campground in Ferndale MT

[driftlessregion]

The latest map update for Great Parks North says that there is cyclist only camping available on Bob Young's property in Ferndale, MT (map 21). Does anyone have experience camping there? Is there water, showers, picnic tables or just "on property?"

[JHamelman]

I think you must be looking at the 2012 version of the Map Updates and Corrections for Great Parks North Section 2. This Cyclists Only camping area did not make it to the 2016 printed map and is not on the Map Updates and corrections list. This location is also on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route and did not make it to the 2018 update of that map either. I believe this is because camping there is no longer an option.


Jennifer

[BikeliciousBabe]

Wayfarers State Park on MT 35, basically at the junction with MT 209, has hiker/biker sites. $10 for non-residents. $3 more for a shower. The sites have raised tent pads, bike racks, a covered picnic table with power outlets, bear boxes, Park Tools bike repair clamp, trash cans, campfire area with split log seating and drinking water. I just stayed there last Thursday for a second time. Great facility. And I was told the first time that they have a no turn away policy. Beautiful sunsets over the lake this time of year. Same exist at Whitefish Lake S.P. and Placid Lake and Salmon Lake State Parks south of Seeley Lake.

BTW...If you will be heading down MT 83 to Seeley Lake get a very early start to beat traffic. Starting at M.P. 77.5 the shoulder goes away and stays away for something like 15 miles. Once you enter Missoula County what shoulder there is is very banged up in places. You can get water and use the bathroom in the Forest Service visitor center at about M.P. 42. Very friendly people there.

[driftlessregion]

Good to know about the highway. We'll be heading north bypassing Seeley Lake from Holland Lake to Wayfarers it looks like.

[BikeliciousBabe]

Harvest Foods on MT 35 about a mile north of the park's entrance is a good grocery store. Might want to dump your gear at the campsite first. It's almost all up hill from the park entrance to the grocery store, and there is a camel's hump climb to get from the park entrance to the campsites. I was almost at the top when I realized I had forgotten to get shower coins from the person manning the park entrance.