Camping spots near Nye, Montana surround the 6,000-foot elevation community situated in the Stillwater River valley, where the Beartooth and Absaroka mountains converge. The region experiences heavy snowfall from October through April, limiting access to many sites. Several camping areas offer river access with elevated platforms for anglers to fish while others provide direct trail connections to wilderness areas.
What to do
Hiking from campgrounds: East Boulder Campground connects directly to the Green Mountain Trail, a 6-mile route to the Natural Bridge. "There's good fishing and the trailhead for the Green Mountain Trail, a very nice 6 mile hike to the Natural Bridge, is across the road," notes a visitor to East Boulder Campground.
Stream fishing: Many campgrounds offer direct water access for anglers. At Cliff Swallow Fishing Access, visitors report "25 miles on gravel from the west... Right on river. Good fishing. Pit toilets." Another camper adds there's "a nice sandy beachy area for smaller kids but beware of the dangers of the rushing water!"
Wildlife viewing: The mountains around Nye host diverse wildlife. Campers at Buffalo Jump Camp find the area "Beautiful but small" with "river access, but close to road and no room for big rig." One visitor to Itch-Kep-Pe Park reported: "We pulled in as evening was coming on, and got one of the last of the spread-out, fairly flat sites... could not hear road noise much above the river water's beautiful noise."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Woodbine Campground, campers appreciate the thoughtful layout. "Campsites were spaced out so you weren't right on top of each other. Short walk to the falls, places to run on your ATV or SxS and the river provides a nice opportunity to raft down."
Free camping options: Several areas offer no-cost camping. East Boulder Campground provides "two campsites in this no cost Forest Service campground. There's no water, except from the stream, but there are good picnic tables and a well-maintained vault toilet."
Seasonal berry picking: Some campgrounds offer unexpected bonuses. A visitor to Big Timber-Greycliff KOA reported: "There are raspberries bushes around the pool that you can pick. We made raspberry jam on the fire. Chokecherry trees surround the camp grounds that can also be picked."
Mountain views: The Beartooth and Absaroka ranges provide scenic backdrops. A visitor to Emerald Lake Campground summed it up: "words don't describe the beauty. I go here every year so beautiful."
What you should know
Seasonal water levels: Spring runoff affects river access and safety. At Castle Rock Fishing Access Site, "Across the river is a rock ledge swimmers use to dive off of into a deep pool." But water levels change dramatically throughout the season.
Weather preparedness: Summer thunderstorms occur frequently. "We loved it here. It rained a few of the days, but it was nice to get out of the heat in town. We still got to try out our new paddle boards on the lake," reported a camper at Emerald Lake.
Weekend congestion: Many sites fill quickly. "I got there on Saturday at 3 pm and there were only 2 spots open. With the final gone within 30 minutes," noted a visitor to Emerald Lake Campground.
Limited site availability: Several campgrounds have very few spots. East Boulder offers only two sites while Buffalo Jump Camp visitor noted: "There are only 2 spots for camping here. It's a nice spot with river access."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Look for designated swimming areas. At Emerald Lake Campground, "The lake isn't very deep so it's great for paddle boards, kayaks and fishing." This makes it ideal for families with children learning water sports.
Campground amenities: Some areas offer family-friendly facilities. At Itch-Kep-Pe Park, families find "Nice level spots. The campsite is right on the Yellowstone river. Free but they do have a donation box." Another visitor mentioned "nice trees, shade, grassy areas."
Interactive nature: Several campgrounds have nearby wildlife viewing. "Be sure to stop by at Prairie Dog Town State Park (walkable distance from campground). It's simple but a cute place to watch prairie dogs and check out the local flora," suggested a visitor to Big Timber-Greycliff KOA.
Geo-caching opportunities: Some areas offer treasure hunting possibilities. Castle Rock Fishing Access Site has "fire rings. There are even some geocaches around the area. Great views."
Tips from RVers
Road conditions: Access to many sites requires careful driving. A visitor to Initial Creek Campground noted: "Rough road which cuts down on traffic!" Similarly, at Meyers Creek Cabin, "Getting from the main road into the cabin can be a bit tricky for vehicles over 30 feet."
Site limitations: Many campgrounds have size restrictions. At Woodbine Campground, "When they say the site is 30 ft max for RV's they mean it! That's about the size of mine(including the tongue) and I ended up parking it a little sideways to fit better."
Leveling challenges: Even paved sites can present difficulties. "We couldn't get level and wasted at least a half hour trying to do so but the blocks kept getting kicked out by the tires on the smooth sloped driveway. Would have been better left as dirt or made gravel," reported one RVer at Woodbine Campground.
Utilities access: Water spigot locations vary by campground. "There are drinking water spigots available and one RV fill near spot #6 and the restrooms. No dump station so be aware," noted a camper at Woodbine Campground.
