The campground is located along the Kootenai River below the Libby Dam. The Blackwell Flats in on the west side of the Kootenai river on FR 288 just after turning off of SH 37.

Rocky Mountain Region of Montana

Northern Rockies Ecoregion

Kootenai River

Libby Dam with visitor center, and a overlook on both sides.

The area below Libby Dam before the Big Bend has three campgrounds situated alongside the river, one on the east side, called Dunn Creek Flats Recreation Area and two on the west side called Alexander Creek Recreation Area and Blackwell Flats Recreation Area. All are a part of the US Army Corps of Engineers Recreation Area facilities.

The Army Corp of Engineers built Libby Dam on the Kootenai river about two miles north of this campground. During the construction the Corp also built a visitors center on the west side of the river Thompson bridge just below the dam as well as roads, campsites and viewpoints.

All of these roads, bridges and campgrounds were put in place and became operational while the dam was being built. Now, there serve as access to several boat ramp, campgrounds and viewpoints that line both sides of the lake and river.

Free

Possible Fees in summer 2026

The campground has a hard surface loop road, vault toilet, dumpster, trash receptacle, picnic area and boat ramp.

Each campsite has gravel pull through campsite parking, picnic table, fire pit-grill.

There are no hookups, no water, and no RV dump.

Yesterday, I had gone into town primarily to find a w-mart to have internet in order to connect to the weekend meeting. I ended up spending the morning at the arches where a seventy-five cent cup of coffee provided me with all the refills I could swallow. When, upon my return to Blackwell Flats campground, I notice that campsite number three is open, which is the only one with a large hard surface pad, so this is where I set up for my stay during the upcoming week. Also, the vault toilet is a few yards closer.

Last evening, as I drove into the campsite, I see that number 6 is available, drive into the campsite, park and begin setting up my gear by repositioning the table and then backing the jammer up to the table. Next, I open the rear lift door, get out my solar panels and then set the up in full sun.

At eleven this morning, I pack out of the cafe, drive north through town to US 2, turn left and drive west towards Libby, Montana where I stop to add fifty dollars of gasoline to the tank. Next, I stop at a g-mart to purchase some organic vegetables, sprouted bread, chips and guacamole.

Then, I cross to the north side of the Kootenai river and drive upriver on SH 37 to near Fisher River where SH 37 crosses the Kootenai river to the southeast side and from there follows along the Kootenai on the east side of the river. However, just before SH37 crosses the Kootenai, I turn north onto FR 228, which follows the Kootenai on the west side of the river. I then continue north for a short distance and come to an Army Corp of Engineer Campground, pull in and find that camping here is free.