Best Dispersed Camping near Mcleod, MT
Looking for the best Mcleod dispersed camping? Dispersed camping is an excellent way to get away from it all and to disconnect. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campsite for your Montana excursion.
Best Dispersed Sites Near Mcleod, MT (20)
1. Pig Farm Fishing Access Camp
Livingston, Montana4 Reviews•21 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Equestrian
2. Falls Creek
Mcleod, Montana2 Reviews•9 Photos•59 SavesA campground in the main boulder area on the Yellowstone District.
Camp sites: 8
Accessible Facilities: Toilet Trash Pickup: No Firewood: No No Reservations: This campground does not use a reservation system, it is managed on a first-come, first-served basis. Be aware the campground may fill up on weekends & holidays during the summer months and you should arrive in the early afternoon to ensure there is a space available for the night. Information: Livingston Office 5242 Hwy 89. Livingston, MT 59047 (406) 222-1892
- Pets
- Fires
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Drinking Water
- Alcohol
3. Buffalo Jump Camp
Nye, Montana1 Review•3 Photos•24 Saves- Pets
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Toilets
5. Olson Creek Dispersed
Bozeman, Montana6 Reviews•20 Photos•100 SavesPeople enjoy the solitude and primitive experience of camping away from developed campgrounds and other campers. Dispersed camping is the term used for camping anywhere in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground. Dispersed camping means no services (such as trash removal), and little or no facilities (such as tables and fire pits) are provided.
Rules for dispersed camping Groups over 75 people are not allowed. Dispersed camping is NOT allowed at trailheads, picnic sites, and fishing areas and within close proximity of campgrounds. You need to be self-contained. No amenities are provided; such as water, restrooms or trash cans. Please pack out all your trash. For information on occupancy and use, camping stay limits, weed free forage, visit Region 1 - Alerts & Notices (usda.gov). Travel to campsites must not create resource damage. Travel to campsites must not create resource damage Contact local district office for information on fire restrictions. It is your responsibility to know if fire restrictions are in effect before camping. Be bear aware and know the food storage regulations before camping. These regulations are strictly enforced. Where can I disperse camp? Please refer to each district's Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). These maps will show which roadways allow disperse camping and it tells you the distance you are allowed to drive off the road to camp. Please note that some roads have more limitations and restrictions than others. Please consult the Motor Vehicle Use Map or call the district office for more details.
- Pets
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
6. Hyalite Canyon Dispersed - FS 1046
Gallatin Gateway, Montana8 Reviews•9 Photos•322 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
7. Custer-Gallatin National Forest Dispersed Camping
Gardiner, Montana11 Reviews•38 Photos•420 Saves- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
- Dispersed
- Firewood Available
- Alcohol
8. South Fork Brackett Creek Dispersed Site
Bozeman, Montana4 Reviews•13 Photos•121 SavesMany people enjoy the solitude and primitive experience of camping away from developed campgrounds and other campers. Dispersed camping is the term used for camping anywhere in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground. Dispersed camping means no services (such as trash removal), and little or no facilities (such as tables and fire pits) are provided.
Rules for dispersed camping Groups over 75 people are not allowed. Dispersed camping is NOT allowed in the vicinity of developed recreation areas. You need to be self-contained. No amenities are provided; such as water, restrooms or trash cans. Please pack out all your trash. You may camp in a dispersed area for up to 16 days. After 16 days, you must move at least 5 road miles for camping in another dispersed area and you can not return to your original campsite for 7 days. Please use existing fire rings and avoid creating new fire rings. Contact your local district office for information on fire restrictions. It is your responsibility to know if fire restrictions are in effect before you go camping. Be bear aware and know the food storage regulations before camping. These regulations are strictly enforced. Where can I disperse camp? To find out where you are allowed to disperse camp, please refer to each district's Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). These maps will show which roadways allow disperse camping and it tells you the distance you are allowed to drive off the road to camp. Please note that some roads have more limitations and restrictions than others. Please consult the Motor Vehicle Use Map or call the district office for more details. To see our Motor Vehicle Use Maps, click here.
Can I have a campfire? Please use existing sites and fire rings. Firewood permits are not needed if wood is used on the forest. If wood is transported home for personal use, you will need to purchase a firewood permit at the closest district office. This permit should be obtained prior to you gathering or transporting any wood.
Before you leave your campfire make sure is it completely out. You should be able to put your whole hand into the ashes without being burned; it should be cool to the touch. Stir the ashes to make sure all embers have cooled. This is very important! Many forest fires are caused by abandoned campfires that were not completely out.
The National Forest has wildfires each year. Many of these are human caused from escaped campfires in dispersed sites. Campfires are allowed unless there are fire restrictions in effect due to high fire danger conditions. It is your responsibility to know if fire restrictions are in effect before you go camping. You can learn about any fire restrictions by contacting the nearest Forest Service office.
Dispersed camping means no bathrooms and no outhouses. That means extra care has to be taken in disposing of human waste. To dispose of feces, dig a hole six to eight (6-8) inches deep at least 200 feet away from any water source. When you are done, fill the hole with the dirt you dug up and take your toilet paper with you to dispose of in a proper waste container. Never defecate or leave toilet paper on top of the ground. Do not simply cover it with a rock. It could easily get into the local water source and contaminate it.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Group
- Dispersed
9. Cottonwood Reservoir Dispersed Camping
Wilsall, Montana3 Reviews•2 Photos•38 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Recent Dispersed Reviews in Mcleod
42 Reviews of 20 Mcleod Campgrounds
TexasRe D.
Traveler
South Fork Brackett Creek Dispersed Site
2 peaceful nights
We were looking for an easy dispersed site to stay at while visiting a friend in Bozeman. This was an easy option for us with a 20ft camper. We stayed at the first pull off a few minutes off the main road. This site was easily accessible, right off the main road, close to town and close to some hikes.
- SSabrina V.
Guide
Cottonwood Reservoir Dispersed Camping
Very hard to find at night
This place seemed promising at first. It was hard to find a decent spot at night due to only using headlights of my van. Most of the road is extremely rugged/uneven/full of large holes. The only place I was able to stay for the night was the road leading up to the locked gate. This is about the only nice spot. Other than that this place is • quiet w/occasional traffic along the high way (right next to reservoir) • very few people here, but far enough away from me • no fee required • provides OK view to the mountains • great when you bring along a pet • you will need to be fully prepared for primitive camping
- PPrudence T.
ScoutPig Farm Fishing Access Camp
Train Whistle
Beautiful spot by the Yellowstone River. Train whistles woke us up four times.
Erik W.Scout
Olson Creek Dispersed
No trespassing signs everywhere
Not to mention the single-lane cobblestone road, I have a truck and was bouncing up and down the whole way! I didn't find one area big enough to set up camp. I definitely would NOT recommend this spot
John H.Guide
Fairy Lake Dispersed Camping
Amazing camp site with tree cover and fire ring
This is an amazing camp spot that is almost almost to the top of the trail to fairy Lake campground. There’s an established firing, and there’s room for multiple vehicles.
christian L.Traveler
Hyalite Canyon Dispersed - FS 1046
Bozeman visit
We stayed here for a few days off one of the main trail head. There are not many sites off the main trail head and we’re all full when we arrived.
We have a 25ft off road travel trailer and attempted to go down two side trail heads. The further one was so bad we had to back all the way out. The closest side trail head was slightly better. We made down the road. However there wasn’t many sites here as well. There was maybe 3-4 sites along this whole trail head. We needed up stay in a pull in a valley early on in this trail head
Bobby J.
RangerSouth Fork Brackett Creek Dispersed Site
Ok stay
This was an ok stay outside of Bozeman. The coordinates took me to a spot which was occupied but looked like the only spot on that stretch of road. It began to get extremely rutted and I didn’t want to push any farther after that spot. I camped in what looked to be a dispersed campsite that they closed off
Rachel S.RangerOlson Creek Dispersed
Fine for a night but not many options
A bit confusing with all the no trespassing and no parking on/off the road signs. Felt more comfortable once we saw another van parked, and drove past the coordinate location a few minutes to use a tiny widened part of the road. No services.
- KKenyon S.Scout
Olson Creek Dispersed
Peaceful and Easy Access
Great spot and easy to get to. Exactly where the coordinates are pull off was big enough for my sprinter 170 extended was even able to get it perfectly level a few dirt bikes on the road that stopped at sunset. It’s very quiet and beautiful views and 15° cooler than Bozeman.
Jenna B.TravelerSouth Fork Brackett Creek Dispersed Site
Beautiful secluded Mountain views
Gorgeous campsite only 20ish min from the outskirts of Bozeman. Stopped in for 1 night passing through on a bigger road trip and couldn’t be luckier with this location. Fire rings at all campsites. Very quite road. Level ground for car camping. Would 100% come back just for this gem.
- ttommieScout
Pig Farm Fishing Access Camp
Good
Nice and quiet, lots of room
- MMarashaGuide
Olson Creek Dispersed
Really a 4.5 star spot
Beautiful space with views and birdsongs aplenty. Spaces are small and right off the road, but for a free night not far from I-94 with solitude and nature, it’s fantastic. There are a few more pull-offs (again, no privacy and right off the Forest Road) if you drive on down toward Skunk Rd, but road gets rougher (high clearance and/or 4WD fine) from especially if it has recently rained. Those spots were also all taken. Went about a 1/2 mile beyond the GPS coordinates for spot with wee bit more space but the pull-off with these exact coordinates ended up getting claimed by an RV at some point in the night—this road gets solid use in the summer—saw at least a dozen vehicles in the 14 hours here.
- EEdward R.Traveler
Pig Farm Fishing Access Camp
Good spot above
There’s a spot down by the water that someone took with a tent who we let by us. We took a spot just above before you drive down to the water. I wasn’t sure if I could turn around my 20’ travel trailer down by the water. Very buggy.
- AAaron A.Traveler
Custer-Gallatin National Forest Dispersed Camping
Eagle Creek Road/ NF-3243
Just passed the Eagle Creek Campground on Jardine Road. Take a left and drive in 3 miles on National Forest Road to areas where camping is allowed. There are mile marker signs. These are mostly little pull offs along the side of the road with great views into Yellowstone/Mammoth Hot Springs. There are more than a dozen good spots, but it also seems popular as I saw at least 10 occupied sites on a Monday evening. No cellphone service. No amenities, just the view and personal space. My Honda fit made it up the road no problem.
Rebecca V.ScoutHyalite Canyon Dispersed - FS 1046
Spot was closed
The gate was closed when we went. We were also in an RV that doesn't do great with snow so we were going out to turn around anyway. Found a spot in the town of Bozeman. Would be great to know when these gates are open or closed though.
owen T.GuidePig Farm Fishing Access Camp
Fishing access site. No developed sites. State of Montana lands .
Rough camp. No amenities. Not large enough for motor home. But ok for pull camper. First come first serve. Looking for that free spot. Between the hotels and hassle.
- owen T.Guide
Cottonwood Reservoir Dispersed Camping
Cottonwood reservoir wilsall montana
Cottonwood Reseravoir DNRC land section. accessible for overnight camping under DNRC rules. The reservoir has Yellowstone cutthroat trout and white suckers. No wifi, no trash, no bathrooms. Completely wild. Stars at night amazing. All kinds of waterfowl passing seasonal. No amenities.
Nicki S.GuideHyalite Canyon Dispersed - FS 1046
Good Stuff
My partner and I stayed here in September. It wasn’t the easiest spot to find, but we stayed two nights and nothing happened to our tent set up while we took the car to go hiking for a whole day. Definitely busier than I expected, especially with the condition of the road; we had multiple cars coming down the road we were on and then they would turn around and come back but it wasn’t obnoxious. The sight we stayed at actually had been moved across the road from its original site so the car was a little further away than it normally is but it was still a quality site to stay at.
- WWill R.Guide
Hyalite Canyon Dispersed - FS 1046
Right next to everything
Easy drive. I stayed in an early part of the trail but people were pulling trailers higher. Plenty of spots to camp. Fire pits and trails to hike. No service with Verizon which made it more incredible.
Jenny&Tobias P.GuideCottonwood Reservoir Dispersed Camping
Overnight at a lake with mountain view
A few sites, close toe Hyw 89 through a Texas gate. We camped for a night and it's a beautiful space with stunning views and a reservoir right at the spots. No fire rings a little bit a rough road 4x4 and higher clearance recommended. Better no enter with big rigs or trailer. But a beautiful place to spend time.
