Your Weekly Showcase of Montana State Parks
This week’s focus takes us to an hour outside of Missoula, Montana near Seeley Lake, Montana to Placid Lake State Park. Placid Lake State Park is open year-round with extensive outdoor recreation options in the summer months, including fishing, boating, hiking, and mountain biking – just to name a few. This week’s park showcase is sponsored by Visit Missoula!
Located near Seeley Lake and Salmon Lake State Park, you’ll find Placid Lake State Park.
Did you know?
Placid Lake State Park is actually named for New York’s Lake Placid!
Found on a tributary of the Clearwater River, Placid Lake State Park is an excellent choice for families and adventurers alike. Add to your itinerary today – click for park coordinates!
✅ Enjoy a picnic by the lake.
✅ Challenge your friends or family to a game of volleyball or horseshoes.
✅ Spend the day on the water boating or swimming.
✅ Take in a beautiful sunset over the lake.
✅ Go on a hike around the lake.
✅ Plus so much more!
Placid Lake State Park is a great option if you’re looking to camp! With 40 campsites and recently added showers and laundry facilities, this state park provides a taste of the great outdoors without having to stray too far from the comforts of home.
With over 40,000 visitors each summer, Placid Lake State Park is one of the busiest state parks.
The forest around the lake was once in logging territory and what were once roads used to haul trees and equipment are now used as hiking and mountain biking trails. You can learn more about the history of the area through the interpretive panels along the trails.
Planning to bring your boat? You can rent a boat slip on a first-come, first-serve basis.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know the Montana State Parks Foundation’s specialty license plate is a painting of this state park by Missoula artist, Monte Dolack, entitled “Placid Lake Sunset”?
And that every dollar from license plate sales helps to fund the Foundation’s work and is available at your local DMV anywhere in the state.
Placid Lake State Park
Quick Facts
Park
Off-Season Hours
December 1 – April 30
Closed to all motorized traffic, walk-in only.
Day-use only, no overnight camping.
Peak Season Hours
May 22 – November 30
7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Campground
Open Year-Round
Location
5001 N. Placid Lake Road
Seeley Lake, MT 59868
Open Year-Round
Open Year-Round
31 Acres
ADA Accessible
Pets Allowed
Toilets (Flush & Vault)
Shower
RV Hookups
Water
Electricity
Maps
Boat Launch
How Does the Foundation Help State Parks Like Placid Lake State Park?
As Montana State Parks’ only statewide fundraising partner, the Foundation helps to raise awareness, education, and most importantly support boots-on-the-ground improvement projects for users and supporters like you.
As an agency faced with a $22 million maintenance deficit, our work and collaboration help to ensure continued access and solutions currently inside our state park system.
Because in the end, we envision state parks that reflect Montana’s renowned outdoor recreation and heritage for all… forever.
P.S. The Montana State Parks Foundation would like to say thank you to all the generous donors who made charitable gifts during our 2018 End of Year Giving Campaign. Your support makes a real difference for Montana State Parks by funding on the ground projects to enhance the visitor experience at parks. You can learn more about past projects and our plans for 2019 on our website:
