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East Creek Campground provides primitive tent camping with pet-friendly policies in a secluded mountain setting south of Dillon. The small campground contains four sites with vault toilets but no drinking water, requiring visitors to bring their own supplies. Dogs must remain leashed in camping areas and on nearby trails. The campground sits nestled in the mountains with beautiful views and very few visitors, making it ideal for campers seeking quiet time with their pets. Mountain View Motel and RV Park in Lima offers pet-friendly accommodations with more amenities, including electric hookups, water, sewer connections, showers, and a dump station. The bathrooms at East Creek are exceptionally clean for a primitive campground, though some visitors report preferring the bushes to the vault toilets.
Dogs can access trails and creek water near East Creek Campground, with the trailheads beginning at the base of the camping area. Stoddard Creek Campground, located about an hour away in Idaho, provides additional pet-friendly options with more developed facilities. The campground features spacious, level sites with steel picnic tables, fire rings with grill grates, and exceptionally clean pit toilets. Pets must be kept on leash and supervised at all times due to wildlife in the area, including bears spotted earlier in the season. The surrounding forest offers multiple hiking trails suitable for dogs, though many trails are shared with ATVs and UTVs. Lima has a spacious dog run at the rest area with plenty of space for pets to exercise after long drives.
"Awesome campground with simple access from Lima, well maintained and primo location. Couldn’t get the hand pump well to draw any water but creek access at the base of the CG area is easy."
"East Creek is located 40 min south of Dillon, MT near Lima (15 miles north of the Montana/Idaho state line just off I-15)."
"The fire pit was also located in this area but safely away from the table. The green meadows, surrounding trees, and excellent maintenance made this a beautiful campground."
"Walking up road we had access to a number of trails some of which are for UTVs but were not busy while we were there. LOTS of RV groups up the road."
from $17 - $125 / night
Check Availability"Dog friendly, clean pit toilets, manual water pump, and beautiful sunrise/sunset over the lake. Only a few people stopped for a Saturday evening which was surprising."
"It seems like the entire west side of the campground where it meets the water could be used as a boat ramp and offers nice easy access to the reservoir for any age! "
"No cell phone service with Verizon but very close to lots of great parks and trails."
"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!"
"Just south of Dillon, Montana on the west side of the highway is the Clark Canyon Reservoir. Free camping up to 14 nights. Everyone gets there own picnic table under a shelter and a firepit."
"It’s right off the highway, on the reservoir, and pretty quiet. Most sites are open and can get very hot. Some sites have picnic shelters, some just tables. Not a lot of trees."
"We took a walk around in the surrounding hills, saw tons of cows and what was definitely a grizzly."
from $45 / night
Check Availability"You can pretty much choose your favorite spot around the whole reservoir and just park and set up camp. Weather was nice mid August and no mosquitos which was a big plus for me!"
"There are numerous campgrounds around the reservoir; pick your favorite based on what you want to do!"
"We had fun walking along the lake and splashing around❤️"
"From BLM website; Centered around a single, sentinel Ponderosa Pine tree, this small campground features six campsites and a group use area."
TravelerAwesome campground with simple access from Lima, well maintained and primo location. Couldn’t get the hand pump well to draw any water but creek access at the base of the CG area is easy. The views of Lima peaks are unbeatable.
LegendBeautiful kept park. Lots of activities. Large dog park. Propane, laundry, store.
GuideEast Creek Campground is a quaint low-use campground. There are 4 tent sites with 2 vault toilets. There is no water, so bring your own. East Creek is located 40 min south of Dillon, MT near Lima (15 miles north of the Montana/Idaho state line just off I-15). There are 6-7 miles of dirt roads through private properties to get to the campground.
GuideJust a few miles out of the small town Lima Montana, this campground sits nestled in the mountains with a beautiful view and very few visitors.
There is a gravel road, which was well kept when we went. We made it fine in our sedan.
The are supposedly 4 sites, but we only noticed 3. We aren't a Friday night up there and we the only ones at the campsite.
There are 2 vault toilets. 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.
The picnic tables are solid and nice. The camp fire rings also come with grills.
Overall, even without running water, we were prepared and had a great, quite, and beautiful stay at East Creek.
RangerBannack is a ghost town that has been designated as a MT State Park. The 1860s mining town's buildings have been stabilized but not restored. It's fascinating. The adjacent campground would be handy but is $28 for those who are not Montana residents. The sites are closely spaced but do offer a few large cottonwoods for shade. A creek runs through the campground, and all was well maintained.
LegendRight off the interstate is the Montana equivalent of a rest area. This rest area includes a picnic area a bridge over a stream where you canfly fish, and zone short sport climbing routes to have fun on! It is close to Dillon home of the first Patagonia store and Great Harvest Bakery. If you're around here for Labor Day definitely check out the Patagonia Outlet for amazing deals!!!
ScoutThere was so much room for tents, rigs, cars, and boat trailers. Dog friendly, clean pit toilets, manual water pump, and beautiful sunrise/sunset over the lake. Only a few people stopped for a Saturday evening which was surprising. Only downside is hearing semis or loud vehicles stop at the rest lot right next to the camp.
