Tent camping near Pryor, Montana clusters around the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area with elevations ranging from 3,500 to 5,000 feet. Summer temperatures can reach the mid-90s while overnight temperatures drop into the 40s even in July. Access roads to many primitive camping areas require careful navigation during spring runoff when seasonal creeks can create challenging crossing points.
What to do
Fishing access year-round: Several fishing access sites near Pryor provide tent camping opportunities with riverside locations. Mallards Landing offers excellent fishing access with a small boat ramp, though as one visitor notes, "This WAS a campground. Now just dispersed camping with a pit toilet. Multiple sites dispersed around."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The area around Swinging Bridge Fishing Access Site offers excellent wildlife viewing, with one camper mentioning they "woke to the geese nearby flying overhead." This site provides more seclusion than other local options.
Horseback riding terrain: For equestrians, the varied landscape offers excellent riding opportunities. A visitor to Pompeys Pillar FAS explained: "This is actually a fantastic place to ride Young Horses. There are huge Open Fields. There are also a lot of sandstone Cliffs and deep gullies a very big good assortment of varied Terrain to teach horses for trail riding."
What campers like
Water proximity: Tent camping directly alongside water features ranks highly with visitors. A camper at Big Horn NRC Dispersed SR appreciated the "Bighorn Camping next to the water" with "amazing views" of the surrounding landscape.
Site separation: Privacy between campsites is important in this region where campgrounds can become crowded during peak seasons. At Swinging Bridge, one visitor appreciated that "sites are really separated down along the river. There's lots of trees and bushes that separate sites."
Historical significance: Beyond natural features, the region offers historical sites worth exploring. A visitor to Pompeys Pillar noted, "Lewis and Clark signed the sandstone here and it's the only location of its kind. Not really a hot camping spot, but a really awesome piece of Americana."
What you should know
Limited facilities: Most tent sites near Pryor have minimal amenities. At Mallards Landing, campers should prepare for basic conditions with "vaulted toilet only no showers." The site has "great access to the river with a little boat ramp."
Road conditions: Access roads to many sites require careful navigation and sometimes high-clearance vehicles. One camper warned about Pompeys Pillar: "The road getting there is horrible it's very washboard and the going is very slow. I do not recommend it for any kind of RV or camp trailer."
Shade availability: Finding shaded sites can be challenging in this region. A visitor to Mallards Landing noted "There's only one campsite with shade and it looks like you need a 4x4 to get in there. The shaded spot is quite a distance from the toilet."
Tips for camping with families
Bathroom planning: Vault toilets are available at some locations but maintenance varies. A visitor to Swinging Bridge Fishing Access Site praised the "clean bathroom" as one of "the two best aspects about the campground."
Bug protection: Insect activity can be significant, particularly in summer months. One camper at Swinging Bridge warned that "there were A LOT of bugs here," suggesting families bring ample insect repellent.
Recreation areas: Some campgrounds feature open spaces for family activities. A visitor to Afterbay mentioned "Within the campground there is a large grass area where people were playing horseshoes, volleyball and spike ball. My family and I enjoyed hanging out in this area, throwing a frisbee around with our dog."
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Most dispersed tent camping areas have significant restrictions for larger vehicles. At Swinging Bridge, one RVer advised that "roads are narrow and curved - would not be good for a trailer unless you really knew what you were doing."
Water access planning: No potable water exists at most sites, requiring preparation. An RVer at Afterbay suggested: "Bring your own fire wood because they don't have any for sale close by. Also bring water because they don't have any water hookups."
Seasonal considerations: Weather conditions affect accessibility for RVs significantly. One visitor to Two Leggins pointed out that while it's a "Great Fishing Spot with a toilet and boat ramp," a significant "downside is no fires or propane stove use" which can impact RV camping comfort.
