swan Lake, approximately 15 miles southeast of Bigfork off of Montana 83.  

The campground offers 36 family-sized campsites and a large group site. Eleven of the sites and the group site are available by reservation. The remaining camp sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The fee is $15 per camping unit per night. There is a $25 fee for the group site plus a $15 fee for each camping unit at the group site.

The day-use area across the highway from the campground includes a new group site that can be reserved, a boat launch and beach. The day-use fee is $4 per vehicle or a season pass is available 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.  

Big Creek Campground is 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-served 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 with 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 pass is available for $30.

For more information contact the Hungry Horse-Glacier View District at 387-3800.      

It is anticipated that Tally Lake and Emery Bay campgrounds will open by May 19 and Murray Bay Campground by May 26, weather and road conditions permitting.

Forest campers and visitors are reminded that all food and food-related items should be stored in a bear-resistant manner.  The Flathead National Forest is home to grizzly and black bears, and responsible human actions will help with unwanted bear encounters.  

Campers are also reminded to be careful with fire.  Never leave a fire unattended and be sure the fire is “dead out” before leaving.  

For more information about camping on the Flathead National Forest, contact a local forest service office or visit www.fs.fed.us/r1/flathead.  

Forest travelers are reminded that the first 11 miles of the West-side Hungry Horse Reservoir Road, from Hungry Horse Dam to approximately Lid Creek Campground, will be closed this summer for repaving.  

Access to locations along the west side of the reservoir will be via the East-side Hungry Horse Reservoir Road.

Contact the Hungry Horse-Glacier View District at 387-3800 for more information.