Last stocked
June 16, 2025
Plants on record
27
Since 2011
Species recorded
2
Average size
3.7 in
Elevation
4,074.7 ft
Access and facts
- Nearest town
- Seeley Lake
- Shore access
- Yes
- Boat ramp
- Yes
- ADA accessible
- Yes
- Fee required
- Yes
- Facilities
- camping, restrooms
USFS campground in the Seeley-Swan valley, 11 miles south of Seeley Lake. Concrete boat ramp, 39 campsites across two loops, accessible vault toilets, and a day-use swimming beach. Sites are $20/night (2 vehicles included); day use is free, 6am-10pm.
Sources: access , shore_notes , nearest_town , facilities , fishing_notes , watch_outs
How Lake Alva is stocked
The first plant of the year usually falls in the second week of May. In 2025 it was June 16, 2025, later than usual.
Echo Lake (8.5 mi) was stocked more recently. Echo Lake is also stocked with Kokanee Salmon.
Fish at Lake Alva
Fishing Lake Alva is most likely to be for Cutthroat Trout. Cutthroat Trout accounts for 15 of 27 plants on record, ahead of Kokanee Salmon.
Around the dates Lake Alva is stocked, Open-Meteo's 2016-2025 archive puts mean air temperature at 48°F in May, 58.2°F in June, 38.1°F in April. That is air temperature at these coordinates, not water temperature. Open-Meteo
Cutthroat Trout 15 plants
- Plants
- 15 of 27
- Last stocked
- June 16, 2025
- Average length
- 4.8 in
Kokanee Salmon 12 plants
- Plants
- 12 of 27
- Last stocked
- May 3, 2024
- Average length
- 2.3 in
Fishing Lake Alva
Lake Alva is a glacial-formed lake where visitors can enjoy fishing, swimming, boating, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. It is situated in a valley between the Swan and Mission Mountain ranges. The lake is also home to a loon population with protected nesting areas.
Sources: fs.usda.gov
What to watch for
The area contains a wide variety of wildlife, such as deer, elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, moose, grizzly and black bears. Visitors must review the Food/Wildlife Attractant Storage Order to help reduce the likelihood of human-to-bear conflicts. Accessibility for the Day-Use/Boat Launch is determined by snow load.
Fish stocked per year
- 58,0002011
- 59,0002012
- 60,8392013
- 9,0002014
- 18,0002015
- 18,1792016
- 17,4602017
- 8,0002018
- 20,3732019
- 20,0002020
- 19,1002021
- 20,0102022
- 15,8002023
- 17,0002024
- 7,9802025
Stocking history
Showing 15 of 27 plants Showing 27 plants
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 16, 2025 | Cutthroat Trout | 7,980 | 4.22 in | report |
| June 12, 2024 | Cutthroat Trout | 8,000 | 3.85 in | report |
| May 3, 2024 | Kokanee Salmon | 9,000 | 2.5 in | report |
| May 26, 2023 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,000 | 4.67 in | report |
| May 18, 2023 | Kokanee Salmon | 5,800 | 2.74 in | report |
| May 9, 2022 | Kokanee Salmon | 10,010 | 2.25 in | report |
| May 5, 2022 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,000 | 4.65 in | report |
| May 25, 2021 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,000 | 4.71 in | report |
| May 6, 2021 | Kokanee Salmon | 9,100 | 2.74 in | report |
| May 14, 2020 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,000 | 4.98 in | report |
| May 13, 2020 | Kokanee Salmon | 10,000 | 2.5 in | report |
| May 16, 2019 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,000 | 5.08 in | report |
| May 16, 2019 | Kokanee Salmon | 10,373 | 2.65 in | report |
| May 31, 2018 | Cutthroat Trout | 8,000 | 4.84 in | report |
| June 14, 2017 | Cutthroat Trout | 7,524 | 5.25 in | report |
| May 16, 2017 | Kokanee Salmon | 9,936 | 2.22 in | report |
| June 9, 2016 | Cutthroat Trout | 8,000 | 5.29 in | report |
| April 25, 2016 | Kokanee Salmon | 10,179 | 1.96 in | report |
| June 30, 2015 | Cutthroat Trout | 8,000 | 4.88 in | report |
| April 29, 2015 | Kokanee Salmon | 10,000 | 2 in | report |
| June 20, 2014 | Cutthroat Trout | 9,000 | 4.81 in | report |
| June 3, 2013 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,000 | 4.95 in | report |
| May 7, 2013 | Kokanee Salmon | 50,839 | 2 in | report |
| May 24, 2012 | Cutthroat Trout | 9,000 | 5.33 in | report |
| May 4, 2012 | Kokanee Salmon | 50,000 | 2.3 in | report |
| June 6, 2011 | Cutthroat Trout | 10,000 | 4.78 in | report |
| May 23, 2011 | Kokanee Salmon | 48,000 | 2 in | report |
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Species stocked here
Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.