Placid Lake

Placid Lake State Park encompasses 42 acres on the south shore of Placid Lake in Missoula County, in the Clearwater River drainage of western Montana. The park provides lakeside camping and recreation in a scenic mountain lake setting.

Placid Lake supports rainbow trout, bull trout, and kokanee salmon. Loons nest on the lake, and ospreys hunt from dead snags. Black bears, moose, and elk inhabit the surrounding forests.

Dense forests of Douglas fir, western larch, and lodgepole pine surround the lake. Huckleberry bushes provide food for bears and campers alike. The forest understory is rich with native shrubs and wildflowers.

Placid Lake is a natural mountain lake in the Clearwater River drainage, formed by glacial activity. The lake covers about 600 acres at approximately 4,000 feet elevation. The surrounding mountains are composed of Belt Supergroup sedimentary rocks.

The mountain lake setting produces cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers with cool nights. Annual precipitation exceeds 20 inches. The lake typically freezes in winter and clears by May.

The Clearwater drainage has been utilized by Salish and other Native peoples. Logging was historically important in the surrounding forests.

Placid Lake State Park was established to provide public access to this scenic mountain lake in the Clearwater drainage.

Fishing for trout and kokanee is the primary activity. Swimming and non-motorized boating provide summer recreation. The mountain lake setting offers scenic beauty and wildlife viewing.

The park offers 40 campsites and a boat ramp. It is located about 4 miles south of the Clearwater Junction on Highway 83, then west on a county road.

Bull trout conservation is important in the Clearwater drainage. The park manages lakeside recreation to minimize impact on water quality and shoreline habitat.