Dispersed camping near Heart Butte, Montana offers access to the eastern Rocky Mountain Front and Glacier National Park region from elevations between 4,500-7,000 feet. The area experiences significant seasonal changes with winter temperatures dropping below freezing from October through April. Summer camping conditions typically feature cool nights, even during July and August when daytime temperatures can reach the 80s.
What to do
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Lakeview Campground sites have trails to the water with excellent sunrise viewing. "We had a large flat site to park the car with a short trail down to the water with stunning views," reports one camper who visited during a cross-country trip.
Fishing access: The region offers multiple fishing spots, with Bynum Reservoir providing lake fishing despite low water levels in recent years. As one visitor notes, "Have to hike to fish. Lake drying up. Beautiful and isolated. Chilly on May 15th."
Paddleboarding: Some lakeside campsites provide good launch points for paddleboarding. A camper at Lakeview Campground shares, "We stayed at the last one on the left of the entrance. Picnic tables. Metal firepit. With a trail down to the lake. We carried our paddle boards down and really enjoyed it."
Creek exploration: Several primitive camping areas near Heart Butte feature creek access. At Pike Creek Dispersed, despite some road noise, visitors can enjoy creekside camping. "Road in is in decent condition with some potholes to watch out for. You can definitely hear the highway and the trains, but it's quiet enough," notes one camper.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many dispersed camping areas offer good separation between sites. At Skyland Rd Dispersed Camping, a visitor observed, "Spots are few but very spaced out for privacy. The spots were a tad small depending on your rig, just big enough for a pickup truck and tent. Really quiet and peaceful, felt like you had the whole place to yourself."
Variety of site options: Primitive camping areas often have multiple sites with different features. Another camper at Skyland Rd noted, "This is side of road parking on National forest dirt road. Lots of pull offs every 1/4 mile or so. I took one right by creek. Creek full of small trout. Traffic is minimal."
Proximity to Glacier: Several camping areas serve as convenient bases for exploring Glacier National Park. One visitor explained, "This was the perfect spot for us to rest after Glacier before driving to the Tetons. We had beautiful views and a very peaceful night. No bears or signs of bears!"
Open spaces: Highway 89 East Glacier Dispersed provides panoramic views in some areas. "Absolutely beautiful view of St. Mary lake and glacier park east. Another lake in the background I'm not sure of right now. Just a dirt road off the highway that nobody comes to and is good to park an RV for the night and let the dogs run around."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most primitive camping near Heart Butte operates on a first-come basis. At Bynum Reservoir, one camper reports, "Been looking for a spot for the night all day, until I finally found this gem. The water is incredible, it was warm enough for a midday swim."
Tribal land restrictions: Pay careful attention to jurisdiction boundaries. A visitor to Highway 89 East Glacier Dispersed warns, "DO NOT CAMP HERE. Got a citation even though there are roads leading here with no signs while others have signs stating camping is prohibited."
Water availability: No potable water exists at most primitive sites. One camper at Bynum Reservoir noted, "No ATT service, Verizon worked fine though. Definitely coming back in the future."
Insects: Summer months bring significant mosquito activity. A visitor to Summit Trailhead Horse Camp advises, "Just watch out for the mosquitos they get really bad in the evening hours so bring bug spray for you and any pets."
Pit toilet conditions: Where available, facilities are basic. At Bynum Reservoir, a camper noted, "Clean bathroom + toilet paper."
Tips for camping with families
Hammock-friendly sites: Some creek-side locations work well for hammock setups. A visitor to Skyland Rd Dispersed Camping shared, "Enjoyed hammocking with the sound of the stream throughout the night. There was no service for Verizon."
Noise considerations: Train and highway noise affects some areas more than others. One camper noted about Skyland Rd, "We stayed at the first site when coming off of the road. Very pretty view and a fire ring. Lots of room to park and set up at that particular site. Because it was the first site, you'll have some cars driving by and hear the road and train a bit, but nothing too loud or busy."
Swimming access: Some reservoirs offer swimming opportunities during summer months. A visitor to Bynum Reservoir mentioned, "The water is incredible, it was warm enough for a midday swim."
Site selection timing: Arrive early for best site options, especially during peak season. A camper at Bynum Reservoir noted, "10 open sites arriving at 6PM on 4th of July weekend. Reservoir is very low. Enjoyed having the whole campsite to ourselves."
Tips from RVers
Road clearance requirements: Many dispersed camping areas require appropriate vehicles. As one camper noted about Skyland Road, "There's around 7 spots up to where the coordinates lead to. The first two you can probably get to with low clearance but afterwards I'd recommend medium clearance."
Turnaround points: Plan your route to include turnaround options for larger vehicles. One RVer at Skyland Road advised, "Biggest obstacle is finding a place to turnaround. There's a place just before mile marker 3. There also has to be a place further up the road because horse trailers longer than my trailer are coming down the road."
Parking pad sizes: Site dimensions vary significantly. At Ear Mountain Dispersed, a visitor noted, "Open area near campground good for bigger rigs creek nearby."
Dust conditions: Expect dusty conditions on gravel access roads. A camper at Lakeview observed, "Warning, it will be dusty here as the main gravel forest road is just up the hill."
