Canyon Ferry Lake sits at 3,800 feet elevation in central Montana, surrounded by the Big Belt Mountains to the east and the Elkhorn Mountains to the west. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-90°F with occasional afternoon thunderstorms, while nights can drop below 50°F even in July. The area experiences significant wind conditions, particularly in exposed lakeside locations where gusts can reach 25-30 mph during afternoon hours.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Canyon Ferry Lake is known for rainbow trout, walleye, yellow perch, and northern pike fishing. At Prewett Creek RV Park, campers have direct access to the Missouri River. "We spotted deer casually strolling through the campground and bighorn sheep doing their thing up on the rocks," noted one visitor.
Wildlife viewing: The surrounding mountains offer excellent wildlife spotting opportunities. At Conestoga Campground & RV Park, one camper shared, "If what you are looking for is exploring history and wildlife then this is the place... You are surrounded by several mountain ranges."
Local dining: Several campgrounds provide access to nearby restaurants. A Prewett Creek RV Park visitor mentioned, "The Missouri Inn Restaurant and Bar, right next to the campground, served one of the best cheeseburgers we've had on our travels."
What campers like
Spacious layouts: Some campgrounds offer more generous spacing between sites. At Prewett Creek, a reviewer noted the park is "spacious, beautifully laid out, and refreshingly quiet—most folks are out fishing during the day and resting easy at night."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and showers are consistently mentioned in positive reviews. At Conestoga Campground, campers appreciated that "Bathrooms and showers were very clean. Owners were very welcoming and accommodating."
Connectivity options: Cell service and wifi availability vary significantly between locations. A Prewett Creek reviewer detailed, "Connectivity check: Verizon gave us 1 bar, T-Mobile 2 bars, and the campground Wi-Fi wasn't too shabby (6.03 Mbps down/1.05 up). But for streaming, our T-Mobile home internet saved the day with blazing 59.4 down."
What you should know
Site conditions: Many RV sites near Canyon Ferry Lake feature gravel pads with minimal shade. At Helena North KOA, a camper observed, "All gravel roads and sites throughout the park. Very close together. Some sites have a very narrow strip of grass."
Access challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult entry roads or site layouts. Fort Harrison RV Park has unique design issues as one camper explained, "The pull through was easy enough to get into, but its narrow with 9" high cement curbs, which makes getting your sewer up and over a bit of a challenge."
Reservation requirements: Booking well in advance is essential, particularly for summer months. A Helena North KOA visitor advised, "Make reservations well in advance if you can. This KOA is the best game in town and is mostly sold out in summer."
Tips for camping with families
Playground availability: Only select campgrounds offer dedicated children's areas. Helena North KOA provides a "Cool playground for kids and large mostly gravel dog run" according to a recent visitor.
Tent camping considerations: For families with tents, pricing can vary significantly. At Cardwell General Store and Campground, one camper reported, "If you are in a tent they will gouge you for $40 per tent for a crappy tent site with no services, no grass, and uneven ground."
Recreation options: Some campgrounds offer on-site activities. Cardwell General Store and Campground has amenities for children as one visitor noted, "The kids loved the playground and tons of open grass space and swings throughout, and they also have a pond that you can even fish in on site at the back of the property."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling requirements: Many RV sites require leveling equipment. At Fort Harrison RV Park, a reviewer mentioned, "This site's gravel pad was not level, so we had to use our leveler blocks."
Utility placement: Hookup locations can present challenges. At Fort Harrison, a camper noted, "Depending on how your stairs deploy, dealing with the curb can be a challenge."
Service limitations: RV campers should verify what hookups are actually available at their site. One camper at Alhambra RV Park reported, "The site says water, 30 amp service and septic. The water was brown, and it ran out. There was no septic at our site and it didn't matter on price- it was the same with or without."
Size considerations: Many parks have tight spacing and limited maneuvering room. An Alhambra RV Park visitor warned, "The sites were extremely small, close together with lots of trees. Our initial site we couldn't fit in because of trees the slides couldn't come out."
