Ackley Lake State Park Campground

Ackley Lake State Park campground has no camping fees for Montana residents, for nonresidents the cost is$24 per night. The campground has two vault toilets, but no running water or trash service. While visiting I counted 26 metal fire rings at the campground. Most of those fire rings had picnic tables, but not all of them. Their are 15 numbered campsites with metal fire rings with a cement picnic table with a lean-to to block the wind and provide a little shade. The numbered sites sit along the shore of the lake allowing you to fish from your campsite. The state park also has 2 boat ramps and a seasonal boat dock.

Camping and fishing oasis in central Montana

What makes this campground great is if you're looking for a lake in MT that offers a little more solitude to do your watersports. There's a boat ramp that would make anyone from the novice fisherman to the pro water skier happy, but the grounds are small and the price is a little steep for non MT residents.

There are 15 campgrounds, all primitive (no hookups, just fire pits and a shaded picnic table with a communal bathroom) to allow you the solitude of camping near a lake in MT.

It was unique for me to be awoken by cow moos over rooster crows.

Like most state parks, fees are by cash and so make sure you have enough coin to cover the costs (see pics).

Relaxing camping lakeside in MT

This was a welcome sight on a cross country road trip. We rolled up around sunset to find plentiful open spots, a lovely lake, and four very confused cows.

Many sites offered a sheltered picnic table, which makes me think it might get very hot or very windy.

It looked like fishing and hunting might be possible, but no one was doing either on our trip.

Birds galore, watch out for cows

Nice area, refreshing swim.. Could be more shade. Limited fire pits but lots of space. Free for Montana residents! 

Nice area, no shade


I stayed here for a weekend in a tent. We arrived on a Saturday afternoon and most "camp sites" were taken (its mostly just pull off the road and park style camping from what I could see; I don't think there are very many official camp spots), but we were able to find a spot. There is some shade in certain spots. The shoreline was rocky at our site, so it was easy to get in and out of the water. We took ATVs and drove them to Utica and Sapphire Village to explore some of the trail up there. Overall, a nice spot for such a small lake.

Nice little lake that was pretty busy

Good spot for camping, fishing, swimming, kayaking!


Weekend getaway

So beautiful. Found it randomly passing through, just looking for a place to stay for the night. So much wildlife on our drive to it, in the fieds that surround the lake. They only have 26 spots, first come first serve. So we were skeptical at first thinking we might not find a spot. But there was plenty of room. And all of the campsites are right on the water. I would stay there again for sure. No hook ups. only $24 a night for out of state residents. Well worth it to me for the beauty. 
