Camper submitted image from White Sandy Campground - 1
View All
Camper submitted image from White Sandy Campground - 2
Nature
Camper submitted image from White Sandy Campground - 3
Roads
Camper submitted image from White Sandy Campground - 4
Water
Camper submitted image from White Sandy Campground - 5
Facilities

Established Camping

White Sandy Campground

Warning 1 Alert is In Effect

There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!

ATTENTION: Camping and day-use fees will be charged from April 1st to November 30th. The day-use fee is $5.00 per day, and the camping fee is $25.00 per night. Docks will be removed for the season from all sites starting the week of October 14th. The removal schedule is as follows: Log Gulch on 10/15, Holter Lake Campground on 10/16, White Sandy Campground on 10/17, and Devil's Elbow Campground on 10/17. Water will be shut off for the season at all sites starting the week of October 21st. Both Log Gulch and Holter Campground will have their water shut off on 10/21.

White Sandy Campground, near Helena, Montana, is a scenic spot that offers a laid-back atmosphere right by Hauser Lake. With spacious sites that are well-spaced out, it’s a great place to kick back and soak up the natural beauty.

The campground features a lovely beach area perfect for sunbathing and swimming, although some visitors have mentioned that the water quality can vary. There's also a boat ramp for those looking to hit the water, and the parking area is ample, making it easy to access the lake. As one camper noted, “The views are amazing,” which is a sentiment echoed by many who have enjoyed the picturesque surroundings.

For those who enjoy hiking, there are trails nearby that provide a chance to explore the local landscape. While the campground doesn’t offer many amenities—like showers or picnic tables—visitors appreciate the clean facilities and the peaceful vibe. One reviewer mentioned, “The campground was clean and the sites were spacious,” highlighting the well-kept nature of the area.

If you’re planning a trip, keep in mind that the campground operates from mid-May to September, making it a seasonal retreat for families and friends looking to escape the hustle and bustle. Whether you’re fishing, boating, or just relaxing by the water, White Sandy Campground is a solid choice for a weekend getaway.

Description

Bureau of Land Management

Hauser Lake

Overview

White Sandy is located on the west side of Hauser Lake at the confluence of Prickly Pear creek. White Sandy faces Eldorado Bar and the beautiful Big Belt mountains. It is in an ideal location for outdoor recreation, wildlife watching, water sports, camping and swimming.

Recreation

White Sandy offers excellent recreational access. There is a beach area, picnic areas, as well as a ramada/pavilion with power and lights, available by advanced reservation. There are vault toilets located in convenient locations throughout the site. There are trails throughout White Sandy as well as in the surrounding area. Additionally, there are multiple trails within the larger Hauser Lake Recreation area, as well as multiple fishing access sites, hunting access, wildlife viewing and of course, boating. World class mountain biking trails abound in the area as well. The recreation opportunities are truly boundless.

Natural Features

The campground and day use areas are situated in a shrub-steppe landscape, mostly comprised of sage brush and bunch grasses. Every campsite has a view of the lake and mountains. While there are some ponderosa pine and deciduous trees throughout the area, they are scarce and do not provide a large amount of shade, but the lake does help keep the temperatures down a bit on those hot summer days.

Nearby Attractions

White Sandy is located in a prime location to get out and recreate outdoors, or within the capital of Montana. There are hundreds of miles of trails, Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands, state parks, the Lewis and Clark Trail and so much more. Helena (only a short drive away) has all the amenities of a large city with small town charm. There are great restaurants, museums, the capitol building, old mining settlements, Last Chance Gulch, Reeder's Alley and a vibrant downtown with a walking mall area.

