D
Dennis
Scout
ScoutNelson Reservoir - USBR
Lovely lake-side camping
Everything seems new. Camps widely separated with tables and firepit with grill, a few are covered.
Tent Camping near Malta, MT
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Tent campsites around Malta, Montana provide access to the remote plains and river valleys of northeastern Montana. BLM Cottonwood Recreation Area offers tent camping along the Milk River with pit toilets and fire rings but limited amenities. Montana Gulch Campground, nestled in the Little Rocky Mountains, provides a more developed option with 10 tent sites, clean vault toilets, and access to creek-side camping for $8 per night.
Most tent camping areas near Malta require self-sufficiency and preparation. Cottonwood Recreation Area lacks potable water and has minimal facilities beyond fire rings and a picnic table. Sites are situated on level ground with some shade along the riverbank. Montana Gulch offers more amenities but still requires campers to bring their own water. Both campgrounds have pit toilets that are generally well maintained. A camper noted that Cottonwood Recreation Area has "no signage off the main road so you need your coordinates," highlighting the remote nature of camping in this region.
Backcountry tent camping in this area offers considerable solitude and wildlife viewing opportunities. The Little Rocky Mountains surrounding Montana Gulch provide hiking trails and fishing access, making it popular with tent campers seeking outdoor recreation. Paulo Reservoir, though small and secluded, allows tent campers direct water access for kayaking and paddleboarding. One visitor described it as a "secluded oasis" that's "a good place if you like being away from the bustle of Fort Peck." During summer months, sites can fill quickly, especially at Montana Gulch, where the combination of mountain views, shade, and creek access makes it particularly desirable for tent campers. Areas farther from town provide deeper seclusion with fewer amenities, making them suitable for experienced backcountry campers prepared for primitive conditions.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Malta (5)
1. BLM Cottonwood Recreation Area
"Pretty spot on the milk River two fire rings only one picnic table pit toilets were new and clean. Some bugs but not too bad. No signage off the main road so you need your coordinates."
"Easy drive in. Very quiet"
2. Cole Ponds
3. Montana Gulch
"Montana Gulch is such a great place to visit and stay if you are ever in the area."
"Nestled in the Little Rocky Mountains, campground offers lots of shade with creek running by it. Bathroom was clean and nice tables by fire rings."
4. BLM Paulo Reservoir
"It's a good place if you like being away from the bustle of Fort Peck, but you still want to take a kayak or SUP on the water right when you get up."
5. Fourchette Creek- Lake Fort Peck
Drive Time
- 3 hrs 2 min from Billings, MT
- 3 hrs 5 min from Great Falls, MT
- 4 hrs 18 min from Bozeman, MT
- 4 hrs 19 min from Helena, MT
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Malta, MT
1 Photos of 5 Malta Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Malta, MT
48 Reviews of 5 Malta Campgrounds
Abe T.ScoutTrafton City Park
Great camping spot!
Got there pretty late in the night, was very easy to navigate finding a spot, as well as the cash dropbox. Pretty park, not many other rigs there, but enough. Sufficient water spouts throughout and decent bathrooms. ONLY NEGATIVE IS THE MOSQUITOS
- CChristine T.Scout
BLM Cottonwood Recreation Area
Quiet and clean
Easy drive in. Very quiet
- SSherry Y.Scout
Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs
It is good if you want to soak
This campground is fine if you want to go to the hot tub. You cannot use it after 8pm so keep that in mind if you are traveling into the evening. My problem was with the campground showers. It is in the shape of a U. Right side is men's Left women's and a handicap private room in the middle at the bottom of the U. There is an exterior entry door in the middle across from handicap, it has a thumb lock. There are no other doors, not on the toilets, on the showers, only private closets. The showers and toilets have shower curtains that do not spread completely across the openings. I was in the shower area and could hear the men in the other side and it was not pleasant at all. I could see this causing anxiety for many. Especially traveling alone. The showers were clean and nice just not very safe feeling.
Xena T.
GuideNelson Reservoir - USBR
Nice campground where there aren't many
This place is a nice surprise. Right off of Hwy. 2, with just a short stint on gravel. Lots of space and open spots. Park on the grass. I chose a site very near the water. Can't believe that it's free!
Robb K.ScoutNelson Reservoir - USBR
Nice place to stop over
Easy in and out. Drop toilets were clean and well stocked no running water or garbage facility.
- JJanet K.Guide
Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs
Great relaxing spot
Camped in a pull through with our teardrop but because we didn’t need hookups, they gave us tent price! All of the staff were friendly! Hot springs were fantastic! Hot, medium and cold pool, indoor and outdoor pools, huge sauna, chairs, tables, lots of room …just perfect!! They even provide towels! Everything was clean. Everything you need for tv park type camping. Not many people here so we didn’t feel packed in! Highly recommend a stop! PS we didn’t experience any mosquitos but it was windy.
Beth B.
LegendSleeping Buffalo Hot Springs
Great stop! Hot spring tubs were amazing!
No reservation, we took a chance on having a spot available. If you are leaving/coming to Glacier NP and driving on US2….this should be your overnight. It is about 340 miles from West Glacier.
Nice level pull through spots, gravel….room to enjoy picnic table and fire ring. Nice sunset views. Boys loved basketball court. Bath house was clean.
Went to pools in the morning, open at 0900. 2 swims are included with camping spot. There are indoor and outdoor pools, 3 temperatures and spacious. Also, sauna is huge…very nice facilities.
Be sure to check out store before you leave, lots of cuts of local beef.
