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Dispersed tent camping sites surround the Essex, Montana area, particularly along the perimeter of Glacier National Park and throughout the nearby national forest lands. Ryan Road Dispersed Camping provides tent-only sites within minutes of the West Glacier entrance, while Skyland Road Dispersed Camping offers more secluded tent camping areas along a forest road with multiple pull-offs and established sites. Both locations provide free, primitive tent camping with fire rings at most sites, making them popular alternatives to the often-full established campgrounds.
Most dispersed tent campsites near Essex require campers to bring all necessary supplies, as amenities are extremely limited. Fire rings exist at many locations, but drinking water, toilets, and trash service are absent from nearly all dispersed sites. Vault toilets can be found at Blankenship Bridge dispersed area, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Road conditions vary significantly, with some areas like Skyland Road requiring moderate clearance vehicles beyond the first two miles. Several reviews mention the need for careful vehicle positioning on narrow forest roads. Hungry Horse Reservoir dispersed areas provide numerous tent camping opportunities, though the access road becomes progressively rougher as it continues around the reservoir.
Tent campers report finding secluded sites even during peak summer season, with many noting the peaceful atmosphere despite proximity to Glacier National Park. Sites along creeks and with mountain views are mentioned frequently in reviews, with tent-specific spots often found tucked away from the main forest roads. Most tent campsites near Essex maintain natural forest floor surfaces ideal for tent setup, though some feature more established clearings with existing fire rings. One camper noted, "There are several camping spaces of varying sizes along the road that aren't too close together so you can get your own little piece of the forest." Bear activity is common throughout the region, making proper food storage essential for tent campers in all locations near Essex.
"Very pretty view and a fire ring. Lots of room to park and set up at that particular site."
"Driving along the skyland road’s ridge was amazing, gorgeous mountain views. Spots are few but very spaced out for privacy."
"Rolled in around 8pm and easily found a spot for a car and multiple tents toward the beginning of the road, before we reached the dropped pin."
"Arrived August 1st...was hoping to find a spot close to Glacier NP with some privacy but I think I was asking for too much lol. However, I am happy to have a place close to the park free of charge!"
"Nice camping area with access to the river. Was a bit noisy during the day (stayed over the weekend) as the area is used by non-campers coming to fish, kayak, sightseeing, etc."
"Only about 15 minutes away from Glacier National Park Westgate. I was able to stay here for multiple days. Each time was no trouble in finding a place to park."
"The sites that I saw were nothing fancy, some with fire rings and some not."
"Huge open space with a fire circle and everything! But we lost a set of keys while we were there… we were on the left hand side of the site. Here’s the coordinates of the site!"
"It's a short drive away from the popular Going-to-the-Sun-Road allowing escape from busy roads and fellow tourists."
"This is a dirt entrance to Glacier National Park. The campground is small (14 sites) and only provide a vault toilet."
TravelerWe camped in October so there was no access to water. No electricity for the campsites, but for $20 by Glacier it was perfect. 5 min from the visitor center. Sites are pull thru but pretty un-level so bring lots of stuff to level. We camped with our 27ft. travel trailer and was perfect.
RangerReviewed by: The Crew at Hitched4fun.com
If you are planning an epic trip to explore Glacier National Park, your choice of home base can make or break your trip logistics. We stayed four nights at Moose Creek RV Resort in West Glacier, Montana, and it served as the ultimate launchpad for exploring every corner of this iconic national park.
Location & West Glacier Access
When visiting Glacier, proximity to the park gates is everything. Moose Creek is super close and remarkably convenient to the West Glacier entrance, allowing you to beat the morning rush onto Going-to-the-Sun Road without spending hours in transit beforehand. (Still arrive early at park entrance!)
Campground Vibe, Grounds & Amenities
The park has that authentic, rustic Montana feel while providing all the modern comforts you need after long days on the trail:
Starlink Performance Under the Pines
For RVers who work remotely or rely on satellite internet like we do, camping under heavy pine canopies can often be a connectivity nightmare. However, even with dense pine trees surrounding our site, our Starlink dish locked onto signal and worked reliably throughout our entire four-night stay—a massive plus for staying connected in the Montana backcountry.
Glacier Park Routes & A Must-Do Tow-Vehicle Loop
During our four days, we were able to make the jaw-dropping drive across the Going-to-the-Sun Road twice round-trip, plus an additional one-way trek on our final day.
For your tow vehicle or passenger car, here is a scenic driving loop you should not miss:
The Hitched4fun Verdict
Moose Creek RV Resort is everything a national park gateway camp should be: clean, quiet, scenic, and packed with practical amenities that make traveling easy. Whether you are looking for reliable Starlink connectivity under the pines or quick access to the best drives in North America, this park delivers. We highly recommend it to anyone heading into Big Sky Country!
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars— Highly Recommended by the Hitched4fun.com crew!
GuideWe usually use KOAs for full hook ups, showers and laundry this KOA is probably the nicest and cleanest one I have been in. There are trees which most are in flat fields. I think 4 or 5 pools which are heated because it is now October and kids were in the pool. It has a nice store. The ice cream shop and restaurant are closed. The thing I like is it has grass between sites so my dogs can pee. It also has 2 dog runs a walking path it is outstanding if you like clamping to the fullest. It also has many cottages. Some sites also have their own patio and gas grills. The ladies in the office are the nicest people. I would stay again.
