Bad Medicine Campground

All the sites are tree shaded as this cg is in a dense forest. No views of the lake, but beautiful lake access. No cell service even with a booster. This is never a problem for us. We have a 30 ft class A, with a tow. Unhooked it before attempting to find a site was necessary. Water spicket available and vault toilets. In the area, check out the Kootenai Falls and swinging bridge. Beautiful aqua water rushing over the rocks. Wow! Also, Ross Creek Cedars (giant cedars) was well worth a visit.

This was a decent camp ground for passing though the area. Trees and mostly dirt grounds with little vegetation. Quiet with plenty of space, but tent pads were not as level as other camp grounds. Facilities were also not as good. Average vault toilet, water available, but had to walk up to the entrance for garbage. It was a great location to stay and then drive to Ross Creek Cedar trail which is a short hall through amazing old growth cedars

The lakeside campsites were perfect!  We spent the week there, enjoying the water and nearby hiking.  Nice spacious sites with good shade.  Will definitely camp there again!

We stayed here mid-September, 2020. It is close to the Ross Cedars just up the narrow road. This is a wooded campground where not much light gets in. But, it feels woodsy, no claustrophobic. We were worried about grizzlies but the camp hostess said there weren’t any there. This is a USFS campground so your Senior Pass cuts the $16 camping fee in half. I would imagine Bull Lake to be beautiful but the smoke from fires obscured it in a haze.

There were vault toilets and water spigots. I have found that USFS campgrounds in this area of NW Montana to have some of the best tasting water. It is quiet being far enough off a little traveled highway.

Bad Medicine was just what the Dr ordered for us over the 4th of July! Very rural location. 30 minutes, at least, to closest store, so there weren’t many people there. Excellent for doing your own fireworks 💥 

Amenities were lacking unfortunately.

This once "hidden gem" campground is growing more popular because it is absolutely astounding. The Views of the Cabinet Mountains and Bull Lake are stunning and the location of the campground is perfect, IMO. The pit toilets were clean, the sites are well taken care of, and the ability for activity is great. As others have said you do have direct access to Bull Lake and the hiking is just a short drive to an Ancient Giant Cedar Grove. You are in bear and Grizzly country here though so keeping food locked up is a must. One final note, they tell you to raise your hood due to pack rats getting in your engine compartment.

Amazing views of Bull Lake. We went in late July and there were a few sites left when we arrived. The camp volunteer is super sweet! Awesome stay.

On the south shore of picturesque Bull Lake, the campground gives quick access to the breathtaking Ross Creek cedars. The facility is well maintained by the camp host. Several of the sites give access to the lake, and the boat launch/swimming area is a very short walk in the Day Use area. Please note the roadways within the campground are very narrow. They can be maneuvered by even large rigs, but take care. Peaceful and Beautiful!

This campground is operated by the US Forest Service and it is hosted from May to Sept. During thoes months it is $10 a night. HOWEVER, it is open year round wether and road closures considered. There are 18 campsites and the roads and site parking is paved. Other amenities include vault toilets, potable water spicgots and picnic tbles. And that is all, excepted for magnificent views. This is the Bull River Valley of western Montana after all. More to the point, just down the road a few miles is an Ancient Cedar Forest and there is a boat launch and dock nearby for Bull Lake access.

Drawbacks are the possibility that wildfires might limit access in late summer. Mosquitoes and the fact that the nearest camp store with ice, gasoline and provisions is 25 miles away in Troy. But seriously, an Ancient Cedar Forest…

We stayed here in early October. The days were short and cold and we were tent camping, but there was spectacular lake access for our canoe.