Looking for a place to camp near Philipsburg with your horse? Finding a place to camp in Montana with your horse is easier than ever. Search nearby equestrian campsites or find top-rated spots from other campers.
$35 - $40 / night
This wooded picnic area is located near Rock Creek next to the East Fork Reservoir.
Ekstrom's Stage Station is a collection of historic log buildings reassembled along Montana’s famous Rock Creek, functioning today as a full-service campground. The campground is situated in a large grassy meadow surrounded by tall pine trees. The campground offers water & electric sites, full hookups, as well as tent sites for campers who prefer “roughing it.” For those who forgot their tents, we also have an historic school house and rustic log cabins for rent. For registered campers, there is a bath house with hot showers and we have a laundromat. Unfortunately, the restaurant is closed pending renovations required by the county.
$40 - $100 / night
The Charles Waters campground is paved asphalt with 26 campsites plus one double site, including 4 pull-through, one bicycle site, and one horse site; there is also one accessible site with electric hook-up. The campground also has water; accessible vault toilets; open meadow for activities and can accommodate RV's or trailers to 70 feet. __Please note that the bicycle site and horse site are reserved for those users until 6 p.m. daily after which time if no one is occupying them then they are considered available on a first come first served basis. __A campground host is available Memorial Day through Labor Day.Also associated with the Charles Waters Campground is the Bass Creek Recreation Area. This recreation area includes four picnic sites; an interpretive nature trail; fire ecology trail and numerous trailheads to hiking, biking and stock routes with access to the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. The Larry Creek Group Site is located within the Bass Creek Recreation Area, this large overnight group site is available for reservation through Recreation.gov. __The gate will close to the Larry Creek Group Site on Dec. 1.__For more information please contact the Stevensville Ranger District at (406) 777-5461.
Cromwell Dixon Campground, located right on the Continental Divide, provides spectacular views of surrounding country encompassing meadows, timbered slopes, and far away mountains. Trailhead access to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is nearby. ACTIVITIES Camping Picnicking
Kading Cabin is located 16 miles south of Elliston, Montana in Helena National Forest. This site has served the Forest Service since the early 1900s when the agency was forming. It was selected for its central location, trail and wagon road accessibility, and telephone line service at the time, ensuring that it would be valuable for both administrative and protective work. The present cabin was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Renovations and repairs were made to the facility in the 1960s and again in the early 1990s. Today, the cabin is a rustic retreat for guests seeking relaxation and recreation in central Montana. The cabin is typically accessible by car; however, heavy amounts of snow in winter can close the road to vehicles. Access to the cabin is via a 7-mile stretch of road passable by snowmobile, snowshoe, skis or dog sled. Guests must be prepared to pack in several of their own supplies.
Plenty of hiking, fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities exist along the numerous trails and roads that can be accessed within a short distance from the cabin. Fly fishing on the Little Blackfoot River is excellent. Brown trout are found in good numbers and large sizes below Elliston. Brook and cutthroat trout are found above Elliston. Whitefish can be found throughout the length of the river. In winter, guests will enjoy snowshoeing, skiing and snowmobiling on trails throughout the area.
Hemmed in by old-growth, conifer forest, Kading Cabin sits at the edge of a grassy clearing. The Little Blackfoot River flows near the cabin, a tributary to the Upper Clark Fork watershed. It drains an area of 265,300 acres from the Boulder Mountains north of Butte and west of Helena. The area around the cabin offers a variety of landscapes, from river banks to subalpine terrain. Valley bottoms, dense forests, meadows and barren ridges are mixed with streams, rivers, and lakes. Wildlife in the area abounds. Elk, deer, squirrels and a variety of birds are commonly seen. The more elusive badger, wolverine, mountain lion and lynx find habitat in nearby areas as well.
Plenty of historic mines are scattered throughout the area, including Charter Oak Mine and the Mill and the Monarch Mine.
