Best Tent Camping near Lewis and Clark National Forest

Join the fun near Lewis and Clark National Forest. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Lewis and Clark National Forest, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.

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Best Tent Sites Near Lewis and Clark National Forest (16)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Lewis and Clark National Forest

1 Photos of 16 Lewis and Clark National Forest Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Lewis and Clark National Forest

289 Reviews of 16 Lewis and Clark National Forest Campgrounds


  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 10, 2019

    Holter Dam Rec. Site Campground

    Ranger review of Wenzel's Windy Pass Mummy 0° Sleeping bag and Holter Dam C

    Holter Dam Campground Review

    Holter Dam Campground at Holter Dam Recreation site is a BLM 15 site campground located just below Holter Dam. All 15 sites at the campground feature covered picnic tables with a fire ring. All the sites sit along the edge of a very large parking area. 13 of the sites have plenty of room for tents on a nice flat grassy area. Two sites are close together and have limited room for tents. The campground has a double vault toilet with numerous water faucets, and dumpsters. A second vault toilet can be found at the boat ramp area just a short distance from the campground. An ADA campsite sits right in front of the vault toilets. The concrete pad for the ADA site extends to and surrounds the fire ring allowing wheelchairs to get as close to the fire as they want. Campsites run $10 an night (½ price for senior and access pass holders). Keep an eye out on the surrounding hills around the campground for Big Horn Sheep. While staying at the campground we saw 5 sheep on the hill next to the campground entrance.

    Ranger review of the Wenzel Windy Pass Mummy 0° Sleeping bag

    I was quiet pleased with the Windy Pass 0° Mummy sleeping bag. The bag is roomy, giving you room to turn around in the bags with out needing to have to bag turn with you. On the bags stuff sack it says it is a cold weather bag 0-20 degrees. I slept warm all night with the temps dropping into the low 30's with it raining all night (snow was on the ground on the hills above us). I was quiet pleased with the amount of padding the bag provided during the night as my sleeping pad failed to hold air, but I was still able to sleep comfortably on the hard ground. I got up several times during the night and each time I was able to warm back up in just a few minutes after getting back in to the bag. It will be interesting to test it out next winter in colder weather to see if it meets its temperature claims. I weighted the bag, and at 4 pounds 10 ounces, you might not be taking this one out on a backpacking trip, but for the front country camping you can't go wrong with this warm bag, specially for the price of $45.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 10, 2021

    Kings Hill Campground

    Camp at 8000 feet

    Kings Hill campground in the Lewis and Clark National Forest sits at around 8000 feet in elevation.  This 18 site campground should be a five star but just couldn't give it the 5th on as the area was recently cleared of dead trees and still bears the scares from the process, most notably the charred remains of at least 3 large slash piles in the campground.  Not all the wood was burned and might site had a pile that would have last several days.  The site are nicely spread apart and you can still find sites with trees in place.  Some of the sites have stairs that lead up to or down to the campsite.  The campground has water and vault toilets but no trash service so be prepared to pack out everything you bring in.  Each site has a picnic table and metal fire rings as well as BBQ grills.  Campground is near highway 89 so their is some road noise.  Campground is next to the Showdown Ski Area.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 27, 2018

    Grasshopper

    Nice Campground in the Castle Moutains

    Lewis and Clark National Forest Grasshopper Campground is a nice campground in the Castle Mountains. As you enter this campground you find a trail head to the left and then a picnic area to the right. The campsites start right after the first of two vault toilets for the campground. At the beginning of the campground loop, right behind the registration box you will find the hand pump for the campground. A creek runs right through the middle of the campground. One nice feature of this campground is once the campground gates are closed and locked, you can still drive to sites 1 and 2 as they are before the closure gate, so as long as you can still drive up the road you can camp. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. I did notice at least one site also had a BBQ grill in addition to the fire ring. Sites are $10 per night with a 16 day stay limit.

  • Jessa
    May. 1, 2021

    Confederate Campground

    Lower Confederate Dispersed Camping

    There’s a few different sites to choose from in the area. A lot of them are close to the pit toilet near the rock beach. Most have fire rings and picnic tables. No water. The best spot that we stayed at was on top of the cliff. It was gorgeous but super windy. 14 day stay limit. Pls make sure to leave no trace and don’t leave trash. A group of guys camped on one of the site and trashed it. Even buried the fire pit completely with sand to the point you could barely see it and then left trash on top

  • Jessa
    Apr. 5, 2021

    Goose Bay - Dispersed Camping

    Dispersed Camping on Canon Ferry Lake

    Gorgeous spot! Free dispersed camping, first come basis, 14 day stay limit. Lots of spots to choose from in the area. Beautiful vies of Canyon Ferry Lake. Most spots have a picnic table and a camp fire ring. Some spots are close to each other so in the summer I bet it’s packed. The lakes beach is full of rocks. Please make sure to leave no trace if you come to this spot! Pack it in, pack it out. There are vault toilets around the area if needed. No dumping.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 31, 2019