The W.TravelerCuster-Gallatin National Forest Dispersed Camping
Idk where everyone else is but it’s not here
Photos from some other reviews do not match the coordinates. GPS took me 20 minutes out of the way to someone’s private drive. I ended up getting lucky when I turned around and saw a pull off before the sign that said no camping beyond this point. It’s less than half a mile from a sign that says “beware high grizzly activity in area.” I can’t imagine it would be comfortable to camp in a tent here (it’s literally just a pull off) and I wouldn’t want to with that sign either, but it worked for me to car camp for a night. Also, the review that says to turn just after Eagle River Campground makes absolutely no sense. The coordinates to this campsite are far from Eagle River and you absolutely do not make a left. wherever they went sure does look pretty but it’s not here. It works to stop for a night, but I would not come back here unless I was desperate. The road up isn’t bad - it has your typical washboard and a few potholes here and there. I did see an elk on the way up so that was neat. 
Katherine C.TravelerHyalite Canyon Dispersed - FS 1046
Close to Bozeman
About 25 minutes from downtown Bozeman. There’s more spots available up this FS road and the FS roads off-shooting from it, like FS 3164, so explore your options. Quite and very pretty views, road is easily navigable.
Antha A.TravelerOlson Creek Dispersed
Beautiful views with little to no traffic
Spent 3 nights here and aside from a few cars, main traffic coming through was a few dirt bikes and dune buggies and a few folks on bikes. Pullout is on a corner turn and very obvious. Decent tent spot over the hill and on top if needed. Spot is exactly where coordinates are and cell service is decent. Wildlife did start getting a bit too close by day 4, so make some noise every so often.
Erik B.GuideOlson Creek Dispersed
Nice Jeep trail with a few pull outs and good views
I drove a few miles up the road and found a pull out area on one of the switchbacks. It mentions private property but I think that’s the areas off the road. A few trucks with Mtn. bikes drove past at dusk but after that it was peaceful and a nice solitary overnight spot.
- RRosstin W.Traveler
Lady of the Lake Trail on Lulu Pass
We fell in love with this place
We truly loved this place. It was so isolated and peaceful. The camp sites are scattered throughout the trails and are not close to each other. They are easy to spot and not to bad to get to.(if you use the right road on the way up) we were only planning to stay 1 night and ended up staying 3 nights. We couldn’t get enough. Also spotted lots of moose, they are everywhere up there.
- JJoelScout
Custer-Gallatin National Forest Dispersed Camping
Car camping forest service rd 3243
6 spots with a view. Take jardine road out of Gardiner until you get to eagle creek campground. Go just past the campground and take a left at the forest service road. Take that about 4 or 5 miles up the mountain. 6 spots with fire rings on top. Had AWD but probably would have been fine with 2wd if you absolutely had to.
- MMichael S.Guide
Hyalite Canyon Dispersed - FS 1046
Campsite blocked off due to impassable terrain
Attempted to visit this site but it was closed off. It looks like the road is unpassable due to deep mud. Hopefully it opens later in the season.
We ended up staying on the side of the road at a pullout just up the road. We also also other campers parked along the road.
Guide to Mcleod
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near McLeod, Montana, where nature's tranquility meets the thrill of adventure. With stunning landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities, this area is perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle.
Scenic River Access for Dispersed Campers
- The Pig Farm Fishing Access Camp offers beautiful spots right by the Yellowstone River, making it ideal for fishing enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
- Campers can enjoy the peaceful sounds of the river while taking in the surrounding scenery, although be prepared for occasional train whistles that might interrupt the serenity.
- This area allows for both boat-in and drive-in access, providing flexibility for different camping styles.
Top Activities While Free Camping Near McLeod
- At Falls Creek, visitors can indulge in tent camping surrounded by a serene forest, with the soothing sounds of a nearby creek enhancing the experience.
- The site features a hand pump for water, making it a convenient choice for those looking to enjoy a rustic camping experience without sacrificing too much comfort.
- With no fees and a first-come, first-served policy, this location is perfect for spontaneous getaways.
Dispersed Campers Should Check Out Cottonwood Reservoir
- The Cottonwood Reservoir Dispersed Camping area boasts stunning mountain views and is a great spot for fishing, especially for those interested in catching Yellowstone cutthroat trout.
- This location is completely wild, offering a true escape into nature with no amenities, making it essential for campers to be fully prepared for primitive camping.
- The reservoir's proximity to the highway ensures easy access, but the rugged terrain requires a vehicle with higher clearance for the best camping spots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Mcleod, MT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Mcleod, MT is Pig Farm Fishing Access Camp with a 4-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Mcleod, MT?
TheDyrt.com has all 20 dispersed camping locations near Mcleod, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.