Tent camping options near Frenchtown, Montana include primitive backcountry sites and established campgrounds throughout the surrounding Lolo National Forest. The area sits at elevations ranging from 3,000 to 5,500 feet, creating significant temperature variations between sites. Seasonal conditions vary dramatically, with higher elevation campsites often inaccessible until late May due to snowpack.
What to do
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Turquoise Lake Backcountry Site provides excellent opportunities for mountain goat sightings. According to one visitor, "you will more than likely be neighbors with some goats" when camping at this pristine location.
Fishing access: Forest Grove Fishing Access Site offers year-round fishing options. A camper noted, "This is an all season spot so if you are getting stir crazy indoors, this is an area you can adventure to."
Mountain hiking: The Sleeping Woman trail near Kreis Pond offers challenging terrain with substantial elevation gain. A visitor reported the trail is "a heavy incline to the top so be prepared with lots of water and an awesome view at the end. 360 view of the Missoula Valley, Bitteroot Mountain Range, Flathead in the distance and Mission Mountains as well."
What campers like
Secluded campsites: Blue Mountain Forest Road offers privacy for those willing to venture farther up the road. One camper stated, "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."
Lakeside camping: Kreis Pond provides waterfront sites for summer recreation. A reviewer mentioned it's a "Great secret camping spot. There's only about 5 spots and summer will be crowded when it's hot and awesome weather! Bring tubes to float around the water and hammock to hang around."
Historical sites: Earl Tennant Campground offers a glimpse into local history. As one visitor observed, "This campground wasn't open yet when I went to check it out, but it's a cute little historical site off of FS Road 37. I almost missed the turn because it's not super well marked."
What you should know
Road conditions: Access to the best tent camping near Frenchtown, Montana often requires navigating challenging roads. A camper at Blue Mountain noted, "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."
Bear activity: Food storage precautions are essential at most sites. One Kreis Pond visitor warned, "Saw bear prints, definitely lock up foods. Bring water treatment methods."
Temperature fluctuations: Even summer camping requires preparation for cold nights. At Three Forks Ponds, a camper reported, "It was very cold at night though. In the 30s at the end of June. We thankfully brought lots of blankets, but it would have been very cold had we not."
Navigational challenges: GPS reliability varies significantly between camping areas. One reviewer attempting to visit Kreis Pond stated, "Honestly I never made it to this campsite because my GPS couldn't figure out how to get me there without going on private property."
Tips for camping with families
Pond activities: Kreis Pond offers family-friendly water recreation in a contained environment. According to a camper, "The pond is small and prone to very dense algae blooms. Campsites are very close in and very busy by Montana standards."
Campsite spacing: Three Forks Ponds provides good separation between sites for families seeking privacy. A visitor noted, "Very quiet, with some sites very dispersed from each other."
Limited facilities: Most Frenchtown area tent camping requires self-sufficiency. At Blue Mountain, a camper observed, "This area allows disperse camping Beyond a certain point (there is a small sign). There is a map provided at the road trailhead. However it is confusing since I believe the map is upside down."
Tips from RVers
Site limitations: Most dispersed camping near Frenchtown accommodates tents rather than RVs. A visitor to Blue Mountain noted, "On my drive up I did not see any established distributed campsites. However there are some turn offs that you could park at. This area would probably not be ideal for RVs."
Overnight noise considerations: When selecting sites near highways, expect disruptions. At Petty Creek FAS, a camper reported, "We were woken up repeatedly by several, okay many, trains on the opposite side of the site as the interstate (think horns blaring, van shaking)."
Tent-only designations: Many Forest Service campgrounds explicitly prohibit RVs. A visitor to Earl Tennant Campground noted it's "a super minimal campground for tents only!"
