Rainy Lake Campground
This is a small 6-site campground on Rainy Lake north of Seeley Lake. Sites 2-6 are walk-in only, and site 1 is an accessible RV site. Vehicles must stay on roads, and all sites are first come, first served. Rainy Lake, one of the Clearwater Chain of Lakes, offers fishing and space to canoe or kayak. Hiking is also available nearby.
More like this: first-come in Montana · free in Montana · tent only in Montana · accessible sites in Montana
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | No fees. Pack it in/Pack it out. |
| Accessibility | Site 1 is an accessible RV site |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Open year-round, not plowed |
| Forest | Lolo National Forest |
| Booking | No reservations |
| Fees | No fees. Pack it in/Pack it out. |
| Rules | Camp in designated sites only! Bear Safety and Food Storage Requirements Information |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 47.3363° N, 113.5932° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx D6 Horseshoe West Unit 37
16 mi from the campground · 72 acres
- PrescribedRx D6 Horseshoe West Unit 38
16 mi from the campground · 40 acres
- PrescribedRx D6 Horseshoe West Unit 20
18 mi from the campground · 99 acres
- PrescribedRx D6 Horseshoe West Unit 23
18 mi from the campground · 115 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 25.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Bretz RV & Marine ↗ | 36 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Backcountry Racks ↗ | 36.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 4.8 miRiver Point Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miRainy Lake East0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- under 0.1 miRainy Lake West0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.9 miSouth Clearwater Loop3 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 1.5 miNorth Clearwater Loop ↗4.5 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 1.8 miRichmond- Marshall Hookup ↗9 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 1.8 miRichmond Clearwater Loop South ↗6.9 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Lolo National Forest.
- inLolo National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,625,457 acres
- 8.3 miBob Marshall Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 1,062,694 acres
- 9.1 miMission Mountains Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 74,524 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Laird's Lodge Historic DistrictHistoric district · Seeley Lake · 7.6 mi
- Camp Paxson Boy Scout Camp (24Mo77)Building · Lolo National Forest · 10.9 mi
- Double Arrow LookoutBuilding · Seeley Lake · 12.2 mi
Guidebooks for Montana
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Rainy Lake Campground?
No. Rainy Lake Campground is first-come, first-served. No reservations Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Rainy Lake Campground?
Nothing. Rainy Lake Campground is listed as free. No fees.
Source: Forest Service
Is Rainy Lake Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season Open year-round, not plowed.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Rainy Lake Campground?
Rainy Lake Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
Are there accessible sites at Rainy Lake Campground?
Site 1 is an accessible RV site.
Source: Forest Service
What if Rainy Lake Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Lake Alva Campground (0.9 mi, partly first-come), Lakeside Lolo Campground (1.4 mi), and Lake Inez Point 6 (Group Camp Site) (3.4 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby