Looking for an adventure where you can explore Anaconda-Deer Lodge County and then fall asleep in your tent? Find the best information on tent campgrounds near Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, including sites, reviews, and tips. Each tent campsite offers quick access to one or more of Anaconda-Deer Lodge County's most popular destinations.
A series of small recreation sites are located along a 73-mile stretch of the Big Hole River between Wisdom and Melrose. The river offers blue ribbon trout fishing and excellent float boating. Nine of the sites are managed by BLM. Beginning at Melrose and going west, the sites are: Maiden Rock I, Maiden Rock East, Divide Bridge, Divide Campground, Jerry Creek Bridge, Dickie Bridge, East Bank, Sawlog Creek, and Pintlar Creek.
Boat Ramp, Restrooms, Gravel Parking, Tables, Fire-rings and Information Kiosk
This campground is named after an early homesteader, the "Wild Man of the Mountains" George Pettingill. His grave is nearby. He is widely admired in the area although he was somewhat of a hermit. The campground is located where the Wise River meets Pettengill Creek.
A series of small recreation sites are located along a 73-mile stretch of the Big Hole River between Wisdom and Melrose. The river offers blue ribbon trout fishing and excellent float boating. Nine of the sites are managed by BLM. Beginning at Melrose and going west, the sites are: Maiden Rock I, Maiden Rock East, Divide Bridge, Divide Campground, Jerry Creek Bridge, Dickie Bridge, East Bank, Sawlog Creek, and Pintlar Creek. Facilities at Jerry Creek--boat ramp, restrooms, picnic tables, fire-rings, gravel parking and information kiosk
This campground covers 3 acres in southwest Montana.
Guide
We have always loved coming out here to camp. The mosquitoes can get pretty thick at times so be prepared.
Guide
For a dispersed BLM camping area, this is lovely. Plenty of sites that each have a picnic table and long gravel spot to park an RV. There’s a cute little river and some interesting rock features. Close to the freeway so an excellent stop for a night spot.
GuideThis place looks like a paid campground, only free! All the spots have a picnic table, fire pit and bear box. The mountain views all all around you are gorgeous. Some other folks camping here went trout fishing - so that's an option. Only downside is that my dogs had some trouble walking on the gravel.
GPS: 45.702416, -112.736869
ScoutIf you were self contained and just looking to get off the 15 for the night then it would work for ya. Otherwise it’s just a big boat parking lot for the river. Plus side it has an outhouse
Guide
Overnight quiet spot, about 20 spots
GuideBlm camping on the big hole river, montana, free up to 16 days. About 15 spots. Boat ramp, fishing hiking fire pits, no wood available.
Traveler
Best $10 campsites imaginable. I have always enjoyed able to roll up and there was an available site. Good for traders up to 23ft and even has water and power sites. Sweet little secret gem of a campground and centrally located close enough range of possibilities to go see around Central Montana. Bring bug spray.
ScoutAs the previous camper indicated, this is a quiet and lovely Campground. Please note I found only one site with electrical hookup. Currently, there is no water at any sites. Vault toilets are located throughout. Fees are $12 with $6 discount if you have Federal/Natl Park Golden Pass.
Scout
I called 30 minutes before our arrival for a tent camping spot and the host was easily able to accommodate us. Two men met us in a golf cart and drive us to our nice grassy site. The campground had coin showers with hot water and a family friendly rec room.
Guide
Great easy access spot! This area is free to use and is well maintained. Each site has a fire pit and a picnic bench. Also, each site has lots of space and decent privacy. Toilet, water, and food storage is provided. Lots of spots have creek access which is nice.
Traveler
Pinter Lake is 10 miles from the main road hwy 43. The mostly gravel road is far from smooth with uncomfortable washboard feeling much of the route. Three spots are available, although people did make two ad how sites down by the river. Both were RVs. No water pump here, so must bring your own. The lake is lovely but covered for the most part with lily pads on the backside of the lake. A creek coming from the lake also is adjacent to campground. Because of its remote location, it seems many appreciate the quiet, so I wouldn’t recommend it for those who have noisy activities like ATVs. It’s buggy with only a slight breeze to keep flys away. Overall nice but remote with only one bathroom facility. Fairly clean but lots of flies.
Traveler
We had a lovely site that was close to the Wise River. Even with a full camp, the ambient sound of the river shielded the sounds of people talking or kids playing. The bathroom facilities were clean. Most campsites had some shade for either sitting or having a tent. Most people were in self sufficient RVs since there are not hookups. The campground also had a water pump with clean and very cold water.
