Tent camping near Geyser, Montana primarily concentrates in the Little Belt Mountains area with elevations ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 feet. Most established campgrounds open from late spring through early fall, with several sites remaining accessible year-round. Winter camping requires specialized equipment and preparation due to temperatures that regularly drop below freezing from November through March.
What to do
Hiking slot canyons: At Eagle Creek Developed Boat Camp, campers can explore Neat Coulee Canyon. "It's a short hike with small climbing (and bigger climbing opportunities; pretty risky)," notes Sterling C., who also mentions "pictographs in the opposite direction of the campsite to the canyon."
Wildlife viewing: The Judith River area provides excellent opportunities for animal spotting. Harry H. writes about his experience at Judith River State WMA: "Took the Judith River Backcountry Scenic Drive in a Jeep, camped here. Nice and shady, simple primitive sites. Lots of boat activity at this site. Tons of animals great and small."
Winter activities: Camp Rotary offers cold-weather camping options when most other sites close. Sterling C. reports: "In the winter it can be fun but to climb some hills. Each campground has cabins which hold about 11 people and tent spaces outside. The cabin do have semi-decent heating, but not AC."
What campers like
Free camping options: Budget-conscious campers appreciate the no-cost sites in the region. Dexter I. describes Hay Canyon: "The site nearest to the vault toilet is a amazingly large site, three picnic tables a large metal fire ring and the biggest BBQ grill I have ever seen in a campground. Getting this site is just awesome even at the high price of nothing to camp here."
River access: Water-based camping provides unique perspectives. At Hole-in-the-Wall Boat Camp, Sterling C. notes: "The hiking up to the Hole-in-The-Wall is AWESOME! Though you will have to do some easy rock climbing so be prepared. It's also really easy to fall hundreds of feet as well."
Shade availability: Summer temperatures can reach the 90s, making shade crucial. Dexter I. comments about Senieur's Reach: "Nice camp locations under the cotton woods. No outhouse or tables. A bonus is the swim someone has made in a large cottonwood."
What you should know
Limited facilities: Most sites require self-sufficiency. At Whitetail Camp, Dexter I. explains: "The campground has a vault toilet but no water or trash service. Vault toilet was well stocked. This is a very popular campground during the hunting season."
Bear precautions: Food storage precautions remain essential. Dexter continues regarding Whitetail Camp: "This is a bear area so you will need to keep all your food items in your vehicle, bear lockers are not available."
Weather considerations: High elevation camping brings temperature fluctuations. At Kings Hill Campground, Dexter I. notes that it "sits at around 8000 feet in elevation" which means significantly colder nights even in summer months.
Tips for camping with families
Bathroom access: For trips with children, select sites with better facilities. Sterling C. recommends Camp Rotary: "The bathrooms are really big and well developed (and super warm for the winter). There is also a big 'roof building' with picknick tables to eat food."
Educational opportunities: Incorporate learning into camping trips. At Eagle Creek, Sterling C. advises: "There are also pictographs in the opposite direction of the campsite to the canyon. It is kinda hard to find, but look for reddish rock near a juniper."
Safety considerations: Some sites present natural hazards. At Hole-in-the-Wall, Sterling warns: "It's also really easy to fall hundreds of feet as well. Since you will take boats there, cows can walk to the landing sites, but remember to keep all your gates shut."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: RVs require careful placement at these primarily tent-focused campgrounds. Dexter I. explains about Kings Hill: "The site are nicely spread apart and you can still find sites with trees in place. Some of the sites have stairs that lead up to or down to the campsite."
Limited hookups: No tent camping areas near Geyser offer full hookups. Kings Hill provides "water and vault toilets but no trash service so be prepared to pack out everything you bring in. Each site has a picnic table and metal fire rings as well as BBQ grills."
Road conditions: Access challenges exist for larger vehicles. Dexter I. notes that for Hay Canyon, "This site is broken in to two sections with three sites each. The first section is easy to find, the second is just around the bend on the main road on a road to the right which has three more sites."
