Fourteen miles of forest road lead to Park Lake Campground, set within Helena National Forest above a non-motorized lake in the mountains outside Clancy, Montana. The first 3.5 miles from the highway are paved; the rest is wide, maintained gravel with soft shoulders that warrant attention, especially for drivers towing trailers. Navigation deserves care. GPS directions and some older reviews have sent campers down the wrong fork, a narrow dead-end road with no-trespassing signs and no room to turn around a trailer.
The campground has 22 back-in sites, all with paved pads, picnic tables, and metal fire rings. Sites range from full sun to full shade. Two hand pumps supply drinking water, and three vault toilets serve the area, reported by recent visitors as clean and well-stocked. Cell service is available, a rarity at this elevation and distance from town, because the campground sits on a high point in the terrain. Chipmunks and rabbits are common around the sites, and bear country protocols apply.
Park Lake is open to non-motorized watercraft only. A dirt boat launch gives access to canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards. Shore fishing for Arctic Grayling and Cutthroat trout draws anglers to the east-side day use area, which has its own tables and fire rings. Nearby alternatives for different camping styles include Scott Reservoir Dispersed to the west and Moose Creek Campground to the northwest. The campground operates from Memorial Day through Labor Day with no hookups and a pack-in, pack-out trash policy, so bring enough supplies for the stay.
Description
Park Lake Campground is located approximately 20 miles southwest of Helena, Montana. The site provides an opportunity to camp near the placid, lovely Park Lake. You could enjoy fishing for cutthroat and greyling trout in this beautiful mountain lake, hand launch non-motorized boats or picnic along the lakeshore.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsPark Lake Campground is located in Montana near Clancy
Directions
From Helena travel south on Interstate 15 for 8 miles, Exit interstate at the Clancy exit. Travel west 8 miles on the County Road and 6 miles west on Forest Road 4009 to the Park lake Campground.
Coordinates
46.44277758 N
112.16861136 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage
VerizonLTESome Coverage- AT&TNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 6/28/26
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonLTESome Coverage
- AT&TNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 6/28/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Picnic Table
- Phone Service
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 1 hr 4 min from Helena, MT
- 2 hrs 11 min from Bozeman, MT
- 2 hrs 16 min from Great Falls, MT
- 2 hrs 45 min from Missoula, MT
