Winter Adventures in Montana: Camping by the Flathead River
Winter Adventures in Montana: Camping by the Flathead River
Winter in Northwest Montana is one of my favorite times to camp. Sure, it’s cold and snowy, but because of that you can easily find solitude. Few of us who like to overland seek out crowds. In summertime crowds can be tough to avoid, but in the winter escaping people is easy. That was the case when I headed out this week up the North Fork looking for a place to camp and seeking the quiet of nature.
Looking for Camp
This was a solo trip. It was January 2nd, and I had a few days off work around the New Year, so I decided to make the most of them. It had been nearly two months since my last camping trip, and I was looking forward to getting back into nature.
Winter camping is fantastic because very few people are willing to brave the cold. With my truck camper’s furnace, I can warm up whenever needed, making winter camping much more comfortable.
The main challenge of winter camping is access. Snow limits the places you can reach compared to the summer months. Higher-elevation forest service roads are often buried in snow, so finding a campsite typically means sticking to well-traveled roads where the snow has been packed down by other vehicles or choosing spots close to main roads. How far you can push it depends on your rig—and whether you’re traveling solo or with a group. When you’re adventuring solo, it’s wise to avoid deep snow where getting stuck is a real possibility. Without another vehicle to pull you out, you could find yourself in a tough situation.
For this trip, I explored the North Fork Road just outside the borders of Glacier National Park. This area is dotted with forest service roads that branch off into the National Forest, making it a great jumping-off point. I drove past the tiny town of Polebridge, MT, scouting for a good campsite but didn’t find anything I liked. Continuing on, I eventually spotted an area near the river that looked promising. I pulled off the North Fork Road and chose a beautiful spot along the Flathead River to set up camp.
Setting Up Camp
My overland rig consists of an F-150 Tremor paired with a Four Wheel Truck Camper. This pop-up truck camper is a reliable setup for winter adventures. After leveling the truck, the first order of business was popping up the camper top and firing up the furnace to warm the space.
With the camper warming up, I set up my portable fire pit and got a fire going. My plan for this trip was simple: sit by the fire and read. I had brought along a book I’d been saving, A Woman Among Wolves: My Journey Through Forty Years of Wolf Recovery by Diane Boyd. The book chronicles Boyd’s remarkable career studying and aiding wolf recovery in the lower 48 states, much of it set in the North Fork area around Glacier National Park. Reading about wolf recovery in the very place where much of the story unfolded felt like the perfect choice.
With the fire crackling, I made myself a meal and settled in. The book was fantastic, and I ended up reading it cover to cover. When I finished, I headed into the camper, falling asleep to the soothing sounds of the river beside my campsite. I slept great.
A Fresh Start
The next morning, I brewed coffee and enjoyed a light breakfast. Since this was just an overnight trip, I didn’t have much time to linger. I packed up camp and headed back to town, feeling refreshed and inspired to plan more adventures for the year ahead.
This quick winter escape reminded me of the joy of solitude and the benefits of sitting by a fire, reading a good book, and soaking in the quiet of nature. Camping in winter may require a bit more preparation and caution, but the rewards are well worth it.
January 6, 2025
