BLUEBIRD LAKE DISPERSED SITE 26

Closed — Closed for winter due to snow. Access roads and trails are typically impassable from late fall through late spring. Over-snow vehicle access is permitted in winter.

About

This dispersed camping site is located in the pristine Bluebird Basin area near Bluebird Lake, within Kootenai National Forest's Ten Lakes Scenic Area. The site sits in an alpine environment accessed via the Highline Trail, a moderately strenuous 7-mile roundtrip hike that climbs through spruce forests and subalpine meadows to reach the lake-adorned cirque. The Ten Lakes Scenic Area is a 15,000-acre expanse of wilderness study area and scenic area along the Whitefish Range near the Canadian border, featuring numerous alpine lakes, headwalls, and old snowdrifts. The area is named for the Ten Lakes basin and features spectacular alpine beauty throughout its high basins and cirques. Bluebird Lake itself is known for fishing, swimming, and overnight camping opportunities. The surrounding landscape includes subalpine vegetation, wildflowers, huckleberry bushes, and panoramic mountain views. Access to the trailhead requires driving on both paved and forest roads from Highway 93, with a very long approach through the Ten Lakes Scenic Area. Motorized vehicles are prohibited in the Scenic Area except for over-snow vehicles in winter.

Directions

From Highway 93, access the Ten Lakes Scenic Area via forest roads. Park at the Highline Trail trailhead and hike approximately 3.5 miles to Bluebird Lake and the dispersed camping area.

Nearby Campgrounds