Primitive camping near Hot Springs, Montana offers access to the Clark Fork and Thompson River watersheds within the Lolo National Forest. The terrain varies from densely forested hills to open riverside areas at elevations between 2,500-3,000 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 80°F during day and drop to 45-50°F at night, making this region accessible for camping from late May through October.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Rainbow Lake offers productive fishing with small boat access. According to David M., "Adjacent to the lake we counted between 5:00 and 10:00 firings. Many of them have started to become overgrown from lack of youths."
River access: The Lolo National Forest Recreation Area features multiple spots for water activities. Luke L. notes, "Arrived very late in the dark on Friday night coming back from Canada, and found an amazing site next to the river which drowned out all surrounding noise."
Swimming spots: Riverside locations provide natural swimming areas during summer months. Audrey L. shares her experience at Lolo National Forest Recreation Area: "Absolutely beautiful river, beautiful spot. Great for fishing, swimming, etc."
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings offer opportunities to spot moose, deer, and various bird species. One camper at Muchwater Recreation Area observed "a young lonely moose crossing the river and sleeping in the camp at night."
What campers like
River sounds: The rushing water creates a natural sound barrier. At Clark Fork River, Katherine S. found a "Beautiful secluded site with view of the river. Easily can fit multiple rigs."
Star visibility: Minimal light pollution allows for excellent night sky viewing. Truly W. describes Muchwater Recreation Area as having "almost no bugs, nice pine tree shade, good dirt roads."
Spacious sites: Most dispersed areas feature well-separated camping spots. According to Scott C. at Lolo National Forest, "Main dirt road is well maintained but narrow and curves up the mountain. Lots of spots if you keep on going, but some offshoots are steep and rocky."
Privacy between sites: Natural vegetation creates good separation at most locations. Brian K. notes that at Lolo National Forest, "Spots are very private and spacious overlooking river. Minimal road noise. Only a couple spots taken."
What you should know
Limited facilities: Most areas have minimal or no amenities. At Petty Creek Road, Sophia M. advises, "service is spotty, verizon and at&t had only 1 bar. Found some random bones, saw some deer, and lots of bugs."
Access road conditions: Some roads require careful navigation. At Thompson River, Kyle M. explains it's an "Off the side of the road, with no amenities near some pretty cool stuff. The sight is ugly, but free."
Railroad proximity: Train tracks run near several campgrounds, affecting light sleepers. One camper at Blair Flats mentions it's a "woodsy spot in tons of beautiful pines and conifers" but notes it can get buggy.
Campsite competition: Popular spots fill quickly during summer weekends. J E. found Petty Creek Road had "Minimal road noise but not too far off the road, unfrequented part of the road, able to turn around and back up a teardrop without problems."
Tips for camping with families
Bug preparation: The region experiences seasonal mosquito activity. At Blair Flats, one reviewer warns, "The only negative thing about this campsite were the masses of mosquitoes and other bugs."
River safety awareness: Fast currents require supervision for children. Sara L. notes that at Blair Flats, "Fishing is great, right out your door is the river! The water is cold and fast in May."
Pre-arrival timing: Securing preferred sites requires early arrival. At 2 Mile Turn Off, Katherine J. suggests, "Drove in pulling a small cargo trailer with little issue, but big rigs would struggle. There is another nearby site (50ft away) that can handle a big rig."
Wildlife awareness: Proper food storage is essential in bear country. A camper at Blair Flats mentions the campground has "1 clean vault toilet" and "bear box" for food storage.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Several areas can accommodate larger rigs with advance planning. At Rainbow Lake, Brendan advises, "This spot is quick before the turn on the road. Don't miss it! The path to get to these spots is kinda tight."
Turn-around space: Limited maneuvering room exists at some sites. Jacob R. at Petty Creek Road cautions, "We have a 27 foot RV towed with a truck that has a 8ft bed. Initially we missed the turn and had nowhere to turn around since this is on the side of a mountain."
Leveling considerations: Many sites require additional blocking. Robert K. found Muchwater Recreation Area "big rig friendly plenty of room for our set up 70+ ft RV and trailer short walk to the river."
Road clearance: Some access roads present challenges for low-clearance vehicles. About Petty Creek Road, Robert T. notes, "Toyota Tundra pulling a 14' trailer. We were able to back into site (flat!) and do a 180° turn ok to exit."