Guide
Nothing too wild about this site, but nice views and relatively quiet. Sites are along a small side road that Patel’s off the main road, with a few pretty clean pit toilets. We saw one spigot as well. Each site had parking, picnic table, and fire pit. Campsites on the creek side butt right up to the bluffs above the creek, so make sure to keep little ones and dogs close at hand! Very close to the welcome creek trailhead which is definitely worth an afternoon - although be warned, welcome creek trail is not super popular and this will require some bushwhacking. As well, there is a pretty sketchy single-log “bridge” you must traverse if you’re still in a high flow season. The suspension bridge over rock creek definitely has a great view though and is worth a look at!
Guide
So the road is gravel and pretty far with private property signs on both sides til you get there. Directions take you there with no problem. Two bathroom locations and spots along the creek. No wildlife while we was there. A few other campers but all spaced apart well so it was secluded. It is 15$ and you have a QR code to scan to pay, however there is ZERO signal there to get online to pay so we paid once we left and got back into town for the night we stayed.
Guide
Quiet during the week, I had the place to myself. They have been working on it taking out timber. Brush piles all over the place. 2 sites still closed. But still a nice place.
Guide
The camp sites are All in the center of the area. Two outhouses and water available with a hand pump. Garbage cans. Has a trail to Rock Creek. The site is in Ponderosa pines and near houses.
Traveler
We stayed four days here and it was great! From Wednesday through Friday, we basically had the entire place to ourselves. Even in July, the mornings and evenings were cool and pleasant. The camp has three clean toilets stocked with toilet paper, and a pump water fountain with clean and cold water to enjoy. Overall pleasant but ATV campers showed up Saturday, driving around the camp, but they were polite after quiet hours. Short trail in the campground, and about five miles from entrance was the Continental Divide Trail. We didn’t know about that until we were leaving, so we will come back to explore. 20 spaces. Will accommodate RV off grid, but no generators after 10 pm, which is good. So quiet at night!!
Guide
It's not on the water but it is in a good place to get to. Half the spots are shady and the others are in the open in the sun.
Traveler
Big rigs have a great space at the bottom of the hill... but if you're in a truck, van, etc., head on up the hill. The road is in great shape. There are some pullouts, but look for a road on the right (veer left at the private drive; you'll see a sign) and you'll find a great site with a fire ring and somewhat level ground. Chances are it'll be COVERED in cow poop, but hey. It's quiet, aside from the mooing of cows, and totally private. There's probably more up the road, too, I just didn't go further. Solitude.
Guide
We didn’t stay at this exact site as it was taken but there one more dispersed site about a mile or so down the road.
Was nice being close to the creek and there was lots of fallen trees we used for firewood.
Quiet spot with a small amount of traffic on the road.
Didn’t see any wildlife but the horseflies were a bit out of control this time of the year.
ScoutGreat sites by a stream,,,just beautiful.
Traveler
Quiet busy on weekends NFS rules 14 day stay
Traveler
This site is one of the best sites if you want a bit of privacy. As with the rest of the Georgetown Lake sites, there are a number of people, but you have many options to try and limit contact.
Guide
We appreciated with fire ring and picnic table at this small rustic campground. It was a moist spring, so lots of bugs to contend with, but overall a lovely experience.
Guide
This campground was lovely. We had spot 14, which is an excellent spot with lots of room, easy access to a vault toilet and lovely background noise from the creek. Camp hosts are very welcoming and accommodating.
TravelerVery nice stop. Just a few others here on a weekend.
Guide
I’m not sure why others gave this campground reviews any stars under five! First, this campground is on BLM and free, and only costs money if coming with a group of many or some type of organizations’ camping outing; and the fee is so very minimal even for this. For regular, independent camping, it’s free being on BLM land, per their notice board. Despite being a free, BLM campground, it’s well-maintained, clean, possesses established, separate tent sites with a parking block for each separate vehicle, an area for RVs, even, and a maintained outhouse central to the tent sites and RV space. It’s also set right next to the river offering great fishing! There’s homes across the river, and a bit of vehicle traffic from those specific homes, for whatever reasons; but this campsite is still very much separated, regularly maintained, and flippin’ free! What’s there to possibly complain about?! I’ve camped free on BLM land many times, and it is pretty rugged and wild. There are no established tent or RV sites, no outhouses for the bathroom to use, nothing. You make of it as you will. I’m not understanding why every camper hasn’t given Glen Campground five stars! Also, future campers, PLEASE remember to pack in and pack out of ANY campground, including this one. Though it is maintained, they do not come daily as it is a free campground on BLM land and does not have garbage bins or water spigots. The campers that stayed before us, in the tent site next to ours, left litter everywhere and aluminum and tin cans in the fire pit. Come on now, people! Beer cans, canned vegetable cans, and the like are NOT biodegradable and do not burn down in a camp fire! Use common sense!! Pack in AND pack out all your items, including your GARBAGE!!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, MT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, MT is Stuart Mill Bay with a 4.3-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, MT?
TheDyrt.com has all 35 tent camping locations near Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
