Helena National Forest, MT is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Montana camping has to offer. Find the best campgrounds near Helena National Forest, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
"Free, drive-up, no permit needed. Primitive sites, very simple but clean and kept up well. Wooded by a creek."
"Nice quiet secluded area. Multiple trailheads for popular hiking trails near campground (one is in the campground). Creek nearby to cool off in the heat."
$25 / night
"A few paved walking paths near the beach area. The narrow paved roads made life interesting. The fish cleaning station is closed due to vandalism. "
"All of the sites can accommodate larger rigs, but none have electrical service so there are lots of generators. "
"Bathrooms and showers very clean. Friendly staff. We were here in mid-October so not many traveling campers, but a few long-term"
"Only spent one night, but level sites, full hook ups, showers and laundry clean. An area to play games and we didn’t have our dogs this time but the dog zone looked good and clean."
$25 - $80 / night
"The area is super clean, with the only trash I find way out in the mountain."
"The main campground Log Gulch Campground has 60 sites, plus two tent walk in sites. This is a paved campground with gravel parking pads."
"Found the store stocked with some pretty good food that rotates weekly. Clean and well maintained bathrooms and campsite"
"Cleanest and nicest bathrooms I’ve seen in a long time!! We stayed in tent spaces which they were working to update with water and electricity, both of which worked for us!"
"No hookups, great fire pit and picnic tables. Plenty of space for multiple vehicles in each spot. Level and right by the water. All the spots have evening shade."
"The site sits along the Missouri River and has two small lakes as well. The sites are nice and roomy with plenty flat ground for tents of any size. The area has one vault toilet."
$12 - $30 / night
"We booked a pavilion spot with 50A service. Other pavilions have 20A or 30A. Non group sites are dry camping only. There is a water spigot nearby for filling tanks."
"This is a great place if you want to get away from Great Falls for a night or two. Each campsite has a fire pit, picnic table and a decent amount of trees."
"First camp we stayed at on a week long trip to Montana. We came on a weekday, so hardly any one there."
GuideA lot of water stations. The boat dock parking area allowed camping along the perimeter. A few paved walking paths near the beach area. The narrow paved roads made life interesting. The fish cleaning station is closed due to vandalism. Our first day was 105F which made the lake more inviting. Evening low of 76F. No pets on the fairly small swim beach. All other water access has large rocks for erosion mitigation.
Our Saturday departure was delayed by FWP boat inspection at the entrance and a long line was inbound to Holter Lake.
RangerIf you’ve ever wondered what it’d be like to vacation in a post-apocalyptic landfill run by people who watched Green Acres and said,“Hold my beer,” then Kim’s Marina& RV Resort is the place for you.
We pulled in at 1:30PM—our assigned site already occupied by another camper who kindly apologized. The staff, however, offered nothing. No sorry, no heads-up, no water, no shade. Just a“shrug emoji” in human form. Their own check-in pamphlet said checkout was at 2PM—so why hand us a site that still had a family fully plugged in and grilling hot dogs?
Meanwhile, my 76-year-old mother (who confirmed the day before that her cabin would be ready at 1:30) was treated like a burden every time she asked if her room was ready. FIVE times she asked. They didn’t even start cleaning it until 2:40. It was 100 degrees. She waited in that heat like a forgotten prop in a bad country western, and when they finally let her in, the bed was bare and they told her,“Oh—you still need bedding.” Like it was a lemonade stand, not a paid rental cabin.
The grounds? Picture a campground that moonlights as a junkyard. Dog poop was everywhere. It was like a minefield from the moment you stepped out of your camper to the joke they call a“beach.” And the dogs? Off-leash, wild, and no one batted an eye.
The plumbing situation? Grab your hazmat suit. The water spigots looked like they were salvaged from a scrapyard, half-stripped, leaking like crazy, and—you guessed it—pooling water under the electric hookups. One sewer cap shot off like a geyser when I touched it. I wouldn’t wash a lawnmower with this setup, let alone plug in my rig.
The roads were a combo of gravel, pothole dirt, and vague paved patches—but folks sped through it like NASCAR tryouts. No speed limit signs. No enforcement. Just kids on bikes diving for cover.
The “beach” for kids? There were broken signs with rusted nails still sticking out of them. Nothing says “family memories” like a tetanus shot.
Bathrooms? Closed when we arrived. When they did open, it smelled like something had crawled into the plumbing and lost its will to live. Didn’t even risk a shower—especially since you have to PAY for one on top of your already steep site fee. Pay to shower in your own stink? Pass.
