Therriault Lakes/Ten Lakes Scenic Area

[iowahiker]

We were considering spending a week in early August at Little/Big Therriault Lakes Campgrounds in the Ten Lakes Scenic Area in Northwest Montana but want to avoid the long drive in if the campgrounds are very busy. Any insight to busy season camping in the Ten Lakes Scenic Area would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Taku]

Call the Kootenai National Forest, Fortine Ranger District for a start.

 

[iowahiker]

We did call the NF Ranger office but the person we talked with was reluctant to give insight since they did not want to be wrong since people may or may not visit. Just looking for any first hand experience which is a long shot given how out-of-the-way these lakes are. Thanks.

 

[Foy]

Related to your planning, but not for your destination, about which I know nil, be aware that the annual Sturgis bike rally is in early August. It would materially affect your trip out and back in that I-90 will be very heavily traveled in each direction from Sturgis and all fuel plazas, restaurants, rest areas, motels, and campgrounds will be bursting at the seams for hundreds of miles in each direction during the week before and after the Rally. This is not a grind against riders--some of my best friends ride, but if you're anticipating one thing on a road trip and come to find out it'll be something entirely different, it can make you change your plans. In short, I did an NC to western MT road trip in 2002 which had us arriving to the MT/WY/SD border area on the Friday before the Rally started and passing back by on the Sunday it ended. I won't do that again.

Foy

 

[iowahiker]

We encounter the Sturgis bike rally once and got caught in a 20 mile long bike convoy going from one exit on I-90 to another. I wonder what the two lane roads were like as they looped back. We plan to arrive in the 10 Lakes area from Canada and leave after the bike rally. We have used I-94 to avoid the Sturgis crowd.

 

[iowahiker]

We made it to 10 Lakes Scenic Area. This is Big Therriault Lake near the campground with the same name. Big and Little Therriault Lake campgrounds have a combined 16 +/- sites which were half full during the week in early August, 2015. Both campgrounds were very well maintained, do not take reservations, have a host, and were quiet during our stay. The extensive trail system was also well maintained and lightly used during the week with nice (but not spectacular) views. The Forest Service road into 10 Lakes Scenic area is also in very good condition with dispersed sites a few miles from the end of the road on side roads. A great place to visit when you want to avoid crowds.