Best Tent Camping near Neihart, MT
Tent campsites in the Little Belt Mountains near Neihart, Montana range from established campgrounds to primitive backcountry sites. Kings Hill Campground, situated at approximately 8,000 feet elevation in Lewis and Clark National Forest, offers 18 tent sites with picnic tables and metal fire rings. Other options include Whitetail Camp Campground, located 12 miles north of U.S. Highway 12 on Spring Creek Road, which combines designated tent sites with dispersed camping areas in an open meadow setting.
Most tent campgrounds in the Neihart area provide basic amenities with vault toilets but no running water or trash service. Campers should pack in all necessary supplies and be prepared to pack out all waste. Sites typically feature picnic tables and metal fire rings, though some primitive areas may only have rock fire rings. The terrain varies from flat meadows to forested settings with limited level ground. A 16-day stay limit applies at most locations, and bear activity requires proper food storage in vehicles since bear lockers are not available at most sites.
The higher elevation tent sites near Neihart offer cooler temperatures during summer months and excellent access to hiking trails. Sluice Boxes State Park provides walk-in tent camping opportunities with no designated sites, requiring hikers to venture off-trail to find suitable camping spots. Richardson Campground offers three tent sites along a small creek but has limited turnaround space and only a basic outhouse facility. Hay Canyon Campground features six free tent sites in a narrow canyon among mature trees. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, "If you camp here come prepared, this is a Trash-in Trash-out site, no water, no vault toilet. The road is a little rough in a few places, would recommend a high clearance vehicle to access this camping location."
