Lima, Montana camping areas feature elevations ranging from 6,300 to 7,500 feet, creating significant temperature variations even during summer months. The surrounding Beaverhead National Forest encompasses over 1.8 million acres of public land where campers encounter wildlife including elk, moose, and occasionally bears. Overnight temperatures can drop below freezing as late as June and as early as September.
What to do
Hiking near Coolidge Ghost Town: Visitors staying at Beaverhead National Forest Price Creek Campground can explore nearby historical sites. "It is also close to Coolidge ghost town if you want to check it out. That is ultimately what brought up out this way and what a neat place to hike!" notes Kristi D.
Fishing at Clark Canyon Reservoir: The reservoir provides excellent fishing opportunities with multiple shore access points. "Beautiful lake! Perfect for boating and kayaking. There is a designated camping area that looked to have electric hook ups, further into the canyon are more dispersed sites," reports Angela G. about Clark Canyon Recreation Area.
Wildlife viewing: The Lima area offers exceptional wildlife watching opportunities during early morning and evening hours. "We had the place to ourselves. We heard Elk and Northern Saw-whet owls. There is no cell service here and starlink struggled," reported a camper about their experience at Stoddard Creek.
What campers like
Shelter structures: Many campsites around Lima feature covered picnic areas that protect from sun and rain. At Clark Canyon Recreation Area, "Sites had their own covered picnic areas and fire pits," according to Angela G., while another camper noted "picnic tables are in a shelter for each camping space, vault toilets are clean, there is garbage cans available, and pump up water."
Exceptional cleanliness: Campground facilities receive consistent maintenance throughout the season. "The bathrooms were the cleanest I've seen in a campground, and not smelly either 😁," reported Linda G. about Stoddard Creek Campground. Another camper at the same location mentioned "Exceptionally clean pit toilet complete with mat, clean smelling(and close by)."
Site spacing and privacy: Campsites generally offer good separation between neighbors. "We Tent Camp and we had people RV camp on either side of us and never heard them the whole time," noted David C. about his experience at Stoddard Creek Campground, while another camper described "The sites are large and level with vault toilets."
What you should know
Road conditions: Access roads to some campgrounds may be challenging. At Antone Cabin, "It took us a very long time to get to the cabin, and the forest road in was several miles of ruts and herds of cows blocking the road. It took triple the time we expected to arrive," according to Kristin.
Wildlife safety: Bears are active in the area, requiring proper food storage. A camper at Stoddard Creek Campground reported, "Friendly host stopped by and warned of bear presence earlier in the season."
Weather variability: Extreme weather changes can occur quickly in this high-elevation region. "It snowed and we actually had frost on the windows the next morning so we didn't get to explore since we were only there for the night," noted one camper about their May visit to Stoddard Creek Campground.
Water availability: Water access varies significantly between sites. For East Creek Campground, a camper noted "It looks like there was a pump for water, but it was either broken, or I just don't know how to use it. Be sure to bring water."
Tips for camping with families
Accessible swimming areas: Some locations offer kid-friendly water access. At Beaverhead Campground, "Nice view of the lake! Nice campground, very open & spacious sitting on the shore of the lake," according to Shane H., who also noted it was "very very quiet."
Educational opportunities: The Lewis and Clark historical sites provide learning experiences for children. One camper mentioned that near Clark Canyon Reservoir, "Right along the road on the dam there is a sign showing you that you're halfway between the equator and the north pole!"
Best times for children: Mid-summer offers more stable weather conditions for family camping. A visitor in October noted, "This campground is technically closed in the winter. We arrived late April and most of the snow had melted."
Accessible facilities: Some campgrounds offer more family-friendly amenities. "You can stay in this great campground which has clean toilet, drinking water, fire pit, a shelter style cabin, boat ramp, small sandy beach for swimming, and beautiful water/lake view, plus handicap accessible for 14 days," reported Alex T. about Clark Canyon Recreation Area.
Tips from RVers
Level sites: Many campgrounds offer suitable terrain for larger rigs. At Mountain View Motel and RV Park, "Beautiful setting, walking distance to supplies, easy on/off highway," according to Jennifer H. Another visitor to Stoddard Creek Dispersed Camping noted "Well maintained gravel road giving easy access to great camping."
Hookup availability: Full services are limited but available at select locations. "Only RV location with hookups around the lake. Make sure to call in advance after October as they close for the season," advised a camper about Lewis & Clark Campground.
Road hazards: Some access routes present challenges for larger vehicles. One RV camper warned, "Note the hwy 2 heading west towards La Hood might be a little hazardous with jetting out rocks against a large trailer."
