A white Tacoma with a camper shell parked on a rise above a broad, empty basin under building cloud.

Forest Service campground

Big Creek Campground

Forest Service campground in Flathead National Forest, Flathead County, Montana. About 3,300 feet. 14 miles from Whitefish.

Managed by
Forest Service Flathead National Forest
Elevation
About 3,300 ft As the Forest Service states
Sites
23 22 standard non-electric, 1 group standard non-electric
Longest rig
48 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

Big Creek Campground lies in the expansive Flathead National Forest in northwestern Montana, 2 miles south of the Northwest entrance to Glacier National Park. Visitors can enjoy access to the Flathead River as well as the countless other recreational opportunities provided by the surrounding forests.

Big Creek Campground has 22 campsites, 12 of which are reservable and 10 are walk-up, first come, first serve sites.

The stay limit is 16 consecutive nights.

Recreation

Visitors enjoy the ample fishing and floating opportunities provided by the river. Trout are a popular catch amid the calm flow of the water. Boating is also an excellent pastime, as the river is perfect for floating, rafting and canoeing.

Across from the campground is the Glacier Institute's Big Creek Outdoor Education Center, which provides learning opportunities for visitors of all ages. Programs offered include seminars and guided hikes, which point out the diverse natural and cultural resources of the Glacier National Park and the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem.

Facilities

The campground offers several accessible individual campsites for tent and RV camping. Each has convenient access to the river and is equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills.

A group camping area is nestled in the middle of the campground and can accommodate up to 200 guests. Campfire circles and group picnic areas are also available.

Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. The water is in 2 locations and are hand pumps. They are not for filling your RV so please come with your water full.

Natural Features

In the heart of the Rocky Mountains, west of the continental divide and just south of the Canadian border, lies the 2.4 million acre Flathead National Forest.

Home to lynx, grizzly bear, and bull trout and with numerous lakes, streams, and rivers to enjoy, the forest is a premiere destination for visitors.

The campground sits along the North Fork of the Flathead River, which begins in Canada and joins a couple other forks before depositing into Flathead Lake. It is a forested area of mature pine and fir trees that provide a sparse understory at an elevation of 3,300 feet.

Nearby Attractions

Big Creek Campground is just 2 miles from the Camas Creek entrance to the Glacier National Park. Columbia Falls, along the North Fork of the Flathead River, is located 19 miles south of the campground.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • biking
  • boating
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Big Creek Campground

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated June 12, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.