Best Tent Camping near Ennis, MT
Tent camping near Ennis, Montana provides access to pristine mountain landscapes and riverside sites in the Madison Valley. Varney Bridge Fishing Access Site offers five tent campsites along the Madison River with stunning mountain views. Spanish Lakes provides backcountry tent camping accessible via a challenging 9-mile hike, with multiple alpine lakes for camping. Bear Creek Campground in Beaverhead National Forest offers tent-only sites from June to November. Mill Creek Campground, located 7 miles from Sheridan in the Tobacco Root Mountains, features 10 tent sites with bear-proof food lockers.
Most tent campgrounds in the Ennis area provide basic amenities including vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables. Varney Bridge sites have dirt pads suitable for tents with easy river access. Spanish Lakes requires stream crossings and significant elevation gain, making it suitable only for experienced backcountry tent campers. Water availability varies by location - Mill Creek Campground offers hand pump wells, while at many primitive sites campers must filter water from nearby streams or bring their own supply. Bear territory surrounds most camping areas, requiring proper food storage. The camping season typically runs from late May through September, with higher elevation sites like Spanish Lakes accessible only in July and August.
The tent camping experience around Ennis offers exceptional fishing access and mountain views. According to reviews, Spanish Lakes provides "crystal clear lakes surrounded by massive mountains" with multiple camping spots around several alpine lakes. Tent campers should be prepared for variable weather conditions even in summer months. Revenue Flats, located near Norris, offers walk-in tent sites with minimal amenities but exceptional night sky viewing. One visitor noted, "We were rewarded with picturesque spots nestled in the rocks" after navigating the rough access road. Varney Bridge campsites provide direct river access, though campers report early morning activity from fishermen launching boats. The proximity to Madison River makes these tent sites popular despite their simplicity, with fishing opportunities directly from camp.