Park Lake Campground, near Clancy, Montana, is a fantastic spot for those looking to unwind by a beautiful mountain lake. With 22 campsites featuring picnic tables and metal fire rings, it’s perfect for gathering around the campfire and enjoying the great outdoors.

This campground is all about family fun, with plenty of space for kids to explore and climb on the large boulders scattered around. Visitors rave about the peaceful atmosphere, with no motorized boats allowed on the lake, making it ideal for fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. One camper summed it up nicely: “Our favorite nearby campground that's far enough away to get everyone to unplug.”

You’ll find essential amenities like vault toilets and hand pumps for drinking water, ensuring a comfortable stay. The paved paths make it easy for little ones to ride their bikes around, and the scenic trails along the creek offer a great way to soak in the natural beauty. 

Just a short drive from [Helena National Forest](https://thedyrt.com/camping/montana/near/helena-national-forest), Park Lake Campground is a great base for outdoor adventures. Whether you’re casting a line for Arctic Greyling or simply soaking in the views, this campground has everything you need for a memorable getaway.

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.

Park Lake Campground

Clancy is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Clancy, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Find the best campgrounds near Clancy, MT. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.

Clancy

The Best Camping Near Clancy, Montana

Awesome family campground!! Can't say this enough!! Most popular campground in the Capital Area!! Lots of modern sites for campers with hook ups, running water pumps and outhouse restrooms, trails to the lake for fishing and kayaking, bike riding and four wheeler riding, metal cooking pits, trail along the creek run off to the frog pond!! Super fun camp ground!! 

Park Lake

Our favorite nearby campground that's for enough away to get everyone to unplug. Peaceful mountain lake with no motors allowed on the water. Fish, kayak, paddle board, and swim. The entire campground is paved! Perfect for the kiddos on their bicycles.

We love this place

Helena National Forest's Park Lake Campground sits next to the beautiful Park Lake. A day use areas sits along the east side of the lake. The campground sits above the lake and features 22 campsites with metal fire rings and picnic tables. The campground is paved with paved parking pads. The campground has two vault toilets(a third one sits at the entrance to the campground in the day use area). Water is available from two hand pumps in the campground. This is a very nice campground with the sites nicely spread out from each other. The kids will love all the large boulders to climb on. Unlike a lot of other forest service campground that are off the beaten path, you will still get cell service at Park Lake since you sit on a high spot in the area. The lake provides fishing for Arctic Greyling, and Cutthroat trout. The lake is open to non-motorized watercraft. Follow the speed limit on the way up to the campground as the road can be very bumpy.

Camp and fish at a beautiful mountain lake

Magestic

Do not follow the directions in the other review, they are wrong. My review follows the directions. 

Take the Clancy exit and turn towards clancy. The road looks like its an immediate left with a big arrow sign but its not, drive straight through. About 1/10 mile and you’ll see the brown forest service sign at the T intersection indicating Park Lake is 14 miles after turning right. 

3.5 miles pavement becomes a well maintained wide gravel/dirt road the entire way. Soft shoulders though, beware. 

If you pick the lake on a gps or follow the listing directions in Dyrt you will mistakenly turn left just shy of 8 miles and find a narrow road going down, no trespassing and dead end signs. If you have a trailer you’ll have to back out up hill.

Instead stay on the main road and don’t stop until you reach the T intersection which is approx. 11.5 miles from the sign that said 14 miles. You’ll see the forest toad sign 4009 and the forest service sign indicating you turn left and will reach the lake in 2 miles with the campground just at the opposite end

22 sites, all paved, all back-in for towable’s. Some are only large enough for a single vehicle with a tiny towable, a few will hold big trucks and 30+ footers. All have a table and fire pit. Hand pump water point, 3 pit toilets which are very clean and well stocked. Sites are a mix from full sun all day to full shade all day. Plenty of open sky in most sites for clear satellite lines.

Plenty of firewood just lying around. Chipmunks and rabbits run around. This is bear country, be prepared and read over the signage if you are inexperienced. 

The lake is beautiful, plenty if shore fishing and large day use areas with tables and firepits. Dirt boat launch as this is a non motorized lake, manpower only. 

No services or trash. Pack it in pack it out. Closest services are Montana city for minimal needs, Helena for most needs. Clancy has nothing

Be advised, there is only 1 USFS enforcement officer for the area. He was very clear that he doesn’t have the time to respond or investigate any claims of non paying guests, abandon sites, trash being left, quiet hours violations until 2am, dogs of leash, public drunkenness resulting in injury, belligerence or verbal assault. He will investigate violence and fireworks. This isn’t a manpower issue, he makes excuses on what he claims he cannot prove, despite multiple witnesses, and twists policy and law in order to avoid enforcement. Just be aware, on busy weekends its a free for all. Pay attention to your kids

Photos of Park Lake Campground

Real photos from real campers