Site Partially Closed

Lake Alva Campground

Current Conditions

- Loop 2: CLOSED : Open dates for this loop are the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day. - Group Sites: CLOSED

Lake Alva Campground is located on the North shore of Lake Alva, approximately 11 miles north of Seeley Lake, and offers visitors the chance to camp and enjoy activities such as swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, and wildlife viewing.

Lake Alva is a glacial-formed lake situated in a valley between the Swan and Mission Mountain ranges. It is one of a half a dozen lakes within the valley known as the 'Chain of Lakes' through which the Clearwater River flows. At an elevation of approximately 4,200 feet, temperatures are relatively cool on summer days.

The area contains a wide variety of wildlife and is home to white-tailed deer, elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, moose, grizzly and black bears. Both bald and golden eagles reside in the forest, along with trumpeter swan, herons and dozens of varieties of ducks.

The lake is home to a loon population and has protected nesting areas. The birds' mesmerizing calls can often be heard in the campground. All boats on Lake Alva must operate at a "no-wake" speed year-round.

View the site through the interactive map.

Lake Alva Campground

Photo of Lake Alva Campground in the summertime on the Lolo National Forest, Montana. (USDA Forest Service Photo)

Reservations

Reservation Link

Loop 1- Reservations available Friday before Memorial Day through Tuesday after Labor Day.

Loop 2- Only open Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day and is first come, first serve.

General Information

19 individual RV/tent campsites within Loop 1 are available for reservation the Friday before Memorial Day to the Tuesday after Labor Day. These sites will transition to first-come/first-serve outside of these dates.
20 campsites within Loop 2 are available on a first-come/first-serve basis. These campsites can be paid for onsite by scanning a QR Code using the Recreation.gov mobile app. Visitors will need to download the free recreation.gov mobile app through Android or iOS. This is best done prior to arrival.
All campsites are equipped with a picnic table, fire ring with grill, and a paved parking stall. Accessible vault toilets, drinking water and trash receptacles are available throughout the campground. Campground hosts are on site 24 hours a day.
The campground also offers a spacious day use area that includes a swimming beach, a concrete boat ramp, paved parking for vehicles/boat trailers, and several picnic areas. Day use facilities are open year-round from 6:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Mountain Time. No fees or reservations are required for day use.

Loop A: Open year-round.
Loop 1: OPEN Year-Round : Snow Load Determines Accessibility
Loop 2: CLOSED : Open dates for this loop are the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Day-Use/Boat Launch: OPEN Year-Round : Snow Load Determines Accessibility
Group Sites: CLOSED : Due to Hazardous Conditions

Please visit the Forest's Alerts page for information on restrictions, in particular please review the Food/Wildlife Attractant Storage Order to help reduce the likelihood of human-to-bear conflicts.

All boats on Lake Alva must operate at a “no-wake” speed year-round.

Overnight Use:

Peak Season (Memorial Day weekend - Labor Day):
- Single Site: $20 per night (2 vehicles included per site)
- Additional Vehicle Fee: $5 per night
- Group Site (#42, #43): $50 per night

Must be physically restrained on a 6 foot leash.

Boat, canoe, and bike rentals available in the town of Seeley Lake.

Entrance of the Seeley Lake Ranger Station covered in snow.

Address: 3583 Highway 83 North Seeley Lake, MT 59868
Phone: 406-677-2233
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Closed on federal holidays)

Getting There

Directions

From the town of Seeley Lake, travel 11 miles north on Montana highway 83. The campground is on the west side of the highway, at the north end of Lake Alva.

Parking

Parking is allowed in the designated parking spur for each campsite only. Vehicles that do not fit will be charged an additional vehicle fee of $5.00 and must park in the day-use area. No parking along roadways.