Brian C.
RangerSleeping Buffalo Hot Springs
4 Stars–Relaxing, Clean, and Surprisingly Good Food (Just Bring Bug Spray)
We spent a few nights at Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs and honestly, it was a refreshing, peaceful escape. The hot springs were incredible—clean, relaxing, and just what we needed to recharge. The staff was fantastic across the board: friendly, helpful, and genuinely seemed to care that we were having a good time.
Our RV site was wide and easy to pull into, with perfectly placed hookups. It felt like the campground was actually designed with RVers in mind. The only real downside? The mosquitoes were fierce, especially at dusk—definitely bring spray and maybe a flamethrower.
There’s not much to do in the area, but the campground itself was peaceful and clean. There’s a basketball court for the kids, and while it’s not packed with amenities for families, our kids still had fun and loved seeing the free-range chickens strutting around like they owned the place.
The restaurant really blew us away—incredible food, fantastic drinks from the bar, and top-notch service. Honestly, it rivaled some of the best dining we’ve had in Montana. The only disappointment was that it closes early, so plan ahead if you want a late dinner or drink.
My mom stayed in one of the cabins, which was very clean and well-kept. The only hiccup was the pull-out couch being broken, but everything else was in great shape. Also, shoutout to their fast and dependable Wi-Fi - our Starlink cable broke, so we got to test it out, and it didn’t miss a beat.
Overall, we’d say it’s a better fit for adults looking to unwind, soak, and eat well—but if you bring kids, they’ll find ways to have fun. Would definitely come back(with bug spray in hand).
Guide to Malta
Tent camping in Malta, Montana offers access to high plains recreation with temperatures ranging from below freezing in winter to over 90°F in summer. The region sits at approximately 2,300 feet elevation and features rolling grasslands with scattered badlands formations. Most camping areas require self-sufficiency due to the remote nature and limited services available in this northeastern Montana frontier region.
What to do
Hiking and wildlife watching: Montana Gulch provides multiple trails into the Little Rocky Mountains. Visitor Adeline T. noted, "The hiking here is amazing, and Montana Gulch Campground is the best... The hiking around here was amazing, recommend!! The staff was super friendly and helped us pick out a few hikes."
Creek exploration: Several camping areas offer access to small streams ideal for children to explore. At Montana Gulch, Kelli D. shared, "Fun place to explore with the kids. Nothing beats flowing water." The campground's location provides easy access to fishing spots as well.
Water recreation: For paddling opportunities, BLM Paulo Reservoir offers direct water access. Camper Caleb J.B. described it as "a good place if you like being away from the bustle of Fort Peck, but you still want to take a kayak or SUP on the water right when you get up."
What campers like
Quiet, remote locations: Many tent campers near Malta appreciate the solitude. At BLM Cottonwood Recreation Area, Herbster wrote, "Pretty spot on the milk River two fire rings only one picnic table pit toilets were new and clean. Some bugs but not too bad."
Affordable camping options: Montana Gulch offers economical camping with basic amenities. Myra K. reported, "Very reasonable units that are open year around. $8 a night. Has bathroom and a fire ring. Basic necessities. Good fishing nearby."
Clean facilities: Despite being primitive, many Malta area campgrounds maintain clean facilities. Jill R. noted about Montana Gulch, "This place is about 8 bucks per night, there are toilets but other than that it's pack in pack out, and the people seem to be doing well with it because there was no trash around."
What you should know
Limited amenities: Bring all necessary supplies when tent camping near Malta. As Nick P. advised about Montana Gulch, "Be aware that there isn't any portable water (at least from what I saw). Because of how primitive this campsite is, this is what gives it, its charm."
Navigation challenges: Some camping areas have minimal signage. Herbster mentioned about Cottonwood Recreation Area, "No signage off the main road so you need your coordinates."
Limited camping space: Certain locations have few designated sites. Regarding Paulo Reservoir, Caleb J.B. mentioned, "The only reason this is 4 stars is due to the lack of space for other campers. There are no specified campsites. It would be fairly packed if more than 4 rigs showed up."
Tips for camping with families
Bring water supplies: No potable water exists at most tent camping sites near Malta. James D. shared about Montana Gulch, "There is no potable water so come prepared. The cost was minimal, $8 or $9 each night if I remember correctly."
Research hiking options: For families wanting outdoor activities, research trails before arrival. Skylar M. recommended, "I would definitely look up hikes nearby before you go, that way you get a feel for what is around you, the length of the hike, and elevation gain."
Be wildlife aware: Montana Gulch Campground offers wildlife viewing opportunities but requires caution. Melani T. warned, "I would also caution that there is a lot of wild life in Montana. We saw a bear and her cubs in the distance on one of the hikes we went on. It was incredible to see, but we were definitely pretty cautious."
Tips from RVers
Limited site availability: During summer, tent camping areas fill quickly. Melani T. advised about Montana Gulch, "There are quite a few spaces available, but definitely fill up fast in the summertime. We went in the peak of summer and all of the spaces were taken."
Remote services: Be prepared with supplies when tent camping Malta, Montana. As Jeffrey R. noted about the area near Montana Gulch, "Keep in mind this area is pretty rural, so there's not much available when it comes to stores and whatnot. The folks in both stores were quite accommodating and friendly."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Malta, MT?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Malta, MT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Malta, MT is BLM Cottonwood Recreation Area with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
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tent camping near
Malta, MT?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Malta, MT?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 tent camping locations near Malta, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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