Best Dispersed Camping near Pinesdale, MT

Several free dispersed camping areas surround Pinesdale in western Montana's Bitterroot Valley, with Lost Horse Dispersed Campground being particularly popular. Located approximately 4.6 miles from Highway 93, Lost Horse offers creek-side camping but experiences heavy traffic, especially during summer months. The access road features moderate washboard conditions and occasional potholes. Fire rings are present at established sites, with pit toilets available but limited other amenities.

The Bass Lake and Peterson Lake dispersed areas provide more remote backcountry camping options, requiring hiking access rather than drive-in convenience. These sites sit deeper in the Bitterroot-Selway Wilderness, with Peterson Lake involving a 5-mile hike and approximately 1,700 feet of elevation gain. Bass Lake requires a longer 7-mile trek. One camper noted Peterson Lake offers "nice secluded valley heading into Bitteroot-Selway wilderness." The 14-day camping limit applies throughout the national forest lands, and visitors should practice proper waste disposal, as some areas have reported trash problems.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Pinesdale, Montana (18)

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 18 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Dispersed Camping Reviews near Pinesdale, MT

37 Reviews of 18 Pinesdale Campgrounds


  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2023

    Rock Creek Dispersed Spot - Lolo

    dispersed camping

    first dispersed camping spot for Lolo from the entry road for this Forest Service land entry. Just cross the bridge, and be careful of high water (signs stating it's impassable 100 yards past the photo of the bridge when high water.) The grey area is public land the white square at the end of the road is private property by the map legend. 

    maps attached are screenshots from the National Forest Service online map as of Sept. 8th, 2023.

    The dots show where dispersed camping is allowed for this spot.

  • Reames C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 10, 2025

    Rock Creek Dispersed Spot - Lolo

    Very sunny and exposed spots, unsure if legal, but great river access

    Not for low clearance vehicles, it’s not far off the highway but we struggled with the two narrow bridges with tight turns in our travel trailer and then there’s a large flood way dip in the road that you can bottom out on. Unsure if this was legal camping as there are no defined spots and limited pull offs. Felt like I was looking over my shoulder for a ranger. Most everything is exposed to direct sunlight so it gets HOT in the summer. Our AC did not even budge the temps sometimes. Good fishing access and a cool area to visit. We overnighted here a couple nights before going to ekstrom which is before this place when getting off the highway and has power and water for a recharge day.

  • SpentBrassOffroad B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 11, 2025

    Petty Creek Road Dispersed Camping

    Simple In & Out

    Great little spot to hold over for the night. The GPS coordinates listed on the map are spot on, and the turn-off comes up quickly. There look to be 4 spots. I used the one right by the road turn off. There was another person who had a travel trailer in another. It's close to the highway and just over the river in Lolo forest lands. Only stayed one night, but the guy in the camper says he's been there for weeks, and nobody has bothered him.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 6, 2024

    Petty Creek Road Dispersed Camping

    Amazing quiet and private spot!

    What a great spot! 3 sites in a beautiful spot, about 5 minutes off the highway. We pulled in about 7pm and we were the only ones there. Someone else pulled in around 9 but the sites were separated by enough trees we could barely tell they were there. Felt very private, and the stars were fantastic! Creek bed runs right next to the back site, but it was completely dried up in late July.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 28, 2025

    Rock Creek Dispersed Spot - Lolo

    Decrepit bridges, gorgeous

    We camp d down the road at Eckstrom’s but I walked down to check out the free spot, having chafed at spending $53 for no water/no electric. In a word, I was wrong to have pushed for heading to Rock Crerk— we would have felt really uncomfortable crossing even the first bridge, which had a bit out of it’s concrete edge, as though it had been hit by an elephant-sized tumbling boulder. On the upside, locals I ran into there love the fly-fishing at this site. If you have a passenger car, it’s passable— if you don’t mind rolling the dice.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2020

    Stanley Hot Springs - Backcountry Dispersed Campsite

    Wilderness camp with a hot springs soak

    If a backpacking trip in to a wilderness area with a hot springs next to your campsite sounds like the perfect trip, then Stanley Hot Springs is for you.  Stanley Hot Springs located in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness is just under a 5 mile hike from the trail head located in the Wilderness Gateway Campground.  The trip in to the hot springs gains about 1500 feet, but the climb is worth it as you get to soak your tired legs after the hike. 

    Plenty of campsites can be found around and near the Hot Springs.  Water can be filtered from the near by creek.  You are backpacking so be prepared to bring out everything you bring in.  You are also in Bear Territory so be prepared to hang your food in a tree and bring bear spray.

    Getting to the hot springs can be a little tricky as their is no bridge over the creek, so you will have to ford the creek, unless you can find a series of log jams to cross on.  Best bet for finding you way is to ask someone hiking out for suggestions on crossing the creek.

    The creek crossing will not be possible in the spring or during high water flows.   We managed an easy crossing over log jams in July, but others a week earlier forded the creek in waist deep water.

    The area was clean during our visit, so please keep it that way.

  • Lauren M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 25, 2024

    Petty Creek Road Dispersed Camping

    Small but good stop

    Right off the road and easy to get to. I only saw 2 spots and the other was occupied. Both had fire rings but we were in a fire restriction. I got the site closest to the road and it was not so bad, I was camping in my car anyway. The spot seemed pretty level. The trees were gorgeous. Not bad for a free spot.

