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.