Now let’s talk about the nightmare fuel they call a laundry room. Clean and dirty laundry were stacked everywhere like someone gave up mid-fold. It looked like a middle school lost-and-found exploded. Vomit in the utility sink. I wish I was kidding. ONE washer worked, and TWO dryers were broken. Not that it mattered—the pile of abandoned linens made it impossible to find space anyway.
Oh, and the staff? If the dress code was“backwoods buffet with a side of resentment,” they nailed it. Rude, grunting, eye-rolling, dismissive. One guy looked like he’d used his shirt as a napkin from breakfast through dinner and capped it off with ripped jean shorts straight outta 1987. Customer service was nonexistent, but judgment? Flowing like that busted water spigot.
Trash? Overflowed all weekend. Piled up 15 feet high and smelled like the opening scene of a horror movie. At night, I wasn’t sure if I heard raccoons or zombies.
We booked 5 nights. We stayed 5 nights. But if we didn’t have family with us, we would’ve packed up and peeled out of there after night one.
Bottom line: Kim’s is not a“resort.” It’s a rotting relic held together by duct tape, fumes, and apathy. The only thing elite here is how fast you’ll want to burn your shoes when you leave.
Never again. Not if it was free. Not if you paid me. Absolute disgrace.
GuideFor scouts we had a huge campout here (like we do every year) and it still is one of my most memorable campground. The area is super clean, with the only trash I find way out in the mountain. Talking about that, there are cool “mountains” (basically steep hills with some rocks) you can climb or hike, that give you a great view of the area. The bathrooms are pretty clean and not too smelly as well. If you just want to go camping there are amazing places to pitch a tent and in ground fire pits. Also, if you happen to have a boat, you can park it next to your campsite and take it onto the lake during the day.
RangerCozy forest service cabin, wood stove for heat. Close to highway, so there's road noise but creek and cliffs make it relaxing to sit outside. (Families with small children beware of Proximity to highway).
RangerFree, drive-up, no permit needed. Primitive sites, very simple but clean and kept up well. Wooded by a creek. Pretty sure a bear came through camp one night so make sure to follow all the bear guidelines. Cute small town of York is nearby, got to see a cattle drive which was pretty neat.
LegendBeautiful spot on the lake! The campsites are walk-in so be aware of that. There is a handicap spot that is next to the toilet you don't have to walk in to. Not a lot of privacy but there is a good distance between sites. Picnic tables and established fire rings here, dogs welcome!
ScoutThis is a great place if you want to get away from Great Falls for a night or two. Each campsite has a fire pit, picnic table and a decent amount of trees. Great little pool on the far side of the campsite is great for kids.
GuideRight off the road but feels pretty tucked away. Shared the camp with 3 small RVs but everyone had plenty of space. The are has been cleared of timber and there was plenty of wood laying around. Sites are nice with solid tables and fire pits. Two vault toilets as well. Beautiful creek flows through the campsite. Would recommend. $10 self pay no reservations.
LegendUpper Toston Dam Campground and Boat launch is one of two campground in the BLM Toston Dam Recreation Area. The Lower Toston Damp Campground is located a half mile below Toston Dam. The Upper Toston Dam Campground features four cover camp picnic table sites with metal fire rings. All four of the sites sit at the edge of a large parking area. Between the covered sites and the Missouri river is a grassy area that tents can be set up in. The grassy area slopes down towards the river, this could make finding a level spot for your tent difficult depending on the size of your tent. One could also pitch their tent on the edge of the parking area. The site has a single vault toilet. A small boat launch with a dock is available as well. Their is not water or trash service at this campground. This campground will be a quiet location as it is 5 miles from the highway, the only noise will be from water running over the dam and any trains that come down the tracks located on the other side of the river. This site also benefits from not having any cell phone service.
Ranger Review of Liquid I.V.™ Hydration Multiplier Passion Fruit Flavor
I have been trying out Liquid I.V. for several days now and I am quite pleased with the result. Just drinking one of these a day is keeping me well hydrated, far more so than drinking the same amount of water or other sports drinks during the day. Today I tried out the Passion Fruit flavor which taste great. I would give the flavor 5 starts, all though I do prefer the Lemon-Lime flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Helena National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Helena National Forest is Vigilante Campground with a 4-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Helena National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 glamping camping locations near Helena National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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