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Downstream Campground is located just below Fort Peck Dam on the Missouri River in northeastern Montana. Recreation enthusiasts and sportsmen enjoy the beauty of Fort Peck Lake's 1,500 miles of shoreline. A variety of high quality outdoor activities are available, including camping, boating, fishing, hunting, sightseeing and wildlife viewing. Fort Peck Dam, which impounds Fort Peck Lake is the first dam built in the upper Missouri River Basin. The area surrounding Fort Peck was first charted by Lewis and Clark in 1804, and the pristine natural condition of the river and surrounding area awed the renowned explorers. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the Fort Peck project in 1933, thousands of people from all over the country migrated to Montana during the midst of the Great Depression in hopes of earning a living. Today, Fort Peck Lake is a sportsman's paradise with excellent fishing, wildlife viewing and other countless outdoor recreation opportunities. For more information, visit the Fort Peck Project Website or call 406-526-3411.
The vast size of Fort Peck Lake and its remoteness from major population centers provide a variety of high quality outdoor experiences. Popular recreation activities include camping, boating, fishing, hunting, sight-seeing, picnicking, biking, hiking, photography, watching wildlife and just relaxing. Fort Peck Lake: Fifteen hundred miles of pristine shoreline serve as a haven for those wishing to get away from the stresses of modern life. There are 27 recreation areas located around the reservoir. The areas near and around the dam offer paved roads, electricity, showers and playgrounds while facilities around the rest of the lake are more primitive with gravel roads, picnic tables and vault toilets. Access roads to many of the remote areas may be impassable in inclement weather. Fishing: Fort Peck Lake enjoys nationwide recognition as a hot spot for walleye fishing. Fort Peck Lake provides excellent boating and fishing opportunities. The lake also offers excellent fishing for sauger, smallmouth bass, lake trout, chinook salmon and northern pike. The introduction of cisco as a forage fish in 1983 proved successful and has increased both the size and number of game fish. Wildlife Viewing/Hunting: The Fort Peck Lake Area and the Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge provide superb hunting of deer, elk, big horn sheep, and prong horn. The Missouri River Breaks are known for producing large elk and other game animals.Trails: Three miles of paved nature trails wind along the Missouri River and through the surrounding wooded area. This trail area is a popular birding and wildlife viewing area. Disc Golf Course: A disc golf course "The Fortress" was installed in summer of 2021. Discs are available to check out at the gate house. Interpretive Center & Museum: The Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum offers displays of wildlife dioramas, aquariums, dinosaur fossils and dam construction history. Open Friday through Monday 9am to 4pm.
A shady grove of cottonwoods covers the grassy campground, making Downstream a pleasant place during the heat of the summer. In autumn, the leaves turn a beautiful golden yellow. Three fishing ponds, including scenic Winter Harbor, dot the landscape below the dam.
For facility specific information, please call (406) 526-3224.
Fort Peck Lake is a Montana treasure for its vast size and outdoor recreation opportunities. Six recreation areas within a few miles of the dam provide access for water sports, fishing and hunting. The Fort Peck Interpretive Center and Museum, is located just downstream of Fort Peck Dam. For more information, call 406-526-3493. The Leo B. Coleman Wildlife Pasture, located just outside the Town of Fort Peck and Downstream Campground is home to Fort Peck's Bison Herd and provides an excellent wildlife viewing auto route. __The Historic Fort Peck Theater is located in the town of Ft. Peck is a popular historic destination in summer months. The 1.1 million acre Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge surrounds Fort Peck Lake and helps preserve the natural habitat for numerous wildlife species.
Reservation changes and cancellations can be made on Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. For more information on rules and policies regarding reservation cancellations and changes, please visit: https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies.
$14 - $15 / night
Traveler
Was hard to find. They only gave us coordinates, so it was very difficult to find. Still do not know if we were in the right spot. Turned down a road that was hard on the car. Ground was very hard, found it difficult to pitch a tent. Was suitable for the night, would not stay any longer.
Scout
We only stayed one night as we were traveling through, the camp host was extremely friendly and welcoming. He called us back promptly with information and also was there to greet us at our site even when we pulled in late (9PM). Sites were level and paved and had lots of space. Spacing between sites was very generous and campground was clean and well maintained.
LegendGeneral: 86-site US Army Corps of Engineers Campground located on the Missouri River in four loops, each with a different name: Lismas, New Deal, Wheeler, and Faranuf. Wheeler is for tent sites, the camper pads are gravel, and there are no electric hookups; the other three loops have mostly 30-amp but several 50-amp sites and the camper pads are paved. Faranuf has pull-thru sites that can accommodate larger RVs.