GuideWe stayed at this campground for one night on July 22, 2018.
There are two levels, the lower one is for non-reserved and sits along the sometimes dusty road, and the upper is reserved and very green. The upper is much nicer with some of the cleanest best smelling pit toilets we've ever seen. We considered additional nights as it was so nice. Our neighbors were planning on one night as well but had remained for 6 nights.
We had a very nice pull through site #6, with a level graveled area for the large picnic table and separate stove stand. The fire pit was also located in this area but safely away from the table. The green meadows, surrounding trees, and excellent maintenance made this a beautiful campground.
As a note both AAA and Google routed us to exit 180 and we drove for 4 miles on sometimes paved, sometimes gravel road to arrive. When we got within a quarter mile of the campground, we came to exit 184 which was right at the campground (no gravel travel required)
GuideThis is a great place in Montana. Easy access. Right outside Dillon MT. We stayed here one night and then the the Lewis and Clark Limestone Cavern tour. It is about an hour. Camp ground is super clean and all the sites are very easy to access. Very nice hosts.
East Creek Campground sits nestled in the mountains 40 minutes south of Dillon, Montana at an elevation of approximately 6,500 feet. The primitive camping area provides four tent sites with vault toilets in a mountain setting with minimal visitor traffic. The secluded location requires traveling 6-7 miles of dirt roads through private properties to access the campground.
Creek exploration: East Creek Campground offers easy creek access for pets and people. "Awesome campground with simple access from Lima, well maintained and primo location. Couldn't get the hand pump well to draw any water but creek access at the base of the CG area is easy," notes Reuben H.
Mountain hiking: Trails begin at the base of camping areas with options for various skill levels. At Stoddard Creek Campground, "Walking up road we had access to a number of trails some of which are for UTVs but were not busy while we were there," reports Mark M.
Fishing opportunities: Clark Canyon Reservoir provides ample fishing spots. "Great place to camp. Picnic tables are in a shelter for each camping space, vault toilets are clean, there is garbage cans available, and pump up water. There is also a boat ramp but lake is low right now," mentions Cheryl E. about Horse Prairie Campground in the Clark Canyon Recreation Area.
Solitude and views: Many campers appreciate the quiet, uncrowded nature of camping near Lima. "East Creek Campground is a quaint low-use campground. There are 4 tent sites with 2 vault toilets. There is no water, so bring your own," shares Donna S.
Level, well-maintained sites: Stoddard Creek Campground receives praise for its condition. "Level, clean sites - didn't even have to adjust the camper. Exceptionally clean pit toilet complete with mat, clean smelling(and close by)," writes Andrew M.
Free camping options: Clark Canyon Recreation Area offers no-cost sites. "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 and it won't cost you anything, FREE!!!" exclaims Alex T.
Limited water access: Most primitive sites near Lima require bringing your own water. "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," advises Tim R. about East Creek Campground.
Weather considerations: Beaverhead Campground can experience strong winds. "The view of the surrounding snow packed peaks was beautiful with the new June green grass. Site was somewhat flat. Dry camping. Shelter with picnic table," reports Phillip R.
Wildlife awareness: Bears have been spotted in camping areas. "Friendly host stopped by and warned of bear presence earlier in the season, completed check-in. Pretty seamless experience," notes Andrew M. at Stoddard Creek Campground.
Clean facilities: Lewis & Clark Campground offers more developed options. "This area is stunning! The setting is so beautiful and the caves are worth the tour! The trails for hiking are well marked and in good condition. The sites are nice, not too close together," writes Mimi.
Swimming options: Clark Canyon Recreation Area includes beach access. "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," shares Angela G.
Bug protection: Pack insect repellent for summer trips. "The mosquitos were out of control so be sure to bring bug spray and netting. Watch for snakes. The sites had their own covered picnic areas and fire pits," warns Angela G. about Clark Canyon Recreation Area.
Site spacing: Beaverhead National Forest Price Creek Campground offers good separation between sites. "The sites are large and level, easily accessible for even large RVs. There were multiple vault toilets, water pump, group sites, and individual sites. For $8 a night, the campground is very well maintained," notes Angela G.
Leveling ease: Many campgrounds near Lima feature level sites. "Better than we expected. Missed the turn into this little gem, and traveled across the dam to the pay CG across the lake. That one needs work. Unless you absolutely must have utilities at the site, pass on the pay CG, and stay at Beaverhead. Large, flat gravel pads (our 43.5' TH fits fine)," advises Chuck N. about Beaverhead Campground.
Pet-friendly considerations: Most campgrounds welcome pets with standard leash requirements. "There are 6-7 miles of dirt roads through private properties to get to the campground," explains Donna S. about East Creek Campground, providing context for planning pet breaks during the drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Lima, MT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Lima, MT is East Creek Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Lima, MT?
TheDyrt.com has all 42 dog-friendly camping locations near Lima, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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