Tent camping near Radersburg, Montana offers access to mountainous terrain at elevations ranging from 4,400 to 8,500 feet across various public lands. Summer temperatures typically reach 75-85°F during daytime with overnight lows dropping to 40-50°F. The region's camping areas span Bureau of Land Management parcels, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest lands, and fishing access sites along the Missouri River watershed.
What to do
Mountain biking at Copper City trails: The network includes over 25 miles of dedicated singletrack ranging from beginner to advanced difficulty levels. "Great spot right on parts of the trial! It's open and you can see miles in each direction. No shade, no bathrooms, but most have man made fire pits," notes Ashley M. about Copper City BLM.
Hiking to Sacajawea Peak: Located near Fairy Lake, this 4.2-mile round-trip hike climbs 1,800 feet to spectacular views at 9,665 feet elevation. "The campground is a little higher up than the lake, but the Mountain View's are worth not having a campsite directly on the water. There is a stream that runs through a few sites," reports Amber R. about Fairy Lake Campground.
Fishing at local reservoirs: Multiple water bodies within 30 minutes of Radersburg provide trout fishing opportunities. "Great place to camp for overlooking the reservoir. Ran into one local taking pictures but left soon after. About 4-5 rock fire rings fairly close together. I had the entire place to myself on a Thursday night," writes Don S. about Scott Reservoir Dispersed.
What campers like
Roadside pull-offs for spontaneous camping: The area offers numerous undesignated sites with basic fire rings. "Plenty of open space and locations to pull out--beautiful views as well! To access this place we went towards Copper City Trail Head, and drove by the entrance onto BLM lands," shares Renee G. about camping at Copper City.
Small farmstays with animal encounters: "We loved staying here. The kids enjoyed the animals. There is a nice fire pit that made for a gathering spot for the other few campers," reports Chula R. about Serenity Sheep Farm Stay, which offers a unique camping option with farm animals nearby.
Secluded camping with minimal crowds: Many campsites offer significant privacy despite proximity to Bozeman. "Gorgeous campsite only 20ish min from the outskirts of Bozeman. Stopped in for 1 night passing through on a bigger road trip and couldn't be luckier with this location. Fire rings at all campsites. Very quite road," notes Jenna B. about South Fork Brackett Creek Dispersed Site.
What you should know
Road conditions vary dramatically: Many camping areas require high-clearance vehicles and sometimes 4WD. "This is by far the roughest road I've encountered so far. Not for the faint of heart! I saw a couple sprinter vans coming up but no other RV's," warns Ariana N. about Fairy Lake Dispersed Camping.
Wildlife encounters are common: Bears, mountain goats, and other wildlife frequent these camping areas. "For sure there is 1 grizzly that's pretty big. He checked out our truck tent. Mountain Goats will come in your camp and they will do what goats do and want to check you out. They are not scared," cautions Jonathan A. about Fairy Lake Campground.
Weather changes rapidly: Summer thunderstorms develop quickly in mountain areas, and temperature swings of 30-40 degrees between day and night are normal. "It was 28° or less overnight and there is a pretty dusting of snow on the ground when I woke," reports VanRumschpringa V. about camping at South Fork Brackett Creek in fall.
Tips for camping with families
Look for tent sites with natural entertainment: Water features provide hours of activity for children. "There was a perfect little creek that my 5yo fully enjoyed for a few days. If it wasn't so far, would definitely go back," shares Heather F. about Fairy Lake Campground.
Farm camping experiences: Children particularly enjoy animal interactions at area farmstays. "We loved this place nestled in the valley about 30 minutes outside of Bozeman. Not only did we have spectacular views of the mountains but we loved seeing the farm animals (cows, sheep, llama, chickens)," says Tanya A., whose 5-year-old enjoyed Revenue Flats.
Pack for significant temperature variations: Montana nights get cold even in summer, with temperatures often dropping below 50°F. "This place is DRY--so be sure to bring your own water (but on the plus side, no bugs!!)," advises Renee G. about Copper City BLM camping.
Tips from RVers
Small trailers only on mountain roads: Forest roads severely limit RV size and type. "We drove a F450 with triple slide truck camper and made it ok. Also saw a 2 wheel drive 30 foot class C motorhome that made it but would not recommend anything larger," advises Lisa A. about Revenue Flats.
Bring leveling blocks: Most dispersed sites around Radersburg aren't naturally level. "I towed my small camper up the mountain fairly easily, although this is by far the roughest road I've encountered so far," notes Ariana N. about camping near Fairy Lake.
Pack extra water: No public lands camping areas near Radersburg provide water hookups or potable water. "Small campground tucked away from highway. Right on shore of river/resevoir. Heavily used train tracks on opposite shore, so you get some train noise but not horrible," mentions K B. about Toston Dam Campground.