Site Quality: All sites are level and are spaced a decent distance apart from each other. There are some trees for shade but still many are in full sun.
Bath/Shower House: The New Deal and Wheeler loops have vault toilets and Lismas, and Faranuf have flush toilets and showers. The restroom in Faranuf is air-conditioned! The one in Lismas appears new (the old one is still standing but roped off) but points off for no soap! Also no hand sanitizer in the vault toilet in New Deal.
Activities: There is a paved recreation path that circles the campground and is about 2.5 miles. Other recreation activities include basketball, volleyball, horseshoes, cornhole, disk golf, and two playgrounds (one in Faranuf and the other in the day-use area). Recreation equipment is available to borrow. There is also a wonderful interpretive center where you can learn about the history of the dam, as well as past and present wildlife. In the summer, it is open Friday– Monday, 9 am– 4 pm and the hours are less in other seasons. A must if you have kids! Many in the campground had boats. Kelly, the volunteer at the gatehouse, was effusive about all the area had to offer.
We were only there for one night passing through, but we did visit the interpretive center, and run on the nature trail. The only bummer about this campground was the persistent wasps that made eating and sitting outside challenging.
GuideVery spacious campground. I was impressed with the sites - lots of mature trees, and they have a reasonably long (4ish mile) nature trail.
One thing I found disappointing was that there is very little river or lake access nearby without a boat. I could barely find any place to let my dog cool off in the lake. Even the nature trail never gets closer than about 50 yards to the river, and is separated from it by a swampy, mosquito infested, cattail laden barrier. They need to provide more beach access. The only swimming beach is a few miles up the road, and as you guessed, NO DOGS ALLOWED. That's a shame, because my dog is cleaner and better behaved than most people.
Be aware that this part of Montana is the Great Plains, and it gets very hot in the summer. Right now, July 24th we're supposed to have a high of 102. And my particular campsite has NO SHADE whatsoever.
This is a much better place to stay if you have a boat, as the lake is really the only attraction here. It's just too bad there is such limited access unless you have a boat.
The nearest town is Glasgow, some, 20ish miles away, and there ain't much there. Fort Peck is closer, about 4 miles, but there's nothing there but a little convenience store.
IMPORTANT: If you're coming in from the east or west on US 2, BE SURE YOU TAKE THE "TRUCK ROUTE" Highway 42 down to the lake, NOT the regular Highway 42, which has a VERY LOW CLEARANCE BRIDGE. I had to stop, and flag down a sheriff's deputy who graciously held traffic up so I could back out of my predicament. There's no warning sign. I made a right hand turn onto 42, and BOOM, there it was a block up the road. 12 feet, 2 inches. My 5th wheel is 13'6".
**NOT FUN**
**IMPORTANT: Don't be tempted to park under the cottonwood trees. Your vehicle will be COVERED with some kind of sap...took two car washes to get it off.
**
LegendThis is an amazing campground on the shore of the Missouri River by Fort Peck Dam. Nice big sites. Bathhouses are less that 2 years old. Great park like seeing with playground, volleyball net, basketball court and horseshoe pits. They even lend out the equipment you need!
It's a short walk to a really wonderful interpretive center - definitely worthwhile to visit! And there's a great trail system to walk on and enjoy the views.
GuideVery nice, spacious campground. Clean grounds and facilities, with a new shower house. Electric only at the sites, but fresh water fill and dump station available.
GuideGreat staff at gate. Sites are very well spaced. Half full at best in mid September. Nice bike and walking trail, and view of the dam. Interesting history. We had electric. Clean restrooms and showers. I loved the space around us and it was really quiet. Agree with another reviewer that it would be a great dark sky park. That is the reason for four instead of five stars.
TravelerI was expecting more when I saw this site online but honestly it was the total opposite. Beautiful none the less but I was expecting a bit more privacy and there absolutely is none. The site was full with what looked to be more rv sites than tent sites so we moved up the road (24) and found another site which was equally as open and full of rocks called Westend. But we needed a place to stay for the night so we did.
GuideAlways friendly, helpful people, well kept and clean. Biking, walking trails along river with fishing ponds. Nice park area for playing. Sites are well spaced and decent size. Easy drive to boat and swimming access.
RangerWell cared for. Most sites are electric. Didn't see any with water or sewer hookups besides the host sites. Hosts were super friendly. Only con is i wish they would move to more dark sky lighting standards, there are a lot of bright lights around the park that make it difficult to see the night skies.
