Georgetown Lake sits at approximately 6,000 feet elevation in western Montana, creating unique camping conditions near Philipsburg. The area includes a mix of forest service and state park campgrounds providing access to mountain recreation and lake activities. Temperature swings can be significant throughout the camping season, with cool nights even during peak summer months.
What to do
Waterfall viewing: Lost Creek State Park Campground offers access to a 50-foot waterfall via a paved 125-yard path. "After a very long 125 yard hike you will be treated with the 50 foot Lost Creek Falls," notes a visitor, adding "if you want a longer hike than the 250 yard water fall hike, the forest service has a trail head in the park."
Wildlife watching: Several campgrounds report frequent wildlife sightings. At Philipsburg Bay Campground, a camper mentioned, "We heard wolves after dusk and saw elk at dawn. Fishing is good and plenty of waterfowl in the lake."
Berry picking: Seasonal berries grow near creeks in some areas. At Lost Creek State Park, visitors report, "During our visit the raspberries and thimble berries located along the creek were ripe."
Fishing: Georgetown Lake is known for quality fishing. Piney Campground And Boat Launch provides direct lake access with "a boat launch in the campground" and many visitors report seeing "people out on the lake boating."
What campers like
Private, spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer good spacing between sites. A visitor to Flint Creek Campground noted, "This area is free to use and is well maintained. Each site has a fire pit and a picnic bench. Also, each site has lots of space and decent privacy."
Creekside camping: Several campgrounds feature water access directly from sites. At Racetrack Campground, a camper described it as "a hidden gem of a campground tucked just inside the Forest Service boundary" with "large roomy sites well spread out from each other" situated "along a small creek."
Cell service: Unlike many remote camping areas, some campgrounds maintain good connectivity. A Philipsburg Bay visitor shared, "Verizon cell service was great! I had 5G most of the time."
Clean facilities: Despite being rustic, campgrounds maintain good standards. At Lodgepole Campground, a camper noted the "campground has nicely spaced campsites giving you plenty of room to spread out" and mentions "several clean outhouses."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: While many sites operate on first-come, first-served basis, some require advance planning. At Piney Campground, a camper advised, "Know that there is a Loop B which doesn't show on Recreation.gov, that is all FCFS... Many sites that seem to go unused!"
Food storage: Bear presence requires proper precautions. Lodgepole Campground provides "bear lockers located through out the campground for food storage."
Variable weather conditions: Due to the elevation, temperatures fluctuate significantly. At Stuart Mill Bay, a camper mentioned camping during "a surprise snow on the 2nd night but stayed 8 days/nights."
Payment methods: Some campgrounds require cash or alternate payment systems. Racetrack Campground has a "$15 fee and you have a QR code to scan to pay, however there is ZERO signal there to get online to pay so we paid once we left and got back into town for the night we stayed."
Tips for camping with families
Accessible recreation: Some areas offer easy options for all abilities. Lost Creek State Park provides "a nice hundred yard path that is paved to the waterfall for anyone with mobility issues."
Kid-friendly camping layouts: Look for campgrounds with loop designs. A visitor to Philipsburg Bay mentioned, "3 separate loops make it kid and bike friendly."
Playground access: When camping with children, Town of Drummond Campground offers additional amenities. A camper noted it has a "playground for kids, and river nearby."
Berry picking opportunities: Children enjoy foraging activities at some campgrounds. At Racetrack Campground, visitors mentioned thimbleberries were "ripe during our stay and plentiful."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger rigs: Some campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles better than others. At Lodgepole Campground, an RVer with a "35 ft fifth wheel" cautioned the campground was "a bit tight" and advised to "just be careful with a couple of the turns" while noting "the campground roads need some work in spots - there were several potholes as deep as 6-8 inches."
Leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain. At Lost Creek State Park, a camper with a 28-foot rig noted, "The sites are large and private and somewhat level but many will require leveling."
Limited hookups: Most campgrounds provide minimal services. The Town of Drummond Campground charges "$10 for tents $25 for full hookups" but has limited electrical sites as one camper noted, "we arrived about 7 pm and the 4 electrical hook ups were taken."
Solar considerations: Tree cover affects solar setup effectiveness. At Philipsburg Bay, a visitor cautioned, "Every site we saw was in the pines. Great for shade, terrible if you rely on solar."
