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

Forest Service campground

Murray Bay Campground

Forest Service campground in Flathead National Forest, Flathead County, Montana. 3,586 feet. 18.8 miles from Columbia Falls.

Managed by
Forest Service Flathead National Forest
Elevation
3,586 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
20 20 standard non-electric
Longest rig
60 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

Murray Bay Campground is located on the Hungry Horse Reservoir, high in the Rocky Mountains, less than 30 miles from the Continental Divide, surrounded by towering mountain peaks. Visitors can expect a variety of recreational activities, including, fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, exploring and big game hunting. Murray Bay Campground has 20 sites, 11 which are reservable and 9 that are for our walk up visitors. The stay limit is 16 consecutive days.

Recreation

Boating is popular on the 27,750-acre reservoir, and a concrete boat ramp is accessible from within the campground. Swimming and fishing are also popular pastimes, and anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish, including cutthroat trout.

Facilities

The campground offers 20 overnight sites for tent and RV camping. Each is equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. The water is 2 hand pumps and are not for filling RV's so please come full. Campground roads and parking spurs are gravel. An on-site host is available to answer any questions about the campground and surrounding area.

Natural Features

The campground is situated along the massive Hungry Horse Reservoir, which was dammed to provide hydroelectric power and flood control to the area. It is the 10th highest dam in the United States and provides a stunning backdrop.

Nearby Attractions

Murray Bay Campground is approximately 31 miles southwest of the West Glacier entrance to Glacier National Park.

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

What people do here

  • boating
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • swimming site
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Murray Bay 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.