Best Campgrounds near Heron, MT
The Kootenai National Forest surrounds Heron, Montana, providing a mix of established campgrounds and dispersed camping opportunities. Bad Medicine Campground and Bull River Campground are popular destinations offering both tent and RV camping within 10-15 miles of Heron. The Cabinet Mountains Wilderness lies to the east, while the Clark Fork River and its associated reservoirs form natural boundaries to the south. Several campgrounds feature lakefront or riverside access, with accommodation ranging from primitive tent sites to RV parks with hookups and cabins like the Bull River Guard Station.
Road conditions throughout the region vary significantly with elevation and seasonal weather patterns. "We were there in mid-September 2019. The fresh water spigot was still on and no one else camped there," notes one visitor to Bull River Campground. Many Forest Service roads become difficult to navigate during spring snowmelt and after heavy rains, particularly those leading to dispersed camping areas. Most established campgrounds operate from Memorial Day through Labor Day, though some remain accessible year-round with reduced amenities. Cell service is spotty throughout the region, with coverage mainly limited to areas near Highway 200. Bear-proof food storage is required in most locations, and fire restrictions are common during the dry summer months.
Waterfront sites consistently receive the highest visitor ratings across all campgrounds in the area. The Clark Fork River and Bull Lake provide opportunities for fishing, paddling, and swimming directly from many campsites. A camper at Bad Medicine Campground described it as "a wooded campground where not much light gets in. But, it feels woodsy, not claustrophobic." The Bull River area features some of the clearest water in northwest Montana according to several reviews. Campgrounds in the Thompson Chain of Lakes area offer additional water access but tend to fill quickly during summer weekends. More secluded forest camping can be found along Forest Service roads branching off Highway 56, where visitors report greater solitude but fewer amenities. Train noise affects some campgrounds near the Montana Rail Line, particularly those closest to Highway 200.