GuideWe stayed in site A27 for 5 nights. The site was great other than the auto headlights as we were across from the only 2 showers in the campground. There was plenty of room for our 17’ trailer and truck and a large tent area and sitting area. Deer came through often and the squirrels were entertaining. We could walk to the visitor center and village. The time of year was great. GoingToTheSun road was fine warning but we had to arrive at Logan Pass at 7 pm to get parking. Great paths all attorneys and access to the lake. It was a good first experience.
GuideYou won't fit a full sized camper in there. Mostly for small travel trailers and tents. Also its kind of in town not my idea of camping.
GuideNice and quiet in October. .ite been 80+ degrees this fall we will have a few more days of this then back to cold and rainy. We were so lucky.
ScoutWonderful riverside locale.
ScoutEasy to access, quiet and beautiful! Super close to the park.
RangerRight outside of town, down a pretty easy road to get to the spots. Good cell signal.
Dispersed tent camping around Essex, Montana provides access to remote sites throughout the Flathead National Forest and along Glacier National Park's perimeter. Located at 3,880 feet elevation, this mountain corridor experiences temperature swings of up to 30 degrees between day and night, even in summer months. Road conditions deteriorate significantly after rainfall, with many access routes requiring high-clearance vehicles.
Fishing access points: Numerous dispersed sites offer creek and river proximity, particularly along Hungry Horse Reservoir. "Perfect spot for me and my Kia Soul on a forest service road outside west glacier. Saw some trailers and vans on my way up. Sizable turnout spot at the end of the FSR," notes one Ryan Road Dispersed Camping visitor.
Hiking from remote sites: Many tent campers use dispersed sites as jumping-off points for backcountry trails. At Cut Bank Campground, "You look out a long flat meadow toward the triple divide area of the park and it is a 4 mile hike to the trail heads to go north, triple divide and red eagle lake or south to morning star lake and pitamahkin pass."
Swimming spots: The clear waters around Essex provide refreshing swimming opportunities during summer months. "Right on a clear river, came in on Tuesday at 6pm. Still river spots available. Dog friendly and safe," reports one Blankenship Bridge camper who enjoyed riverside access.
Mountain views: Campers consistently mention the scenic panoramas available from dispersed tent sites. "Driving along the skyland road's ridge was amazing, gorgeous mountain views. Spots are few but very spaced out for privacy," notes a Skyland Rd Dispersed Camping reviewer.
Creek-side camping: Many tent campers specifically seek sites near running water. "We had beautiful views and a very peaceful night. No bears or signs of bears! Enjoyed hammocking with the sound of the stream throughout the night," writes another Skyland Road visitor.
Night sky viewing: The minimal light pollution around Essex creates excellent stargazing conditions. "A beautiful location, lakeside access, incredible night skies, easy access via 30min driving to the west side of Glacier NP, quiet (no people), flat ground, perfect for a quick camp fix!" reports a camper at Dorris Creek Road.
Road condition challenges: Access to many dispersed tent sites requires navigating rough forest roads. "Deep rutted muddy holes filled with water to get to site. Sketchy low trees and narrow road," warns one Blankenship Bridge visitor who ultimately decided not to risk it.
Limited turnaround space: Many forest roads lack adequate turning areas for vehicles. As one Ryan Road Dispersed Camping visitor notes, "The road is only a couple miles long and not too rough but there is a private gated drive at the end (there is a spot to turn around at the last campsite)."
Seasonal closures: Several forest roads close unexpectedly throughout the season. One camper reported, "I showed up to the Ryan road turn off from highway 2 and there was a bunch of signage that said temporarily closed to public access due to logging work going on."
Cell service limitations: Nearly all dispersed tent camping areas lack reliable cellular coverage. "No service close by, no motor homes either!" notes one Cut Bank Campground visitor, while another camper mentions "No reliable service for Verizon" at Hungry Horse Reservoir.
Creek exploration: Children enjoy investigating the shallow creek beds around Essex. "Creek full of small trout. Traffic is minimal. Mostly trucks pulling horse trailers," reports a Skyland Road camper about the water features that entertain kids.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The area offers excellent chances to spot wildlife safely. "The Cut Bank Creek drainage is also a fantastic place to embark on some great hiking and it provides some of the best of Montana's Rocky Mountain Front scenery and wildlife viewing," notes one Cut Bank Campground visitor.
Meadow play areas: Some dispersed sites feature open meadows ideal for family activities. "Huge open space with a fire circle and everything!" reports one Hungry Horse Reservoir Dispersed camper who found a family-friendly site.
Length limitations: Most dispersed areas accommodate smaller rigs only. "This is a good spot for smaller RV's or tents but any spot I seen for rv larger than 30' was taken or really not available," warns one Hungry Horse Reservoir camper.
Advance scouting recommended: RVers should assess sites before attempting access. "Pulled out Alliance Valor 32A10 down the horrible access road. Had to do a walk around after to verify no damage. Bed rails touched under my front cap a few times but luckily no damage," reports one Blankenship Bridge visitor.
Early arrival essential: Limited large sites fill quickly during peak season. "We have a 42' trailer and thought we would give this spot a shot. There's a slightly rough dirt road to get to the camp spots. There were about 3-4 sites that could fit our RV," notes one Ryan Road camper who secured a suitable spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Essex, MT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Essex, MT is Skyland Rd Dispersed Camping with a 4.6-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Essex, MT?
TheDyrt.com has all 84 tent camping locations near Essex, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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