South Fork Flathead (FR 38) — Spotted Bear in MT

Road corridorFlathead NF, Spotted Bear Ranger District

8.5 mi from Columbia Falls

Maps 3,337 ft

Camping permission not confirmed

Miles 0–0.7 cross land the Forest Service doesn't manage; camping there needs the landowner's permission.

Motor-vehicle season 5/15–11/30Stay limit: 16 consecutive days · 32 days total per calendar year · then move 0.5 mi

VerizonNONE

AT&TNONE

T-MobileNONE

StarlinkGOOD

Difficult

4.7 of this road’s 22.6 miles are maintained for high-clearance vehicles, mostly gravel with 5 miles of dirt.
Terrain estimates show roadside drops of up to ~220 ft on the downhill side.
Winds through 16 switchbacks.
Dead-end road; turnaround space is not mapped.

Known camping along this road between mile 6.4 and mile 56.2: .

Limited privacy

Limited separation from through roads or other sites here, with the nearest through road 0.0 miles off.
Desert Mountain stands 3,091 ft above the map pin, 3.7 miles northeast.

Dispersed camping is free, and permitted almost everywhere on the Flathead National Forest.…Dispersed camping is NOT allowed near developed recreation areas including campgrounds, trailheads and day-use areas.
Camping rules

October normals 32–53°F, 3.2″ precipitation. Monthly averages, PRISM 1991–2020.

South Fork Flathead (FR 38) — Spotted Bear in MT -- Camping Rules & Access