Dispersed camping options near Florence, Montana center around the Lolo National Forest with sites scattered across mountainous terrain at elevations between 3,500-6,000 feet. Seasonal access typically runs from May through October, though higher elevation roads may remain snowy into June. Weather conditions can change rapidly, with summer afternoon thunderstorms common in this rugged western Montana landscape.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Rock Creek Dry Campsites provides access to excellent trout fishing. According to one camper, "Gorgeous area deep back on rock creek. Probably 10 plus miles. Pass campgrounds with toilets. Individual campsites with fire rings and access to great fishing."
Ghost town exploration: Visit the preserved mining settlement at Garnet Ghost Town, located about 45 minutes from Florence. One visitor notes, "During the winter two of the cabins (the larger of which is the old saloon) are available to rent through the forest service. Most of my recent trips have been during the winter months, where the town is only accessible by ski, snow shoe or feet."
Hiking to mountain lakes: The Peterson Lake trail offers a moderate 5-mile hike with 1,700 feet of elevation gain. A hiker reports, "About 5 miles one way to Peterson lake, another 1 and 2 miles to Duffy and Holloway lakes above Peterson. Nice secluded valley heading into Bitteroot-Selway wilderness."
What campers like
Secluded mountain camping: Blue Mountain Forest Road 365 provides increasingly remote sites as you travel further up the forest road. One camper shared, "We drove about 45 minutes up the mountain on the 365 road, and found a very secluded camping spot with a absolute beautiful view. We hardly saw anyone on the way up but the road is very narrow."
Riverside sites: The Lost Horse Dispersed Campground offers camping alongside Lost Horse Creek. A visitor mentioned, "Camp is easy to get to. Gravel road for about 2 miles but it's pretty smooth. The view is gorgeous. Trees, mountains, and a nice sized river that cuts through. Good size sites and fire pits as well."
Convenient highway access: For those wanting rustic camping near Florence with easy interstate access, Petty Creek Road sites are located just minutes from I-90. A camper reported, "Great quiet spot next to the road. Not much traffic, we slept great in our car and felt very safe."
What you should know
Road conditions: Many dispersed camping areas have rough access roads that deteriorate as you travel further. At Blue Mountain, "Road is absolutely clapped out going up for like ten miles. Wouldn't recommend a rv or trailer unless you don't mind washboards. I got a flat tire going up so be careful of sharp rocks."
Bridge challenges: Rock Creek Dispersed sites require crossing narrow bridges that may pose difficulties. One camper warned, "Not for low clearance vehicles, it's not far off the highway but we struggled with the two narrow bridges with tight turns in our travel trailer and then there's a large flood way dip in the road that you can bottom out on."
Cell service variability: Coverage depends on location and elevation. At Blue Mountain, "I was able to get Verizon signal at my campsite. However driving up signal was spotty."
Tips for camping with families
Choose accessible sites: Petty Creek Road provides flat parking areas suitable for family camping. A camper reported, "Multiple spots to choose from. We pulled in about 7pm and we were the only ones there. Someone else pulled in around 9 but the sites were separated by enough trees we could barely tell they were there."
Pack necessary supplies: No amenities means bringing everything you need. For Rock Creek Dry Campsites, "These are decent sites, but there directly off the road and there are just spots you pull into and that's it. I like a little bit more room to spread out and be further off the road."
Plan for weather changes: Mountain elevations mean temperature fluctuations between day and night. At Lost Horse Dispersed Campground, "A ton of dispersed sites right near the creek, but poorly taken care of by campers. We encountered more trash here than we've ever seen camping before."
Tips from RVers
Turn radius challenges: When accessing rustic camping near Florence with larger vehicles, pay attention to tight turns. At Petty Creek Road, "Initially we missed the turn and had nowhere to turn around since this is on the side of a mountain... We have a 27 foot RV towed with a truck that has a 8ft bed."
Site selection for larger vehicles: Choose sites with adequate space and level ground. One RVer at Petty Creek Road advised, "The site was reasonable to back into. We are parked in the front, I wouldn't recommend parking a 20ft plus rig in the back site."
Fire safety precautions: Summer fire restrictions often limit or prohibit campfires. Always check current regulations with the Lolo National Forest office before planning to have a fire at your campsite.