$30 / night
$50 - $75 / night
Guide
The camp grounds were not busy, and no mosquitoes right now. Fishing was slow but we caught fish. Saw lots of animals even a video of a Grizzly not but 3 miles from the camp grounds. Another camper had the video of the Grizzly from the night before!
Guide
First come first served sites but we were surprised to have many available. A nice hundred yard path that is paved to the waterfall for anyone with mobility issues. A longer hike up to the bridge is nice and wooded.
Guide
This is a great location along the Clark Fork river. Staff was very friendly. Sites were well maintained and sufficient.
Cons: Interstate noise and the occasional train whistle would keep me from using the facility for nothing more than an overnight stop.
Traveler
We decided to stop in the Bitterroot Valley and the Charles Waters CG for our needs. Clean, treed space with the creek running behind. Extremely peaceful and just what we needed after a super long, hot day. Quiet campground. We did need to change sites as Site 4 had a very large and active red/black ant nest next to the fire ring and picnic table.
We got in around 6pm on a Sunday night. There were multiple sites still open.
GuideSpent several one nighter’s here. Quiet and beautiful. Lots and f trail for hiking. Close enough to Missoula or the other communities in the bitterroot valley.
Guide
$42 for fire pit and picnic table! No privacy between the spots. That said, it’s a very beautiful setting with big trees, and very quiet. Nice playground for the kids . Showers and bathrooms looked like they had been clean to, but overall were in need of a deep cleaning. The shower curtains were on the toilet stalls… Not sure how you keep those clean thoroughly.
Restaurant was really nice and tasty. Nice people. But they are only open till 230 even though their website says they are open for dinner. I was hoping to stay one more day because it was so peaceful but we needed to get going on our trip.
TravelerThis is definitely 1 of the top 5 in the area even as a usfs camp ground and price. Sites are well spaced, plenty of privacy and greenery, tons of nature, sound of a run off river coming down through the camp, there is a camp host on site as well as paved road and restrooms as well as water fountains. There is tons of trails for hiking, horse back and driving as well as tons of stream access only down fall is not really for fishing.
Guide
This is a small, no frills site just outside of Helena, MT. No hookups for RVs; Vault toilets, which were very clean. Pack in/Pack out as there are no trash receptacles. Moderate road noise until dark. Beautiful views and dark skies at night for stargazing
ScoutIt was a clean campground spaces far apart. Pit toilets and water. Water was rusty. It worked for over night.
GuideWe pulled in and the kids where so excited!! Wonderful people helped us to our spot, we are t up camp, kids went to the playground & then we went down to the restaurant for dinner! Everything was wonderful!
We had the best thunderstorm with hail that night as well…best night ever!!
ScoutYou can turn right off the highway and easily access dispersed camping around the site. Only drawback is the highway noise but it dies down when it gets dark.
GuideSites have good separation. Potable water taps and vault bathrooms are very clean. Higher elevation for cooler Summer evenings. No hookups. Decent cell signal. Can hear road noise at a distance, but not too loud.
TravelerThis is a National Forest campground about 25 miles from Missoula. The bathrooms are vaulted toilets and they were spacious and VERY clean. Our site was HUGE and so beautiful. Bass Creek was maybe 50 yards from the camper and is so clear! Fishing wouldn't be great at that location, as the creek is fairly shallow. The parking spot for the camper was super level asphalt, and plenty Ling enough for our 33.5' fifth wheel. Due to lower branches on the drive through the campground, we wouldn't recommend higher profile rigs. Ours sits at 13', and we felt that anything much taller than that might have clearance issues. There's a group spot for 12-20 people, as well as a spot for bicycle camping. There are some amazing trails for hiking, biking, and also horses. We really enjoyed this area!
GuideSpent an overnight here. Very clean and updated. Close proximity to trials and hywy 93.
ScoutWe called the number on their sign when we arrived. It’s pretty shut down with no services but we dry camped. Owner was super nice and we were greeted warmly by her grandkids. They ran our dogs around and tired them out.
GuideWe stayed here for a night as we headed west. It offered everything we needed with a beautiful campground to boot. The laundry facilities were great. The showers were clean and hot. There was an adorable restaurant in the campground. Every single staff member we came across was so friendly. There is a basketball court, sand volleyball court, horse shoes and a playground. There’s also a beautiful creek running along the campground with beautiful Mountain views. WiFi sand cell service worked great. I would absolutely stay again!
Guide15 sites available at $15 per night. Showed up at 12:30pm on a Sunday and many still available.
ScoutExtremely clean! Terrific staff!
LegendLost Creek State Park campground is a 25 site campground along lost creek. This campground sits in a narrow canyon with colorful white and pink granite walls extending over 1000 feet above the campground. If you like waterfalls then you are in luck, after a very long 125 yard hike you will be treated with the 50 foot Lost Creek Falls. Since this campground is at the end of the road, it is very quiet. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring. Several vault toilets are located through out the campground. During our visit the raspberries and thimble berries located along the creek were ripe. The campground starts pretty much right after you enter the park. The more private sites were located in the beginning of the park. Water is available, but you will need to take your trash with you as no trash service is available. If you want a longer hike than the 250 yard water fall hike, he forest service has a trail head in the park. The trail follows lost creek higher into the mountains.
GuideLost Creek is in a beautiful canyon spot, with numerous (25) sites to accommodate all types of campers (huge RV’s to tents). Camping spots are nice, but close to one another and the campground is often full. This means, if you do find a spot, you will have to deal with neighbors . There is a beautiful hiking trail that starts at the top of the campground and there is a beautiful waterfall and rushing creek that is a pleasure to listen to at night. (It almost drowns out the noise from neighboring campers if you find a spot on the creek.)
TravelerEasy access from I-90. Beautiful location, classic Montana with trees mountains and rivers! Great restaurant on site. Campsites are the reason for not giving 5 stars. Very tight and not great space for maneuverability. Was not full so we were fine with a big rig. Had it been full would be a little uncomfortable.
RangerI stayed there for a few weeks when the temperature is down in the valley started to get into the upper 90s and near 100. It was a good 10° cooler at this campsite than down in the valleys. You sit right below the continental divide with good access to the continental divide trail. The other big plus is that there is a cell phone tower right above the campground so you have excellent cell phone service. It's a nice clean little campground with a pit toilet and water available.
GuideThis campsite is pristine, next to a beautiful river, mountains all around. There is a good amount of space between RV campsites, all of which have water and electric. There is a big field next to the river that was great for kids to run around in. This feels like more of a stop through campsite than one you’d stay for several days, and it’s perfect for that.
LegendNice little campground in the Bitterroot Valley. It seemed that there were as many dogs as people in the campground. Sites varied in size and shape and shade. I like the sites on the far side of the loop as they are closer to the creek and away from the dusty road. Water at the spigots was good, but I was a bit concerned that they were placed so close to the vault toilets. There are some pull through sites as well as back in, but since it’s first come, it’s luck of the draw in what you get. I got there around 2 on a Sunday and had 3 sites to pick from. All of the sites were full by 4pm. There are some nice hiking and horseback riding trails across the road, and there is a forest road that goes all the way to the top of the mountains with picnic tables to watch the sunset or sunrise (when the smoke doesn’t cloud the view).
GuideA Stunning Surprise! In spite of a loss of large pine trees... and having no personal comparison, for us, this was a surprise. So peaceful and with a gorgeous sunset on a vast horizon. The rocky sloped landscape had a lot of wildflowers and made for a pleasant overnight stop with no expectations.
RangerPaved level sites. Water and trash bins. Beautiful area lots of trails. First come first serve. Senior discount $7.50 a night.
TravelerMemorial day weekend 2021 fee $15 / night . Clean vault toilets...good well water lots of space between sites. Our only misfortune was Hotshot crews and Helicopters were practicing repelling all weekend in the forest around the campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Philipsburg, MT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Philipsburg, MT is Lost Creek State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Philipsburg, MT?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Philipsburg, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
