Georgetown Lake offers multiple tent camping opportunities near Philipsburg, Montana. The elevation around 6,400 feet creates cool summer nights even when daytime temperatures reach the 80s. Many campgrounds in this region remain accessible into fall, with some sites remaining open year-round despite seasonal closures affecting others from October through May.
What to do
Fishing access: Stuart Mill Bay provides excellent fishing and boating opportunities with two boat launches. "If you like to fish, and/or boat the Stuart Mill Bay is just for you. This state fishing access site campground has you right on the lake shore or very close to lake for easy fishing and boating access," notes Dexter I.
River exploration: Fishtrap Creek offers direct access to the Big Hole River with 17 sites situated along the waterfront. "Easy fishing access along the length of the camping area, about ½ the campsites sit along the river," according to visitor reviews.
Remote lake camping: Pintler Campground sits beside Pintler Lake, accessible via a 10-mile gravel road from Highway 43. "The lake is lovely but covered for the most part with lily pads on the backside of the lake. A creek coming from the lake also is adjacent to campground," reports Lisa K.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Some Stuart Mill Bay sites offer more seclusion than others. "This site is one of the best sites if you want a bit of privacy. As with the rest of the Georgetown Lake sites, there are a number of people, but you have many options to try and limit contact," writes Caleb J. B.
Quiet forest setting: Gold Creek Campground provides a tranquil experience with minimal crowds. "In 4 nights I had two other campers on two different nights. Forest Service was checking campground almost daily," notes Will M.
Bear-proof storage: East Bank Rec Site offers practical amenities for wilderness camping. "Very beautiful area with not too many people around. River runs right next to it. Has a vault toilet and bear proof food storage. Was $15 a night," reports Maggie K.
What you should know
Water sources vary significantly: Most campgrounds lack drinking water. Gold Creek Campground requires visitors to filter from the creek. "The site is nice. Only water source is the creek which is not easy to access. Note, it isn't really difficult, either," explains one camper.
Bug activity: Insects can be prevalent, especially in certain seasons. "A lot of biting flies when I was there," reports Will M. about Gold Creek, while Lisa K. notes about Pintler Campground: "It's buggy with only a slight breeze to keep flys away."
Seasonal flooding: Harry's Flat Campground experiences significant water issues in spring. "It gets really flooded out in the spring time. Some times half the site is closed for a while into the season until it dries up," warns Kelly.
Tree coverage varies: Many campgrounds have experienced tree removal due to beetle kill. "Most of the trees in the campground have been removed due to beetle kill so sites are more in the open. The sites are well spread out and a few still have large trees," notes Dexter I. about East Bank Rec Site.
Tips for camping with families
Site selection strategies: At Stuart Mill Bay, campsite numbers matter for shade. "The first seven campsites sit in an area with trees and is near the non motorized boat launch. The remainder of the campsites sit closer to the lake but are out in the open," explains Dexter I.
Campground maintenance levels: Orofino Campground offers group camping options with varying facilities. "This campground appears to get little use and little maintenance. The vault toilets are quite old wooden structures, but in good shape. The campground area has several sites where finding a level spot for a tent is difficult," reports Dexter I.
Noise considerations: Remote locations offer quiet for families. Pintler Campground provides a peaceful setting: "Because of its remote location, it seems many appreciate the quiet, so I wouldn't recommend it for those who have noisy activities like ATVs," advises Lisa K.
Tips from RVers
Site configurations: Some campgrounds accommodate RVs better than others. At Stuart Mill Bay, "sites 8-16 seemed larger and more suited to RVs," according to Annie C.
Level parking surfaces: Fishtrap Creek offers well-prepared parking areas. "The campground's 17 site all feature level gravel parking pads, picnic tables and metal fire rings, and plenty of grassy areas to pitch a tent," notes a reviewer.
Road access challenges: Access to some of the best tent camping near Philipsburg requires navigating rough roads. Pintler Campground's access road presents challenges: "The mostly gravel road is far from smooth with uncomfortable washboard feeling much of the route," warns Lisa K.
