Horse camping is the perfect way to enjoy Darby. If you're an equestrian lover who prefers nature-based adventure, yet still wants comfort, this is the perfect opportunity for you. Finding a place to stay in Montana while traveling with your horse is easy. Search horse campsites and discover top-rated spots, as reviewed by other campers.
The Charles Waters campground is paved asphalt with 26 campsites plus one double site, including 4 pull-through, one bicycle site, and one horse site; there is also one accessible site with electric hook-up. The campground also has water; accessible vault toilets; open meadow for activities and can accommodate RV's or trailers to 70 feet. __Please note that the bicycle site and horse site are reserved for those users until 6 p.m. daily after which time if no one is occupying them then they are considered available on a first come first served basis. __A campground host is available Memorial Day through Labor Day.Also associated with the Charles Waters Campground is the Bass Creek Recreation Area. This recreation area includes four picnic sites; an interpretive nature trail; fire ecology trail and numerous trailheads to hiking, biking and stock routes with access to the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. The Larry Creek Group Site is located within the Bass Creek Recreation Area, this large overnight group site is available for reservation through Recreation.gov. __The gate will close to the Larry Creek Group Site on Dec. 1.__For more information please contact the Stevensville Ranger District at (406) 777-5461.
The Bear Creek Pass Trailhead has numerous trails to access that all lead into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. The most heavily used is the #613 trail which leads to the bear lakes and accesses trail #128 to Fish Lake. Facilities include a vault toilet, hitching rails, and dispersed camping.
Hogan Cabin is a small cabin located on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in western Montana. The cabin was built in the 1920s to provide field quarters for trail crews, smoke chasers, timber cruisers and grazing inspectors that worked in the area. It is a great retreat for snow lovers in the winter, as the cabin provides access to a variety of snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails. Summer and fall months give guests plenty of daylight and moderate temperatures to explore the surrounding meadows, peaks and valleys, as well as fish in plentiful mountain streams. The cabin is only accessible by motorized vehicle during the summer months and until snow closes the road. Guests may have to snowmobile, hike or ski up to six miles, depending on conditions. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
The surrounding hills and valleys are popular for hiking and backpacking in the summer and fall, and for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling in the winter. The cabin sits along the famous Lewis and Clark Trail, which led frontier explorers through the area in the early 1800s. The entire length of the trail covers 4,600 miles, showcasing some of the most beautiful and rugged areas of America. Hunting and fishing are also popular in the area. Mountain creeks and streams run near the cabin, and wildlife is abundant in the surrounding forest. It is also a popular place to watch for various bird species.
The cabin is situated on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail at an elevation of about 7,300 feet. It is at the southwestern end of the Anaconda Mountains, near the Sapphire Range, in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The Anacondas are home to abundant wildlife, including mountain lions, elk, deer, moose and bears (learn more about bear safety).
$45 / night
This campground is located off highway 43 located on a relatively flat ground supporting a dense stand of pole-sized lodgepole pine.
$50 - $75 / night
This wooded picnic area is located near Rock Creek next to the East Fork Reservoir.
Guide
The camp grounds were not busy, and no mosquitoes right now. Fishing was slow but we caught fish. Saw lots of animals even a video of a Grizzly not but 3 miles from the camp grounds. Another camper had the video of the Grizzly from the night before!
Traveler
We decided to stop in the Bitterroot Valley and the Charles Waters CG for our needs. Clean, treed space with the creek running behind. Extremely peaceful and just what we needed after a super long, hot day. Quiet campground. We did need to change sites as Site 4 had a very large and active red/black ant nest next to the fire ring and picnic table.
We got in around 6pm on a Sunday night. There were multiple sites still open.
GuideSpent several one nighter’s here. Quiet and beautiful. Lots and f trail for hiking. Close enough to Missoula or the other communities in the bitterroot valley.
TravelerThis is definitely 1 of the top 5 in the area even as a usfs camp ground and price. Sites are well spaced, plenty of privacy and greenery, tons of nature, sound of a run off river coming down through the camp, there is a camp host on site as well as paved road and restrooms as well as water fountains. There is tons of trails for hiking, horse back and driving as well as tons of stream access only down fall is not really for fishing.
TravelerThis is a National Forest campground about 25 miles from Missoula. The bathrooms are vaulted toilets and they were spacious and VERY clean. Our site was HUGE and so beautiful. Bass Creek was maybe 50 yards from the camper and is so clear! Fishing wouldn't be great at that location, as the creek is fairly shallow. The parking spot for the camper was super level asphalt, and plenty Ling enough for our 33.5' fifth wheel. Due to lower branches on the drive through the campground, we wouldn't recommend higher profile rigs. Ours sits at 13', and we felt that anything much taller than that might have clearance issues. There's a group spot for 12-20 people, as well as a spot for bicycle camping. There are some amazing trails for hiking, biking, and also horses. We really enjoyed this area!
