Located on a tributary of the Clearwater River, Placid Lake State Park is known for its beauty, trout fishing, wildlife viewing, family outdoor fun and smooth water.
Food Storage Rules: Store all attractants, day or night, in a closed, hard sided container or vehicle when not in immediate use. Tent campers without a vehicle may use available food lockers. Do not burn waste in fire ring or leave litter around camp-site. Dispose of garbage in bear-resistant dumpsters provided. Interpretive panels give an account of the early-day logging practices as evidenced by the massive western larch stumps in the area.
Montana State Parks camping sits between wild Forest Service sites and private RV parks: clearer rules, maintained facilities, and often water or showers, while still keeping you close to the landscape the park was created to protect.
Nearest town: Seeley Lake. Elevation about 3900 feet.
Campground snapshot
- Agency / unit: FWP — State Parks
- Sites: 40
- Type: Tent/RV
- Fee range: $4-34
- Season: May-Nov (camping), Dec-Apr (day-use only)
- Reservations: ReserveAmerica
- Best for: Placid Lake swimming
Amenities
ADA Accessible, Boat Launch, Campground, Electricity, Grills/Fire Rings, Hike-Bike Campsites, Maps, Parking, Pets Allowed, Picnic Shelter, RV Electrical Hookups, Shower, Toilets (Flush), Toilets (Vault), Trash Removal, Water
How to book
Montana State Parks camping generally books through ReserveAmerica. Peak season is typically late May through mid-September. Confirm cabin/yurt options and current fees on the park page. Official listing: fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/placid-lake.
Bear country & campcraft
This stop sits in classic Montana bear country. Store all attractants—food, trash, toiletries, cookware, and pet food—in a hard-sided vehicle, an IGBC-approved container, a provided bear box, or a proper hang. Never bring food or cooking clothes into the tent.
Campfires belong only in provided metal rings when restrictions allow. Drown, stir, and feel the ashes with the back of your hand before leaving or sleeping. In Stage II restrictions, open fires are banned even in developed sites—use a shut-off stove only.
Follow Leave No Trace: camp on durable surfaces, pack out everything you pack in, and leave the site cleaner than you found it.
Plan the rest of the trip
- Camping reference: reservations, bears, and fire rules
- Open this stop on the Backroads Guided Trails map
- Campgrounds directory
Visitor Access
- Nearest town: Seeley Lake
- Focus: State Park
- Coordinates: 47.1136, -113.5286
- Access note: Confirm road conditions, water availability, and fire restrictions before arrival. Mountain weather can drop below freezing even in midsummer.
- Legal reminder: Follow agency food-storage orders, stay within designated sites in developed camps, and respect private land and tribal boundaries.