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Best Tent Camping near Malta, MT

42 Reviews
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

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.

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Best Tent Sites Near Malta, Montana (5)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Malta, MT

1 Photos of 5 Malta Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Malta, MT

42 Reviews of 5 Malta Campgrounds

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 14, 2019

    Buffalo Camp

    Have the prairie to yourself!

    This is a primitive campground in the American Prairie Reserve.  It seems to be a relatively unknown place and we were the only people in the campground for the night (there are 6 tent sites and 7 RV).  It was about 40 miles of high-quality gravel road to get here.  Near the campground, there is a research HQ for the reserve which is not open to the public and otherwise we didn't see anyone else the entire time.  

    Tent sites are walk-in and and on platforms, which you are required to use.  This means if you have two tents like us, you'll need two sites.  You tie the tents down to lashing points on on the side of the platform.  Each site has a fire pit, picnic table and there is a community covered picnic area and fire pit as well.  Free firewood is available next to the toilets.  There are vault toilets and non-potable water sources in the loop.  The walk-in is only about 15-50 yards, depending on the site.  From the campground, there is a small auditorium and nature trail available.  Bugs were pretty bad the night we were there, so we didn't try much of the nature trail.  

    Everything felt new and almost unused, like the campground had just opened.  The toilets were only okay in cleanliness, the main reason I took off a star.  It was a fantastic experience for the kids.  A buffalo herd roamed the area and even through the campground at night and in the morning.  Prairie dog towns were all over.  It was one of our most memorable camping experiences but definitely come prepared since nothing is available on site or nearby.  Many of the roads in the preserve are in pretty primitive shape so 4WD is recommended to get around the preserve, but you won’t need it to access the camp site.  We had a big windstorm come through during the night, so lash down carefully!

  • M
    Jun. 21, 2022

    Nelson Reservoir - USBR

    Free and Gorgeous

    This place is awesome as long as you don't mind voracious mosquitos! No hookups. No designated sites. Pit toilets. Beautiful area. Fire rings. Nice launch for boats. No water at all on site, so fill up your tank before you go. No dump station. About a mile away from Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs.

  • L
    Oct. 30, 2022

    Nelson Reservoir - USBR

    A place to sleep off of highway 2

    Stayed one night, 10/15/22 on a road trip out to the Midwest. It was dark when we pulled in, hard to see the landscape/campground sites, but we found one right on the edge of the reservoir. There were multiple other RVs already set up, hunters mostly this time of year. Vault toilet, picnic table and fire pit at the campsite and some trees. Not very many trees between campsites, so don’t expect too much privacy. It was very windy the night we stayed. But it was free, close the highway 2, and open all year long. I saw no trash services or water but that could be the time of year. Very close off highway 2, maybe a 3 minute drive past the sleeping Buffalo hotsprings.

  • Melani T.
    Aug. 29, 2018

    Montana Gulch

    Such a beautiful place!

    Montana Gulch is such a great place to visit and stay if you are ever in the area. Being from Montana, I have had the pleasure of staying at quite a few places and this one is probably one of my favorites. I love that the campground is surrounded be the beautiful mountains, and there are so many great hikes you can go on. Whenever we decide where we are going to stay, we make sure that there are amazing hikes nearby. 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. 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. The campground is great, clean, and well kept. 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. Luckily we made our reservation online ahead of time. This campground was only for tents, and there was only 1 bathroom which was the only downside. No water onsite, so make sure to bring plenty of your own. There wasn't any picnic tables in the campsites, but there were tables throughout the campground. Pets are allowed, so we brought our dog.

  • Allison K.
    Sep. 20, 2023

    Edgewater Inn And RV Park

    Best in town

    This park has a nicely maintained yard for tent camping for you to pick any spot to pitch your tent. There are grills available but no fire rings. The Womens bathroom was okay, the one sink was clogged and dirty so I didn’t even use it. My fiancé said the men’s bathroom was fine. There is a train right next to the park that runs frequently throughout the day and night. The horn goes off during the day, not at night; however, every time the train passed at night it would wake both of us up. This park was a much better pick compared to the Trafton park we went to first.

  • Herbster
    Jun. 24, 2024

    BLM Cottonwood Recreation Area

    Solitude anyone?

    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.

  • Beth B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Sleeping 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.

  • James D.
    Sep. 29, 2016

    Montana Gulch

    My first time camping at a BLM site!

    There are no reservations available and only 10 spots, so I felt like I got lucky there was something available for me that night. By the time the sun went down there were only 3 other sites filled, so plenty of space. There is no potable water so come prepared. The cost was minimal, $8 or $9 each night if I remember correctly. The sites have campfire rings, tables but not grills. There is a restroom for the camp. There are some trails to explore which were well maintained but I believe backpacking through Glacier spoiled me. Pets were allowed but must be on a leash. It was a peaceful and quiet place to stay.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2022

    Trafton City Park

    Hot and dry

    We just needed a quick and inexpensive place for one night. This fit the bill. It was Labor Day. We thought we would grab a bite to eat at the DQ. It was closed. As was every other restaurant in town. We had corn dogs at the Cenex. We were one of two trailers camping there. We found a water spigot and camped beside it. No electricity. It's .5 miles from the highway.

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?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Malta, MT is BLM Cottonwood Recreation Area with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

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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