GuideSpent an overnight here. Very clean and updated. Close proximity to trials and hywy 93.
LegendNice little campground in the Bitterroot Valley. It seemed that there were as many dogs as people in the campground. Sites varied in size and shape and shade. I like the sites on the far side of the loop as they are closer to the creek and away from the dusty road. Water at the spigots was good, but I was a bit concerned that they were placed so close to the vault toilets. There are some pull through sites as well as back in, but since it’s first come, it’s luck of the draw in what you get. I got there around 2 on a Sunday and had 3 sites to pick from. All of the sites were full by 4pm. There are some nice hiking and horseback riding trails across the road, and there is a forest road that goes all the way to the top of the mountains with picnic tables to watch the sunset or sunrise (when the smoke doesn’t cloud the view).
RangerPaved level sites. Water and trash bins. Beautiful area lots of trails. First come first serve. Senior discount $7.50 a night.
TravelerMemorial day weekend 2021 fee $15 / night . Clean vault toilets...good well water lots of space between sites. Our only misfortune was Hotshot crews and Helicopters were practicing repelling all weekend in the forest around the campground.
GuideThis camping spot is a great one. All the campsites are pretty isolated from each other by the pine trees so you can’t really see your neighbors. The lake is beautiful and not too cold. You can definitely bring a non-motorized boat to go around the lake in. The drive there is also gorgeous!
Traveler
May creek is a wonderful campground... it’s in a gorgeous cabin and it’s easy to find. The campsites have fire pits and picnic tables. It’s not that far from the highway which is nice if your looking to explore the area. It’s peaceful and quiet, and not busy.
TravelerBear Creek Pass Campground is semi-official dispersed camping at Bear Creek Pass, the location of two trail heads. I surveyed the site during a hike but did not stay over night.
There are two trail heads, about 1/2 mile apart. Between is a turn off for the“campground” which is little more than a pull out and a turn around. I didn’t see tent sites off the road. A little further on is a large parking area with vault toilet. A little beyond that a small parking area near the second trail head. Between these two is the one place that did look like a camp site. There was one fire ring and vegetation had been pressed down.
There are facilities for horses: several hitching posts and a loading ramp. These don’t look like they have been used for a while. We did see signs that horses were up here recently but the area is little impacted by horse use.
The area is in open pine forest with meadows. There is a stream flowing near by.
I would certainly sleep in my vehicle over night here or set up a tent. You can overnight here before starting on a hike from one of the trail heads. However, this site has little to recommend itself as a destination for an extended stay or overflow if nearby Schumaker is full.
GuideNice campground $10 night, paved campground sites spaced apart nicely no water or power but for $10 expected. Close to towns for supplies, pit toilets clean eat hiking trail
TravelerPaves roads, large sites, (sloped, not level) very friendly hosts, water spigots throughout, pit toilets, cement picnic tables. We love the fact that you can hear the cascading water at the sites, peaceful. 16 day stay limit, $10 per night.
Guide
The river by the camp sites is absolutely beautiful. The lake at the top of the hill is a sight to be seen with the surrounding mountains. There are hiking trails and access to a massive wilderness area that has in excess of 40 separate lakes. Definitely recommended! To get this this portion of camp sites, as soon as you get to the dam you take a very hard right. It’s 180 degree turn to the right. I took a picture of the sign and road so you don’t miss it!
TravelerBeautiful, private and isolated🥰
TravelerGreat for tent camping, there are several spots with trails leading to Bass Creek. Recreational area, picnic tables, fire pits, bathrooms, and about 10 minutes from Florence MT.
ScoutVery nice campground all sites paved but the sites can’t be reserved whole campground is a first come first served basis so if it is a planned stop try to get there by noon.
Ranger
Spent 3 nights at Hogan Cabin, MT last summer (Aug 2018). I loved the isolation of the location. Up at 7200ft you get a little winded hiking around, but the incredible scenery is worth it. Found a primitive A-frame structure in the woods about a mile from the cabin. Saw several deer and elk feeding in the field near the cabin, as well as a moose in the marsh along the creek.
The cabin itself is nothing to jump up and down about. With only 2 sets of bunk beds, my wife and I put the bedding on the floor and made a full sized bed. There's no running water so be sure to bring plenty.
There's an vault toilet in the outhouse.
There is also a HUGE fire pit with swinging grill for cooking.
TravelerPlenty of open sites M-Th, even during the summer. Sites are close-ish together but very private because of the tree cover. The creekside sites are especially lovely.
TravelerLovely view you can camp close to the lake down the road or on the lake side streams for fishing 🎣 bring big spay lots of mosquitoes
ScoutNice campground. No water or electric but paved sites
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Darby, MT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Darby, MT is Charles Waters Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Darby, MT?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Darby, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
