Primitive camping near Neihart, Montana offers access to the Little Belt Mountains at elevations between 5,500-8,000 feet. The region experiences dramatic seasonal temperature variations with summer highs reaching 80°F and winter lows often below 0°F. Most dispersed camping areas remain snow-covered until late May, with best access conditions from June through September.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Belt Creek provides trout fishing along Hughesville Road where multiple primitive sites exist. "The road was in great shape and we found a nice spot a few miles back and right next to the creek. There are several campsites along the road," notes a camper at Belt Creek on Hughesville Road.
Reservoir recreation: Canyon Ferry Lake offers waterfront camping with swimming and boating access. "Pretty much can find a nice spot and most all are lake accessible," reports a visitor at Goose Bay BLM. The reservoir shoreline provides easy water entry points at multiple locations.
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings offer the best opportunities to spot deer, elk, and various bird species. Cattle are common near some sites as one camper at Confederate Disperse Camping Area mentions: "There were some of the cutest cows on the way in. It took me over half an hour to locate the owner and get a calf's head unstuck."
What campers like
Weekday solitude: Mid-week visits provide significantly more privacy than weekends. "I felt so secluded here on a Sunday night. Beautiful area," shares a visitor to Confederate Disperse Camping Area. Another camper notes, "Pulled in early on a Friday and it was already filling up. Stayed 1 week and was by myself for most of it besides the weekend."
Creek-side camping: Sites along mountain streams offer natural white noise and cooler temperatures. "We were east of the dam so our creek wasn't dry. There are alot of spots with roads though them with multiple spread out sites," explains a camper at Belt Creek on Hughesville Road.
Shade availability: Some areas provide tree cover while others offer little protection. A camper at Goose Bay BLM notes "Tons of spots for camping and big rigs up to 50 ft long with spots a couple of hundred feet from the reservoir itself and lots of shade in places with decent privacy."
What you should know
Weekend crowding: Expect significant population increases Friday through Sunday. "Traffic kept rolling untill about 9 of people looking for spots. So if you want to stay on a Friday get there early," advises a visitor to Belt Creek on Hughesville Road.
Trash issues: Pack-out requirements are not always followed by previous visitors. "My only two complaints is people leave their trash. So pack out what you bring in. Second if you are shooting have enough insight to know where your bullets are going," explains a camper at Canyon Ferry Lake Dispersed Camping Area.
Soil conditions: Sandy areas near the lake make tent stakes difficult to secure. "You can not stake anything down here. It's all sand. No cover from wind," reports a camper at Confederate Disperse Camping Area.
Seasonal water flow: Stream levels vary dramatically by season and drought conditions. At Refrigerator Canyon Back Country Camp Site, a hiker found "Due to the very dry summer only the smaller stream was still flowing, water could be collected at its crossing of the trail above the camp site, this was at a slow trickle."
Tips for camping with families
Accessibility considerations: Side roads vary in quality from main access points. "The road just leading to the camping spots was a little bumpy," explains a visitor to Confederate Disperse Camping Area, though they clarify that "any car should be able to get down the road to the campsites."
Facilities planning: Most sites lack toilets, though some areas have vault toilets within walking distance. At Dispersed site 9210, "Disperse camping area 9210 is a two site camping area, with each site having a picnic table and metal fire ring."
Limited services: Bring all necessary supplies including drinking water. A camper at Canyon Ferry Lake notes "free drinking and washing water at the marina including ice sales and quarter pay showers and a boat ramp. Anyone can use the boat ramp that there are no launching facilities elsewhere."
Tips from RVers
Big rig access: Some dispersed areas can accommodate larger vehicles. "There's a narrow section of gravel beach on which RV's turn in to a parking area. The RV's line up one right behind the other on this beach as this is the only real level place to park," reports a visitor to Refrigerator Canyon Back Country Camp Site.
Generator etiquette: Be mindful of noise in congested areas. One camper at Confederate Disperse Camping Area found that "by Saturday, there were 12 different campers packed in like sardine along the same 100 yard stretch. Loose dogs were running all over and generators were running all night."
Stay limitations: The standard dispersed camping limit is 14 days, though enforcement varies. "There's signs about limiting the stay to 14 days, but there clearly are people who have been here much longer than that," notes a visitor to Confederate Disperse Camping Area.
