Cougar Peak (FR 403) in MT -- Camping Rules & Access in Montana

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Cougar Peak (FR 403) in MT

Lolo NF, Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District
2,592 ft7.6 mi from Thompson Falls
Maps
MODERATE
VerizonMARGINAL
AT&TSTRONG
T-MobileUSABLE
StarlinkFAIR
Dispersed camping generally allowed
WhyU.S. Forest Service opens most of its land to dispersed camping unless a local order restricts it. Check the unit's current orders before you commit.

Fire orders

All 12.9 miles in are maintained for passenger cars, dirt the whole way. Stretches run along a shelf with a drop of up to ~130 ft on the downhill side. Few of the stretches measured have level ground to pull onto. Winds through 26 switchbacks. Dead-end road with no mapped turnaround, so expect to back out or unhitch.

Cougar Peak stands 4,105 ft above the site, 3.0 miles north. Thorne Creek runs 0.7 mi off.

Lolo National Forest, Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District: Camping or otherwise occupying a single site for over 16 consecutive days within a calendar year. … Camping or otherwise occupying any number of sites over 32 cumulative days within a calendar year.

Rules that apply to this spot
Fire restrictions

Set by Lolo National Forest, Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District.

Check current orders

September normals 4275°F, 1.0″ rain. Monthly averages, PRISM 1991–2020.

Sources checked August 2026Something wrong here?