Tally Lake Campground
Currently offering free primitive camping with limited amenities following a major blowdown event in December 2025. Regular campground operations will not resume for Memorial Day weekend 2026; reservations for those dates have been auto-refunded. The Forest Service is working to reopen fully the following weekend. No potable water is available until further notice. Restrooms are available but there is no host on site.
Northern Region Camping & Target Restrictions, Pallet Prohibition
This order defines the maximum length of occupation at a single location or cumulatively at any number of locations within a calendar year, within the states of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Idaho
Weed Free Forage & Mulch Products Order for the Northern Region
It is illegal to possess, store or transport straw, hay, grain, seed or other forage or mulch products on Forest Service lands without documentation that the product is certified as “weed free” by a state certification process that meets or exceeds the North American Weed Free Forage standards.
R1-2023-02 - NCDE Food and Wildlife Attractant Storage Order
Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem Food/Wildlife Attractant Storage Order for the Flathead, Lolo, Kootenai, Helena-Lewis and Clark, and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests within the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem.
Order 01-15-00-25-01: Bob Marshall, Scapegoat, and Great Bear Wilderness Restrictions
Occupancy and Use and Trail Restrictions for the entire Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, as well as trail, stock, and camping restrictions on Our Lake Trail and lake area (Helena-Lewis and Clark NF), beneath the Chinese Wall (Helena-Lewis and Clark NF), and Castle Creek Riverside Campsite (Flathead…
Big Creek Canyon Creek Road 316 Closure for Emergency Repairs
Big Creek Canyon Creek Road 316 closed to motorized travel during 2026 repair work. See details and authorized access info.
Blankenship Emergency Closure
The Blankenship Bridge Area (Blankenship southwest), located south of Blankenship Road on the west side of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River is temporarily closed for public safety due to high water.
Current Avalanche Danger and Forecast
Avalanche Danger: Know before you go! Avalanche Forecasts at Flathead Avalanche Center The Flathead National Forest has three forecast zones for avalanches: the Whitefish Range, the Flathead Range and Glacier National Park, and the Swan Range. Avalanche hazards are highly spatially variable, so…
Trail 800 Tally-Ashely Closure
4.4 miles of National Forest System Trail 800 Tally-Ashley will be closed for public safety during logging activities starting 9/4/2025 - 9/1/2026 unless rescinded sooner.
Ryan Creek Occupancy and Use Order
From September 1, 2025 through December 1, 2026, unless rescinded, the following is prohibited in the Ryan Road area:Camping or otherwise occupying a site except where designated .Camping or otherwise occupying a designated site for over three consecutive days within a calendar year.
Logan Creek Hoke Creek Closure
NFS Road 1625 is closed between milepost 2.84 and 5.08 for public safety due to road substrate slumping. This closed segment is from the junction with Rd #9881 at milepost 2.84 to the end of Rd #1625 starting 8/13/2025 - 8/12/2027 unless rescinded sooner.
Water Vessel Prohibitions
Violating State water vessel safety and operation laws and regulations is prohibited on all Flathead National Forest waterways.
From Recreation.gov
Due to unforeseen circumstances there will be NO water available until further notice. There will be limited amenities.
From Recreation.gov
**Tally Lake Campground Update – Memorial Weekend 2026** **Due to last December’s major blowdown event, Tally Lake Campground will have a very different look this season.** **Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the U.S. Forest Service and PWAI, we’ve made significant progress restoring the campground. However, we regret that we will not be able to open for Memorial Weekend. All reservations for those dates will be automatically refunded.** **We are working hard to open the following weekend and appreciate your patience as we complete the cleanup and restoration.** **In the meantime, we are offering free primitive camping with limited amenities. Restrooms will be available but there is currently no host on site and no water available due to unforeseen issues. Please bring all the potable water you’ll need for your stay.** **Thank you for your understanding and continued support as we work to restore Tally Lake to its full beauty. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!**
About
Tally Lake Campground occupies the northern shores of its namesake lake in northwestern Montana's Flathead National Forest. At over 490 feet deep, Tally Lake is the deepest natural lake in Montana, carved into a mature forest of Western Larch and Douglas fir. The campground provides direct access to 1,326 acres of lake for boating, water skiing, swimming, and fishing for kokanee salmon, multiple trout species, and northern pike. The campground features 38 individual sites plus group facilities. Twenty-one sites are reservable through Recreation.gov, with 17 available first-come-first-served. Each site includes a picnic table and campfire ring with grill. Vault toilets are ADA accessible, and a dump station is on site. A boat ramp, dock, and beach area provide lake access, with kayak, paddleboard, and canoe rentals available. An open-air pavilion with volleyball facilities serves group gatherings. Hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails surround the campground and lake, though horses are not permitted within the campground itself. Wildlife viewing is excellent, with waterfowl, bald eagles, and migratory birds frequently spotted. The stay limit is 16 consecutive nights. Whitefish Lake and Whitefish Mountain Resort are approximately 20-25 miles away.
Directions
From Whitefish, Montana, take US Rt. 93 north for 4 miles until you reach Twin Bridges Rd. Turn left onto Twin Bridges Rd. and travel 1.4 miles to the Tally Lake campground sign. Turn right after the sign, staying on Twin Bridges Rd., and proceed 1 mile to another campground sign at Farm to Market. Turn left onto Farm to Market and go 2 miles to Tally Lake Rd. Turn right onto Tally Lake Rd. (dirt) and go 9 miles to the campground sign. Turn right at the sign into the campground.
Location
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | Yes |
| Wifi | — |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | — |
| Price | $22 - $150 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | 60ft |
| Max Trailer Length | 60ft |
| Big Rig Friendly | — |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (406) 752-7924 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
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