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Lake Alva

Seeley Lake, Montana — Missoula County.

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298Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 59476053).

Location & fast facts

Where Lake Alva is in Montana

The red circle marks Lake Alva.

Fast facts

About Lake Alva

  • County: Missoula
  • Nearest city: Seeley Lake (about 6.1 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 36 mi from Missoula and 107 mi from Great Falls, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Montana: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Montana

Official FWP pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 1 public trailer launch listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Kokanee and Westslope cutthroat trout
  • Camping. 16 campgrounds within 15 mi, 3 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Official stocking data (Montana FWP)

Stocked by the state: Kokanee, Westslope cutthroat trout (2015–2026, 12 years; 189,962 fish in all, fry included)

Source: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Fish Stocking Records from the FWP Fisheries Information System (releases into Lake Alva since 2015). Look up details in FishMT stocking reports. These are stocking records, not a full fish survey; other species also live here.

Lake map

Lake Alva shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Lakeside Lolo Campground (campground)Lake Alva Campground (campground)Lakeside Lolo (Old Alva) Campground (campground)Boat ramp (Boat launch)1½ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch Campground
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 59476053), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Lake Alva

We found 16 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake Alva, 5 of them within 5 miles. 3 are right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

10 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Montana

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Lake Alva, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (47.3129, -113.5820). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Alva. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Lake Alva

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in MT (America/Denver), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating47.3231, -113.5847

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Lake Alva

    How big is Lake Alva?

    Lake Alva covers about 298 acres in Seeley Lake, Montana (Missoula County).

    What fish are in Lake Alva?

    Montana FWP fish stocking records lists Kokanee and Westslope cutthroat trout.

    Is there a public boat launch on Lake Alva?

    Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Lake Alva?

    Yes. We list 16 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 5 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Lake Alva?

    Lake Alva touches Seeley Lake in Missoula County, Montana.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Lake Alva? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Montana lakes & ponds · All waters in Seeley Lake