    Duck Creek Primitive Campground

    Review of Outdoor Element's Firebiner at Duck Creek camping area

    Review of Duck Creek camping area

    This was our second camp at Duck Creek this year with our Venturing Crew. This time we conducted a wilderness survival camp at the far opposite end of the camping area from our last camp. We constructed our survival shelters on the sand and gravel shore of Canyon Ferry Lake. We picked the shore in order to get away from the bugs. The cottonwoods and willows held plenty of little vampires looking for blood, the grassy areas had fewer mosquitoes but a recent hatch had occurred and although they didn't bite all those bugs made you thing you were being attacked. So the beach it was, it was amazing that you could walk out on the beach and not have any bugs, what a slight breeze will do. After setting up our shelters it was time to build a fire and cook dinner. Our site had a rock ring built into the sand, but we found this to be to close to the trees for our liking as the wind would blow embers into the vegetation. We built a new ring next to the water for the nigh. You will be unable to find our fire ring as any evidence of our visit was removed the next morning...Leave no trace. Their is no problem finding fire wood at duck creek drift wood is everywhere. If you want to stay at Duck Creek be prepared, this is primitive camping. No vault toilets, no water, no trash service, no metal fire rings, but you do have cell service.

    Ranger review of the Firebiner from Outdoor Element.

    Gave the firebinder to one of our Scouts to get a fire started, sparks up really well, she had a little problem due to how windy was, but a second try with a cotton ball covered in petroleum jelly had a fire going after three strikes. Our Scouts gave the striker five stars. The cutting blade worked well on string and fishing line, how ever we could not get through 550 para cord, and with such a small opening you are really limited on what you can cut with it. Over all everyone likes the look of the firebiner, and it held up to a weekend of use, is small and light weight and has worked well for clipping items on to packs.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2018

    Goose Bay Marina and Campground

    Large Primitive campground at Goose Bay

    Goose Bay Primitive Campround is right next to Goose Bay Marina and Campground. The primitive campground is free. The very large disperse campground area has several Vault Toilets. Rock fire rings are at the sites. Sites are not numbered as you can camp anywhere, but the good spots have rock fire rings. Sites do not have picnic tables. Their are ADA camp sites next to each Vault Toilet. The ADA sites each have large concrete pads, picnic table and metal fire ring. We had a Boy Scout Camporee at this location a few years ago and made for a nice camp, tons of room and plenty of lake access. If you use a water craft on Canyon Ferry you must have your craft inspected and cleaned before leaving. The Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks inspection site is located at the entrance of Goose Bay Marina and Campground

  • l
    Jun. 23, 2024

    Thain Creek

    Thaine creek campgound

    This is a nice back in the woods campground with spots right on the creek. Our spot was 4 nice table on the creek with lots of sound. A lot if shade. Semi secluded from other campsites. The fire pits are really high so standing up is required for heat. Need chainsaw to gather wood. Lots of birds in the area. Lewis and Clark national forest. Highwood mountains. Lots of potholes drive with care.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 19, 2019

    Confederate Campground

    Relax on the shore of Canyon Ferry Lake

    Confederate Campground is a Bureau of Reclamation campground on the shore of Canyon Ferry Lake. This small free campground does not have developed campsites with the exception of the one ADA available campsite. Their appears to be six camping spots, five that have rock made fire rings, the only developed site is the ADA site which has a concrete parking pad and metal fire pit. No picnic tables are available at this campground. The campground does have a ADA accessible vault toilet directly across from the ADA campsite. Two of the campsites sit along the lakes beach. Don't be expecting a nice sandy beach however, this is a gravel beach, but still nice. Two sites are near the vault toilet and ADA site, these sites sit on the edge of the lake among cotton wood trees and willows. The final location is away from the other sites in a grassy area near large cotton woods. Camping at Confederate campground is limited to 14 days. There is no water, trash service or picnic tables so come prepared. Their is not a boat launch at this campground, but boats can easily be launched from the rocky beach area. All water craft regardless of size must be inspected prior to launching at Canyon Ferry Lake.


Guide to Lewis and Clark National Forest

Tent camping near Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature, with various campgrounds providing essential amenities and stunning views.

Tips for tent camping near Lewis and Clark National Forest

  • The Mountain Palace Fishing Access Site features three campsites with picnic tables and fire pits, perfect for a cozy evening under the stars.
  • At Wolf Creek Bridge, enjoy a newly upgraded site with paved access and multiple picnic tables, making it a great starting point for floating down the Missouri River.
  • Little Log Campground offers a small, tent-only area with running water and trash service, ensuring a comfortable stay while you explore the nearby Holter Lake.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • Sluice Boxes State Park Campground allows pets and provides a serene environment for hiking and enjoying the natural beauty of the area.
  • At Fish Hawk Campground, campers can take advantage of free amenities, including picnic tables and toilets, while enjoying the scenic views of Canyon Ferry Lake.
  • The Lichen Cliff offers a couple of campsites along Prickly Pear Creek, ideal for those looking for a peaceful roadside camping experience.

Local attractions for outdoor enthusiasts

  • The Coulter Campground is located near the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness, providing access to stunning hiking trails and breathtaking views.
  • Spokane Bay Campground can only be reached by hiking or boating, making it a perfect spot for those seeking solitude and a chance to fish in Hauser Lake.
  • Sheep Creek Campground is nestled within the Lewis and Clark National Forest, offering a great base for exploring the diverse wildlife and natural landscapes of the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lewis and Clark National Forest?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lewis and Clark National Forest is Sluice Boxes State Park Campground with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Lewis and Clark National Forest?

TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Lewis and Clark National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.