BLUEBIRD LAKE DISPERSED SITE 25

Closed — The site is accessible seasonally, typically from late spring through early fall. Winter access is not feasible due to snow accumulation and road closures at high elevations. Limited to 16 consecutive days and no more than 32 cumulative days per calendar year on Montana National Forests.

About

Bluebird Lake Dispersed Site 25 is located in the Ten Lakes Scenic Area, a 15,000-acre wilderness study area within Kootenai National Forest near the Canadian border. Designated as a scenic area in 1964 and later included in the 1977 Montana Wilderness Study Act, this backcountry region is managed to preserve its wilderness characteristics. The area was shaped by alpine glaciers that carved deep cirques and high basins sheltering numerous alpine lakes, including the stunning Bluebird Lake. The Ten Lakes Scenic Area features diverse alpine and subalpine ecosystems with Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, lodgepole pine, Douglas fir, whitebark pine, and alpine larch. Wildflowers bloom abundantly in spring and summer, and huckleberries grow throughout the understory. Bluebird Basin is considered one of the most spectacularly beautiful areas within the Ten Lakes region, offering dramatic headwalls, old snowdrifts, and pristine mountain scenery. As a dispersed camping site, this location provides no facilities or amenities. Campers must be self-sufficient and practice Leave No Trace principles. The site is accessed via forest roads from Highway 93 and requires hiking into the backcountry. Winter access is extremely difficult due to snow and road closures at high elevations.

Directions

Access from Highway 93 via various forest roads leading into the Ten Lakes Scenic Area. Requires hiking into backcountry terrain to reach Bluebird Lake basin.

Nearby Campgrounds