ATTENTION:Road construction (May-September 2023) - Expect delays due to road construction on Highway 83 from Clearwater Junction to the north end of Salmon Lake.
Located on a tributary of the Clearwater River, Placid Lake State Park is known for its beauty, trout fishing, wildlife viewing, family outdoor fun and smooth water.
Bring your family to camp, picnic, play horseshoes, and enjoy boating, swimming, and more.
Interpretive panels give an account of the early-day logging practices as evidenced by the massive western larch stumps in the area.
There are 40 campsites, including 17 with electricity, plus a hike-bike camping site. The hike-bike site can accommodate 9 tents and is equipped with bicycle racks, fire rings, bear resistant food lockers, potable water, a bicycle maintenance stand, and a covered shelter with picnic table and electrical outlets.
Park size: 31 acres. Elevation: 4,134 feet.
Visioning Project
FWP and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are working together to begin a recreation visioning process for Placid Lake State Park and adjacent TNC lands, located just southwest of the town of Seeley Lake. They are asking for public input early in the process to help understand current issues and priorities and to generate ideas for the future of the area. Learn more
Activities
Bird Watching
Boating
Camping
Canoeing
Fishing
Kayaking
Lake Fishing
Photography
Picnicking
RV Camping
Swimming
Tent Camping
Water Skiing
Wildlife Viewing
Amenities
Some amenities are seasonal. Check with the park for availability.
ADA Accessible
Boat Launch
Campground
Electricity
Grills/Fire Rings
Hike-Bike Campsites
Maps
Parking
Pets Allowed
Picnic Shelter
RV Electrical Hookups
Shower
Toilets (Flush)
Toilets (Vault)
Trash Removal
Water
Seasons & Hours
Hours listed below are normal operating hours and may not apply when there is a special restriction or closure. Check Alerts and Closures in the tab below.
Park & Campground
Summer Season:
Open May 1 - Nov 30, weather permitting.
Quiet Hours: 10pm-7am.
Winter Season:
December 1 - April 30
Closed to all motorized traffic, walk-in only. Day-use only, no overnight camping.
Contact the park manager for open volunteer positions at Placid Lake State Park.
For complete position descriptions, application forms, and details about Montana State Parks volunteer programs, visit the Volunteers page.
Fees
Montana Residents
Montana residents who pay the $9 state parks fee with their annual vehicle registration have no daily entrance fees to state parks. For residents who don't include this in their vehicle registration, non-resident day use fees apply.
Nonresidents
Day use entrance fee with a vehicle: $8
Day use entrance fee as a walk-in, bicycle or bus passenger: $4
With a Nonresident Entrance Pass: Free
Campsites
Campsite fees range from $4-$34 per night, depending on season and available amenities.
Montana State Parks offers hike/bike, rustic, tent, rv, and boatslip campsites.
* Montana residents who pay the $9 state parks fee with their annual vehicle registration have no daily entrance fees to state parks. For residents who don't include this in their vehicle registration, non-resident day use fees apply.
Alerts & Closures
Food Storage Rules: Store all attractants, day or night, in a closed, hard sided container or vehicle when not in immediate use. Tent campers without a vehicle may use available food lockers. Do not burn waste in fire ring or leave litter around camp-site. Dispose of garbage in bear-resistant dumpsters provided.
Restrictions and Closures
See a current list of Restrictions and Closures on State Parks and other FWP lands that may be affected by floods, fire, drought or major maintenance activities.
Contact Information
Mailing Address:
Placid Lake State Park
c/o FWP Region 2 Headquarters
3201 Spurgin Rd
Missoula, MT 59804
Phone: May 1- Sept 30:
Direct line to the park
406-677-3874.
AIS can be easily spread from one waterbody to the other. Anglers, boaters, construction workers, pond owners, gardeners, seaplane pilots, field workers - virtually anyone who works or plays in or around water can unknowingly transport these pests on their boats and equipment. It takes only one mistake to potentially infest a new water body.
Ryan Sokoloski was born and raised in Circle, MT. After serving in the U.S. Army, he attended Dawson Community College, and graduated from the University of Montana – Western in Dillon with a B.A. in Environmental Sciences. During college, Ryan held several different positions with the U.S. Forest Service and Montana State Parks. He currently manages Salmon Lake, Placid Lake and Beavertail Hill State Parks. Ryan also manages the snowmobile trail grooming program in the Seeley Lake area.
CONTACT INFO Mailing Address:
FWP Region 2 Headquarters
3201 Spurgin Rd
Missoula, MT 59804
Phone: May 1 - Sept 30:
Direct line to the park
406-825-2007.
Main office (year-round):
406-677-6804. Email:rsokoloski@mt.gov