Charges & Cancellations

Reservation Cancellations & Changes Cancelling a Reservation: Customers may cancel their reservation prior to arrival both on-line and through the call center. A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation. Depending on when you cancel in relation to your arrival day, it may be considered a late cancellation (see below). Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): Customers who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee. Late Cancellations or Cancellations within the Cut-off Window Individual Campsites: A customer who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. The recreation.gov cancellation policy can be found here: https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies

Fee Info

$25 per night per camping unit per site, with a maximum of 2 units per site. Group Loop-C Loop with Ramada/Pavilion is $140 per night with a maximum of 2 units per site (x6 sites = 12 units) with no additional fees. *** You must occupy your campsite every night that you have reserved. If you do not show up for 24 hours from "Check-In Time" (2:00 PM), you forfeit the use of that site and are not entitled to any refunds or discounts. *** *** You must occupy the site you reserved and cannot change sites, or move to a different loop of the campground.***

Suggest an Edit

Location

White Sandy Campground is located in Montana

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Helena drive north, from Great Falls drive south on I-15 to the Lincoln Road exit, turn east on Lincoln Rd and continue to the T-intersection with Hauser Dam Rd, turn left (North) and continue about 4 miles until you reach White Sandy Recreation Area directly in front of you on the right hand side of the road. If you get to Black Sandy state park, you have gone too far.

Address

6563 HAUSER DAM RD
Helena, MT 59602

Coordinates

46.74094 N
111.88876 W

Open in Google Maps

Is White Sandy Campground sold out?

Quickly grab cancellations!

Learn More

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Available
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Good

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

Contact

General Info

Reservations


Reviews

Add Review

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

25%
50%
25%
0%
0%

4.0

out of 5

8 Reviews

Reviewed Jun. 30, 2022

Beautiful Setting!

Gorgeous setting. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that there's no power or water at the sites. In fact, when I was there the potable water was not potable. Beautiful big widely spaced sites. Excellent beach area. Really nice boat ramp and parking area. Well used by locals.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of White Sandy Campground by Mimi , June 30, 2022
  • Review photo of White Sandy Campground by Mimi , June 30, 2022
  • Review photo of White Sandy Campground by Mimi , June 30, 2022
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Sep. 30, 2021

Water views for all

The entrance is right before Black Sandy. The dump station is just past the entrance and does have potable water (if not closed in winter) In mid Sept, only one loop was open. The views are amazing. No cell or other services, but can't beat the price.

Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Aug. 9, 2021

Nice camp site but the water was not

The camp site was perfect and right on the water, but the water was full of algae. There were signs all over saying it was unsafe but people were still swimming. Didn’t want to take the risk

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of White Sandy Campground by megan , August 9, 2021
  • Review photo of White Sandy Campground by megan , August 9, 2021
  • Review photo of White Sandy Campground by megan , August 9, 2021
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Jul. 26, 2021

Well Kept BLM Campground

The campground was clean and the sites were spacious. No one enforced the quiet hours, which was an issue. Other than the lake, there isn’t much to do. During our stay there was an algae outbreak, so most people stayed out of the water. I would recommend staying somewhere else if the water isn’t swimmable or plan on bringing some board games.

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of White Sandy Campground by Justin , July 26, 2021
  • Review photo of White Sandy Campground by Justin , July 26, 2021
  • Play button icon
Reviewed Aug. 27, 2018

Very Nice roomy campground

This is a very nice BLM campground. Plenty of room at each site. A swimming area has several small shelters at it. A large shelter is available as well. Boat launch has a very large parking area. Cost is $15 per night, $5 for day use

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of White Sandy Campground by Dexter I., August 27, 2018
  • Review photo of White Sandy Campground by Dexter I., August 27, 2018
  • Review photo of White Sandy Campground by Dexter I., August 27, 2018
  • (11) View All
Reviewed Jul. 28, 2016

White Sandy

Easy to Access campground, picnic tables, restrooms available, water, convenient store down the road. Drive to site is short and easy as well. Spots for RVs and campers. Fishing access, lots of trout. Nice place to take the kids to play on Hauser Lake. Spot to catch live crawfish, boating access.

  • Review photo of White Sandy Campground by Carla S., July 28, 2016
  • Review photo of White Sandy Campground by Carla S., July 28, 2016
  • Review photo of White Sandy Campground by Carla S., July 28, 2016
  • (10) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the max vehicle length at White Sandy Campground?

    White Sandy Campground allows vehicles up to 50 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at White Sandy Campground?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at White Sandy Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does White Sandy Campground have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, White Sandy Campground does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at White Sandy Campground?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is available, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is good.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at White Sandy Campground?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at White Sandy Campground. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at White Sandy Campground, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at White Sandy Campground?

    There are 31 campsites at White Sandy Campground and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts