Bowen Lake (FR 9806) in MT

Road corridorFlathead NF, Tally Lake Ranger District

25 mi from Whitefish

Maps 4,934 ft

Dispersed camping generally allowed

U.S. Forest Service default; a local order can restrict it.

Stay limit: 16 consecutive days · 32 days total per calendar year · then move 0.5 mi

VerizonNONE

AT&TNONE

T-MobileNONE

StarlinkFAIR

Difficult

1.9 of this road’s 6.6 miles are maintained for high-clearance vehicles, mostly gravel with 1.9 miles of dirt.
Near Elk Mountain.
Estimated climb: 760 ft over 6.6 miles through 5 switchbacks, with sustained grades near 12% and pitches to 28%.
Dead-end road; turnaround space is not mapped.

Limited privacy

Limited separation from through roads or other sites here, with the nearest through road 0.0 miles off.
Elk Ridge stands 1,420 ft above the map pin, 1.8 miles south.
Bowen Lake lies 0.6 mi off.

The maximum stay on the Flathead National Forest is 16 days; some campgrounds may have lower stay limits.
Camping rules

October normals 33–50°F, 2.4″ precipitation. Monthly averages, PRISM 1991–2020.

Bowen Lake (FR 9806) in MT -- Camping Rules & Access