  • Ben H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2024

    Blue Mountain Forest Rd 365 - Dispersed

    Dusty dirt road

    This area allows disperse camping Beyond a certain point (there is a small sign). There is a map provided at the road trailhead. However it is confusing since I believe the map is upside down. On my drive up I did not see any established distributed campsites. However there are some turn offs that you could park at. This area would probably not be ideal for RVs. Four wheel drive does not seem to be a requirement. I ended up camping at a turnoff and walked a bit off the road to set up my hammock. The road was not very busy I did hear an occasional car pass by. Good views and decently private. I was able to get Verizon signal at my campsite. However driving up signal was spotty

  • Joshua C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2024

    Big Pine Campground

    Great camp spot, limited space

    Maybe 6-7 spots for cars/trucks/vans. We fit our 170 sprinter no problem and would work for half the sites. Sign says no trailers where all the camp spots are and I would agree as there is no turn around room or ways to back in.

    Sites looked clean and was very quiet while we were here for a Sunday night.

    T-mobile 5G UC signal from campgrounds. Day use area has wide open sky to recharge if needed. Camp spots are shaded by trees. River access is along camp spots and also near day use area. No trails from campsite so pretty limited in exploration options, just more a beautiful place to stop for a night or 2.


Guide to Pinesdale

Dispersed camping areas near Pinesdale, Montana offer rugged backcountry experiences throughout the Bitterroot National Forest region. Elevations range from approximately 3,900 feet in the valley to over 8,000 feet in the surrounding mountains. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-85°F during the day while dropping to 45-55°F at night, with significant temperature variations between valley floor and mountain campsites.

What to do

Fly fishing access: Rock Creek provides excellent fishing opportunities with multiple access points. "Good fishing access and a cool area to visit," notes one camper at Rock Creek Dispersed Spot - Lolo. The creek is known for rainbow and brown trout.

Mountain hiking: The Blue Mountain area offers numerous trail systems for day hikes. "Blue Mountain is a great place to recreate! Very dog friendly and tons of trails for hiking and mountain biking," reports a visitor to Blue Mountain Forest Rd 365 - Dispersed.

Lake exploration: For backcountry lake experiences, hike to Bass Lake. "Around 7 miles one way to the lake, only gain 3000ft over the course of the hike with around 1000ft of elevation gain in last mile. Scenic mountain meadows lots of vegetations, creek nearby for a good portion of the hike," describes a camper at Bass Lake Dispersed Camping.

What campers like

Creek proximity: The sound of flowing water enhances many camping spots. "Camp is easy to get to. Gravel road for about 2 miles but it's pretty smooth. The view is gorgeous. Trees, mountains, and a nice sized river that cuts through," explains a visitor at Lost Horse Dispersed Campground.

Secluded spots: Finding privacy requires driving deeper into forest roads. "We drove about 45 minutes up the mountain on the 365 road, and found a very secluded camping spot with a absolute beautiful view. We hardly saw anyone on the way up but the road is very narrow," shares a camper at Blue Mountain Forest Rd 365.

Convenient overnight locations: Some areas provide easy access for quick stays. "Great little spot to hold over for the night. The GPS coordinates listed on the map are spot on, and the turn-off comes up quickly. There look to be 4 spots," notes a visitor at Petty Creek Road Dispersed Camping.

What you should know

Road conditions: Many primitive camping areas near Pinesdale require navigating rough forest roads. "Road is absolutely clapped out going up for like ten miles. Wouldn't recommend a rv or trailer unless you don't mind washboards. I got a flat tire going up so be careful of sharp rocks," warns a camper about Blue Mountain.

Bridge safety: Some areas have deteriorating infrastructure. "We would have felt really uncomfortable crossing even the first bridge, which had a bit out of it's concrete edge, as though it had been hit by an elephant-sized tumbling boulder," cautions a visitor about Rock Creek.

Heat exposure: Many sites lack adequate shade. "Most everything is exposed to direct sunlight so it gets HOT in the summer. Our AC did not even budge the temps sometimes," reports a camper at Rock Creek Dispersed Spot.

Tips for camping with families

Fire safety: Teach children about proper fire management at established sites. "Good size sites and fire pits as well," mentions a visitor at Lost Horse Dispersed Campground, though you should always check current fire restrictions before your trip.

Wildlife awareness: Teach children about food storage and wildlife safety. "Something is eating big game out here so lock up your food," advises a camper at Petty Creek Road Dispersed Camping.

Site selection: For families with young children, consider more accessible front-country options. "Gorgeous area deep back on rock creek. Probably 10 plus miles. Pass campgrounds with toilets. Individual campsites with fire rings and access to great fishing," recommends a visitor to Rock Creek Dry Campsites.

Tips from RVers

Turn radius concerns: Many forest roads have tight turns unsuitable for larger rigs. "Initially we missed the turn and had nowhere to turn around since this is on the side of a mountain," explains an RVer with a 27-foot trailer at Petty Creek Road.

Clearance issues: Low-clearance vehicles struggle on many access roads. "Not for low clearance vehicles, it's not far off the highway but we struggled with the two narrow bridges with tight turns in our travel trailer and then there's a large flood way dip in the road that you can bottom out on," warns an RVer about Rock Creek.

Size limitations: Most primitive camping spots near Pinesdale have space constraints. "We are parked in the front, I wouldn't recommend parking a 20ft plus rig in the back site," advises an RVer about site selection at Petty Creek Road.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Pinesdale, MT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Pinesdale, MT is Lost Horse Dispersed Campground with a 4-star rating from 5 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Pinesdale, MT?

TheDyrt.com has all 18 dispersed camping locations near Pinesdale, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.