From the lookout atop Williams Peak to the crystal-clear emerald pools of Fish Creek, this state park is full of wildlife, beautiful scenery and places to explore.

Fish Creek State Park covers more than 5,600 acres, making it the largest state park in western Montana. The park is part of a larger state-owned public land complex, covering more than 45,000 acres, that is managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP). The campgrounds at Big Pine and Forks Fishing Access Sites, and day use sites on the Alberton Gorge, as well as the Fish Creek Wildlife Management Area are managed by FWP divisions. A much larger tract of public land exists in the neighboring national forest.

Shaped by decades of logging, the forest landscape of the park offers dramatic views of the industrial past and its recovering present. Although closed to the public, an historic fire tower, sits atop Williams Peak, offering an expansive view of the park and the surrounding Bitterroot mountain range and the Great Burn proposed wilderness. The 1910 Great Burn is the largest fire in regional history and burned three million acres in northwestern Montana, Idaho, Washington, in less than three days.

Fish Creek is a stronghold for Montana’s native trout, including bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout, and wild populations of rainbows and browns.  Fish Creek State Park also supports a variety of habitats for wildlife including an estimated 47 mammal, 113 bird, three amphibian, and four reptile species. Some notable mammal species include moose, elk, black bear, mountain lions, and wolves.

The park offers a variety of recreation opportunities within a secluded and quiet environment. Open year round, activities include fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, horseback riding, OHV, and snowmobiling on open roads. The park offers access to Fish Creek in multiple locations and is home to the confluence of the creek and the Clark Fork River in the Alberton Gorge, known for its first-rate whitewater rafting. Fish Creek State Park has a network of old logging roads, including a 70-mile series of “open” roads, that allow motorized use, and “closed” roads, that are available for hiking and nonmotorized use.  

Fish Creek State Park, and neighboring public lands, offers a memorable rustic, natural experience. Fish Creek State is located conveniently off Interstate 90, about 41 miles west of Missoula, making it easily accessible to residents and travelers.

Fish Creek Trails Planning Effort 

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is launching a trail system planning effort at Fish Creek State Park and the surrounding landscape to explore opportunities for a thoughtfully designed, multi-use trail system. The goal is to improve recreational access for a variety of users—hikers, bikers, and off-highway vehicle (OHV) riders—while protecting natural resources and ensuring a high-quality visitor experience. 

To guide this effort, FWP is launching the Fish Creek Collaborative, a citizen advisory group made up of local residents, recreationists, and stakeholders. The collaborative will work towards developing a site-level plan for a multi-use trail network by providing input on trail development, management, and conservation priorities throughout the Fish Creek Complex. 

Fish Creek Watershed Recreation Planning

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is building on previous planning efforts to create an updated, comprehensive roadmap for managing recreational use in the Fish Creek Watershed. The Fish Creek area is home to important fish and wildlife habit, historic and cultural resources, local communities and private landowners, and unique opportunities for outdoor recreation. This will all be part of what the planning process and final planning document considers. Learn More

• Fishing
• Hiking
• Hunting
• Photography
• Picnicking
• Snowshoeing
• Wildlife Viewing

Some amenities are seasonal. Check with the park for availability.

• Pets Allowed

Hours listed below are normal operating hours and may not apply when there is a special restriction or closure. Check Alerts and Closures in the tab below.

Park
Open daily all year
 

Visit the State Parks Fees & Regulations page for park rules.

Contact the park manager for open volunteer positions at Fish Creek State Park.

For complete position descriptions, application forms, and details about Montana State Parks volunteer programs, visit the Volunteers page.

Montana Residents

• Montana residents who pay the $9 state parks fee with their annual vehicle registration have no daily entrance fees to state parks. For residents who don't include this in their vehicle registration, non-resident day use fees apply.

Nonresidents

• Day use entrance fee with a vehicle: $8
• Day use entrance fee as a walk-in, bicycle or bus passenger: $4
• With a Nonresident Entrance Pass: Free

Restrictions and Closures

See a current list of Restrictions and Closures on State Parks and other FWP lands that may be affected by floods, fire, drought or major maintenance activities.

Mailing Address:
Fish Creek State Park
c/o FWP Region 2 Headquarters
3201 Spurgin Rd
Missoula, MT 59804

Phone: (406) 542-5533
Email: ckenyon@mt.gov