Travelervery quiet, very clean and well kept, staff are very friendly and helpful. the camp has a network of great bike trails and would be a swell spot for a family vacation. loved it.
Travelerthis is a great place. spots are spaced out and well kept. staff are extremely friendly and helpful. this was a great stay
TravelerFort Peck Downstream Campground is a real gem. My son and I were there for four days, 8/29-9/1/2020. My son is a quad and uses a power chair.
Benefits: This campground is run by the Army Corps of Engineers, and it shows. Well paved roads, wide spaces, lots of room between spaces, laid out logically and well, and plenty of power. The service buildings are clean and well kept, and one of the shower / lavatory buildings is brand new with easy wheelchair access. Surrounding the camp are roughly five miles of mostly paved trails, perfect for early morning or late night walks. Night time and clear skies bring out great star gazing. The campground easily accommodates the largest rigs, with spaces large enough to handle 45' Coaches / Toads / and Boats all together. There is also a 'group' space that could handle, I'm guessing, around 200 people. Most electrical hookups are 30A; roughly 1/3 are 50A. There are tons of things to see, and walking to the town of Fort Peck is ok for those in reasonable shape (I'm 57 and .. eh .. well rounded ... ); if you have a bike it is a snap to get there. The very small town does have a grocery, restaurant, and hardware store. Glasgow is just 30 minutes up the road.
Tradeoffs: This is not a campground one can just show up at and get in. Being a Federal facility, it is, of course, a Federal process to 'check in'. One must, without exception, set up an account with the website recreation.gov ... note it is 'gov' not 'com'. Next, one must pick dates and location ... a difficult process without any knowledge of the layout of the campground or what sites are close to what ... like playgrounds ... or bathrooms for those traveling without. It is critical one does this BEFORE getting there ... as cell service is spotty at best and the folks at the gatehouse are not allowed to help or use their phone. Don't ask how I know this, just take my word for it. Trying to find cell service on a narrow two lane road in the middle of no where driving a 12 ton bread box is not a good time. Just saying. Once in, however, it is great. This campground is on the high prairie ... it can be very windy, and storms come in fast. If mountains and lots of pine trees are what you are looking for, this isn't it. There are, however, lots of cottonwoods and tons of birds. The campground is at the foot of the largest earthfill dam in the United States, and amongst other things, it produces power. Which means that, especially at night, one can hear the steady hum of the generators outside. Being male with selective hearing, didn't bother me a bit. However, it might bother you. In the summer, it can be very hot and dry, mid 90's are not unusual. Night time lows are usually in the low 60's on down. If you are there in the fall, it may well get into the lower 30's / upper 20's.
Things to be aware of: Make your reservation before you get there. (Recreation.gov). There is no water at the sites, however, spigots are scattered throughout the camp, if one has 50 feet of hose they can probably get to a spigot to 'top off the tank' ...
There is a dump station on the road into the camp, there are no full service sites. The dump station is at most a mile away, and easy to get to if your teenager takes a twenty minute shower and fills the tank ... be aware that there are nice showers on site, at both ends of the camp. The camp hosts are very friendly and helpful, even to old cranks like me who show up not knowing about making a reservation.
For those who are in a wheelchair, this campground is a real treat. There are miles of relatively flat, paved, walkways, including to fishing ponds. The showers and facilities are handicap accessible, and one shower is specifically set up for folks in wheelchairs.
TravelerGreat, well kept campground. Great views, great walking paths. Wildlife sightings were abundant!
Reliable hook ups, clean showers. Go back every year!
Guidelocated just a quarter of a mile from the scenic overlook is a road that looks step to the lakeside of the road. If you follow it around you will find many spots to camp. We chose a spot that was slightly muddy but just enough that it was soft to sleep on. We brought a canoe and carried it to the bank of the lake. we found enough rocks around to have a perfect fire pit as well. The road is gravel and is easy to travel with a vehicle that is a good distance off the ground.
TravelerCamped in early September. Beautiful campground with large trees. Quiet and peaceful. Has power at most sites. Sites are large and level. Will have new restrooms open next year. Army Corps of Engineers so less than $20. Half price for seniors.
TravelerWe love going to the Downstream campground at Fort Peck Dam.
There are tons of shade trees, many different types of camping spots, fishing ponds, walking/running trails all around the campground, and great shower facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Fort Peck Project is Downstream (MT) with a 4.6-star rating from 14 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 3 glamping camping locations near Fort Peck Project, with real photos and reviews from campers.
