Skip to Main Content
University of Montana Logo A - Z Index

Russell Gates Memorial Fishing Access.

General information.

Region: Region 2--West Central.
Dominant Setting: forest, river/stream.
Location: Russell Gates Fishing Access Site is located 35 miles east of Bonner on Montana Highway 200 at milepost 35.
Manager: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
Amenities: accessible bathrooms, pit toilets, trash containers, drinkable water, parking.
Pets are allowed (on leash).

Available Activities.

non-accessible boating symbol accessible camping symbol non-accessible fishing symbol non-accessible educational opportunities symbol
Symbol key.

Accessible activities: camping.
Non-accessible activities: boating, fishing, learning.


accessible biking symbol

 Accessible camping information.

Site name: Campsite #1.
Type of site or sites: tent site, RV site.
Site features: parking pad size of 30 by 22 feet, picnic table is not located along an accessible route and there is not wheelchair seating, BBQ with cooking surface not within accessible reach range.
Comment: This site is marked as accessible, however there are no accessible amenities such as fire rings, grills, or picnic tables. It is located very close to an accessible toilet, which also has it own paved accessible parking pad.

Route name: Campsite #1 to Toilet.
Access route surface: paved, gravel, firm, stable.
Access route dimensions: minimum clear tread width of 52 inches, maximum running slope of 5.7%, maximum cross slope of 2.9%, tread obstacles up to 1 inches.

Location pictures.

1: Picture 1--Non-accessible campsite with an unstable 17 degree slow down 3 feet from the parking pad to the campsite. About half of the campsites have similar issues.

2: Picture 2--Primitive steps (the only access route) leading up to a manual water pump.

3: Picture 3--A level campsite located adjacent to a gravel parking area. Some of the ground in the camping area is unevenly packed dirt. The picnic table does not have a wheelchair seating space, and the cooking surface of the BBQ pit is lower than 15 inches.

4: Picture 4--The boat launch area is compacted gravel and has a max slope of 4%. Depending on water levels, this area may be fairly accessible.

5: Picture 5--Marked accessible campsite with toilet and accessible parking spot in background.

6: Picture 6--Marked accessible campsite does not have accessible amenities.

Additional information about this location.

1: There is no accessible route to the historical information signs. There is a 5 foot to 7 foot high river bank everywhere except at the boat launch, where there is a maximum slope of 17 degrees. Some camp sites do not have an accessible route, others do (see pictures), but none have a picnic table with a wheelchair seating space or an accessible BBQ pit.

2: There are 12 tent campsites with picnic tables and BBQ pits, trash containers, and drinkable water at this campground. Pets are allowed.

3: The boat ramp is compacted gravel with a max slope of 4%. This is subject to change depending on water levels.

User comments about this location.

1: On Thursday, March 15, 2001, a guest wrote:
Site has drinkable water and a non-motorized boat launch. Site requires a use fee.

Download coordinates to Google Earth or a GPS.

Download coordinates.

Manager's contact information.

Managed by: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
Address: 3201 Spurgin Rd., Missoula, MT, 59804
Phone Number: (406) 542-5500
TDD phone number is not available.
Visit the manager's website.


Information source and currentness.

Source of Information: USFS Lolo National Forest (West Half and Seeley Lake) visitor maps (1:126,720-scale). MonTECH
S.Hammer

Information Date: 5/10/2011