Best Tent Camping near Noxon, MT
The Cabinet Mountains and Kootenai National Forest surrounding Noxon, Montana offer several primitive tent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. Lake Creek Campground, located about 6.5 miles off Highway 2, provides four developed tent campsites and additional dispersed camping areas. Bull River Pavilion near Trout Creek offers tent-only sites with basic amenities. For those seeking more remote experiences, the Clark Fork River Area provides backcountry tent camping opportunities with minimal facilities but excellent river access.
Most tent campgrounds in the Noxon region operate seasonally from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Sites typically feature dirt or gravel pads with minimal grading, suitable for tent setups but challenging for larger equipment. Bear activity is common throughout the area, with bear boxes available at most Lake Creek Campground sites. Vault toilets are present at established campgrounds, though drinking water is limited to certain locations. Campers should bring their own water, food storage containers, and waste disposal supplies. Fire restrictions may apply during dry summer months, particularly in August and September when wildfire risk increases.
Tent campers visiting Lake Creek Campground report exceptional quiet and seclusion. According to one visitor, the campground is "pretty removed from everything" with "super quiet and lovely" surroundings where "the creek runs behind the left side of the loop." The area offers good hiking opportunities on nearby forest roads, though campers should be aware of private property boundaries. Cell service is virtually nonexistent at most tent sites in the region. Weekday camping typically provides the most solitude, with weekend crowds increasing during summer months. Fall brings cooler temperatures and fewer visitors to primitive tent campgrounds. Wildlife sightings are common, with birds, deer, and occasional larger mammals frequenting the forested campsites.
