Bureau of Reclamation manages this free dispersed camping area on the eastern shore of Canyon Ferry Lake in Montana, where campers pull in along a gravel beach and a two-track road that leads to an ADA vault toilet roughly half a mile from the entrance. The road is accessible to low-clearance vehicles, though a few reviewers note some bumps on the final stretch to the camping spots. A cattle guard and a plywood sign mark the turn-in, easy to miss at highway speed.
Sites line up along the lakeshore, with the gravel beach serving as the primary level ground for RVs, which tend to park one behind the other in a row. A grassy flat roughly halfway between the entrance and the toilet provides a quieter tent option, with young willows between the site and the water's edge. There are no picnic tables. Fire rings on the beach are left by previous visitors. Both AT&T and Verizon users report workable cell service here.
Crowd patterns are the most consistent theme across reviews. Weekday arrivals typically find space, but by Saturday a 100-yard stretch can hold a dozen or more rigs. Loose dogs, late-running generators, and occasional rowdy behavior have all come up in reviews. The 14-day stay limit is posted, though enforcement appears inconsistent. Drifting M. notes there is "enough space along the banks to find a spot and still feel private," though that applies more reliably on weeknights.
The adjacent Confederate Campground sits less than a mile to the southeast and provides a more structured alternative when this area fills. Campers planning a longer stay should arrive mid-week and come stocked with everything they need, as there are no water hookups, no tables, and no services beyond the vault toilet.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsConfederate Disperse Camping Area is located in Montana near Canyon Ferry Lake
Dispersed CampingCoordinates
46.4887066 N
111.52620828 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 8/14/26
VerizonLTESome Coverage
AT&T5GGood Coverage
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 8/14/26
- VerizonLTESome Coverage
- AT&T5GGood Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Dispersed
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Phone Service
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly
DISPERSED CAMPING
Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.
PERMIT might be REQUIRED
We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Confederate Disperse Camping Area needs a permit.
Drive Time
- 54 min from Helena, MT
- 1 hr 27 min from Bozeman, MT
- 2 hrs 2 min from Great Falls, MT
- 2 hrs 32 min from Missoula, MT
