Tent camping in the Great Falls area of Montana offers access to diverse landscapes at elevations ranging from 3,300 to 4,000 feet. The region experiences distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F during camping months and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Most tent sites require campers to be self-sufficient with limited facilities available at primitive locations throughout the Missouri River corridor.
What to do
Fishing from shore: Wolf Creek Bridge provides excellent bank fishing access to the Missouri River. According to Lowell S., "Small boat ramp site" with "no hookups" makes this an ideal spot for anglers who prefer to fish from land rather than boats.
River floating: Start multi-day paddling trips from Little Log Campground on Holter Lake. "A short distance from the campground and across the street is the day use area for the recreation area, where fishing appears to be good as we saw several large fish taken out of the lake in a short period of time," notes reviewer Dexter I.
Wildlife viewing: Black Bluff Rapids Primitive Boat Camp sits "along the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument in a stretch of cottonwoods" where visitors frequently spot eagles, deer, and other riparian wildlife.
Winter camping: Camp Rotary remains open during colder months with heated cabins. "In the winter it can be fun but to climb some hills," reports Sterling C. "The cabin do have semi-decent heating, but not AC. The bathrooms are really big and well developed (and super warm for the winter)."
What campers like
Solitude and privacy: Tent sites at Lowry Bridge Access Site offer quiet experiences away from crowds. Susan A. describes it as a "Nice, quiet, clean campground. About 5 level sites. Good for small rv's. Road to the campground is decent. Monday night in July and there were 2 tenters and 2 rv/campers."
River access: Senieur's Reach Primitive Boat Camp receives high marks for its riverside location. "We give this our highest primitive camp review of 3 stars. Site had one fire ring that would be safe to make a fire at as the area around the ring is free of vegetation. Nice camp locations under the cotton woods," writes one camper.
Improved facilities: Several campgrounds have undergone recent upgrades. According to Dexter I., "Wolf Creek Bridge FAS got a big upgrade over the winter. The fishing access site is now fully paved. No more parking in the mud or dirt. With the upgrade the old vault toilet is gone and two new vault toilets have replaced it."
Affordability: Most tent sites in the area remain cost-effective. Marilyn K. notes that Lowry Bridge is "BLM land free" while others like Little Log Campground charge modest fees ($15/night).
What you should know
Site limitations: Flat tent pads can be scarce at certain locations. At Little Log Campground, "Flat locations to put a tent are limited due to the slope of the ground in the campground, but each site does have a flat area for a tent, however it may be hard to find room for more than one tent."
Seasonal popularity: Mountain Palace Fishing Access Site experiences heavy use during peak fishing periods. "Mountain Palace FAS is a popular take out location for fishing float boats on the Missouri River... This is a busy site during the summer months."
Access considerations: Some campgrounds require additional travel from main roads. Marilyn K. describes reaching Lowry Bridge: "4 miles off route 200, Left on MT-21, Right on Lowry Road, over bridge."
Vegetation management: Some primitive sites become overgrown during summer months. At Evans Bend Primitive Boat Camp, one camper reported they "could not find [fire rings] due to the 3 foot plus high vegetation. If you did find them you would start a wild fire with all the high vegetation."
Tips for camping with families
Youth-friendly facilities: Camp Rotary provides structured camping areas ideal for family groups. "I camp here with Boy Scouts since the place is often reserved for youth organizations... The bathrooms are really big and well developed. There is also a big 'roof building' with picknick tables to eat food."
Water recreation: The best tent camping near Great Falls for families includes sites with swimming access. Senieur's Reach features "a swim someone has made in a large cottonwood" according to reviewers.
Transportation planning: For boat-accessible camps, plan entry and exit points carefully. Black Bluff Rapids is "located just upriver from the Wood Bottom Developed site and is a nice camp site, nicer than the sites at Wood Bottom."
Group size considerations: Many tent sites accommodate limited numbers. At Little Log, "Most of the choices for tent placement are at the end of the parking pad next the the picnic table and fire ring."
Tips from RVers
Size restrictions: Most tent camping areas near Great Falls have limitations for larger vehicles. Lowry Bridge is "Good for small rv's" with approximately "5 level sites" according to recent visitors.
Parking surfaces: Wolf Creek Bridge now features improved parking areas for vehicles. "Wolf Creek Bridge FAS got a big upgrade over the winter. The fishing access site is now fully paved. No more parking in the mud or dirt."
Registration process: Check-in locations may not be at the campground itself. At Little Log Campground, "Registration for campsites is located in the day use area on the side of the road as you enter the recreation area."
Limited hookups: Virtually all tent camping locations have no utility connections. As Lowell S. succinctly noted about Wolf Creek Bridge: "No hookups."
