Best Tent Camping near Rexford, MT

Tent camping near Rexford, Montana provides access to pristine lakeside sites along the shores of Lake Koocanusa and surrounding wilderness areas. Mariners Haven Campground in Rexford offers dedicated tent sites from April through November, while nearby Swisher Lake Campground provides more primitive tent camping experiences. The Koocanusa Area features several tent-only sites along the reservoir shoreline, and Martin Lake offers secluded backcountry tent camping accessible via hiking trails. For tent campers seeking established facilities, Riverside Park in nearby Eureka provides tent sites with amenities including drinking water, picnic tables, and toilets.

Most tent campgrounds in the Rexford area have basic facilities with vault toilets, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Primitive tent camping at Martin Lake requires proper food storage techniques, with campers advised to hang food from tree branches to prevent bear encounters. Seasonal considerations are important, as most campgrounds operate from late spring through fall, with higher elevation sites experiencing cooler nights even in summer. Fire restrictions are common during dry summer months, particularly at primitive tent sites. Proper bear-aware camping practices are essential throughout the region, with food storage being a critical consideration for tent campers.

The backcountry tent camping experience near Rexford offers exceptional solitude and natural settings. Martin Lake provides walk-in tent sites that reward hikers with lakeside camping and primitive fire rings. According to reviews, "After a short hike to the lake from the trailhead, there is one site right on the waters edge with a primitive fire ring." The area's remoteness contributes to its appeal for tent campers seeking quiet experiences. Whitetail Campground, though farther from Rexford, offers tent campers riverside sites with clean facilities. One visitor noted it has "one of the cleanest vault toilets" they had experienced. Tent campers should be prepared for variable weather conditions and bring appropriate gear for potentially cool nights, especially at higher elevations.

Best Tent Sites Near Rexford, Montana (30)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Rexford, MT

212 Reviews of 30 Rexford Campgrounds


  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 28, 2019

    Bowman Lake Campground — Glacier National Park

    Another beautiful spot in Glacier!

    Be prepared for a dusty, bumpy, narrow, pot-holed drive in on the road. There's a sign at the beginning of the incline that indicates parking availability… pay attention to the sign, it will tell you if no parking is available. If the road is wet, it is treacherous! Remember to bring bug spray and bear spray, be aware of your surroundings. 

    You'll be a high elevation so be ready for cooler nights. I used my 0-degree sleeping bag, and that worked great. Limited campsites so get there early on the weekend. Several trails lead into the mountains, one leads along the lakeshore. There is drinking water, pit toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, plus some bear-proof storage boxes.Highly recommend taking the time to explore and camp at this location.

  • Emmett S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2024

    Stillwater River

    Beautiful Riverside Rustic

    Just about a mile from the highway, this site is right on the river with some nice deep pools. There are three separate fire rings with a vault toilet and picnic table. It's a short drive in but more suitable for truck camping, van, tent camping or very small trailer like 13' max due to narrow track and limited maneuvering area. High clearance required!

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2021

    Bowman Lake Campground — Glacier National Park

    Less visited part of Glacier

    Nice NPS campground within walking distance to Bowman Lake and several trailheads. This is a good spot to camp if you plan on hikeing or boating near/on the lake. Super clean, lots of shade and hammock trees, vault toilet, first come. I was surprised there was only one bear box for the whole campground to share instead of one at each site. Especially after seeing a leather deposit of bear scat on the Bowman Lake trail. No showers here but you can pay for a shower down at Polebridge Market Place, which you want to visitor anyway for their amazing baked goods (pizza after 3 pm too!). There was a ranger hanging out in the parking lot of the trail head area if you have any questions (though her job looked to be more traffic management than anything else).

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2021

    Quartz Creek Campground — Glacier National Park

    Off the beaten path

    There are about 8 sites here, several miles down the road from the —- Glacier ranger station. It’s quiet, all you can hear is the creek and the wind in the trees. Sites 4 and 5 are the best as they are right on the creek with water access. There is one central bear box, one central water pump (currently NO water), and one clean vault toilet. You are close to a couple of trailheads as well.

  • Taryn S.
    Jul. 27, 2024

    Bowman Lake Campground — Glacier National Park

    Best National Park Campground in the US!

    We've camped all over...all over Glacier and all over the country, and this is hands-down one of our favorite campgrounds. 100% our fave national park campground! An authentic unplugged, quiet camping experience.

    The remote location is amazing, and the campsites are nicely spread out in a moody, dark forested area with near full shade. There are a couple of paths directly to the lake, literally a 2-3 minute walk from anywhere in camp. Sites have fire rings and picnic tables, and there are a few vault toilets and several trash bins and potable water spigots. No showers or sinks. Deer galore! The visitor tent is pretty cool, especially for families with kids. It has activities and games like scavenger hunts, books/tools for identifying wildflowers/plants/scat etc. And there's a camp host onsite seasonally, also.

    Note that all sites are FCFS. Rangers at the entrance usually have a fair idea of whether you'll get a spot.

    Even though the park has gotten much busier in the past few years, Bowman still remains a quietER gem. The long road keeps people away, I guess - although some 2023-24 construction/improvements has made it quite a bit better.

  • Emmett S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2024

    Bull Lake

    Quiet and secluded

    Less than five miles from the highway, this is a nice sized lake stocked with fish. There were a pair of white swans on the lake when I was there but no one else around. A large parking area, could accommodate a travel trailer or two in addition to a couple tent sites with fire rings. One picnic table with a fire pit and rock fire rings at the tent sites. There are two access roads, the first is more appropriate for van, truck or hike in to tent site. Not a lot of turn around room, wouldn't bring a trailer in. Second turn off goes to a much larger area, multiple sites and boat launch access to the lake.

  • Emmett S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2023

    Dunn Creek Flats Campground

    Right on the river

    Just stayed a single night here. It's a first come, first serve site with no fee. We camped in the back of our truck. Our site was the farthest from the river but that was perfect with three doggos. Nice level site with fire pit, grill included, and a nice picnic table. While we weren't next to the river, we were right next to Dunn Creek. At this time of year the creek is dry but I can imagine it's lovely in the spring when the snow melts. Bear-proof trash cans were located at each site, there was a boat launch and dock as well as large boat trailer parking area featuring a basketball hoop. A hand pump for potable water was centrally located as well as a vault toilet for campers. This campground was a short distance from the highway but we didn't notice any road noise. What we did hear and see were helicopters as it is fire season and they were scooping water from the river for fire mitigation. The campground sites are spaced far apart which is nice for privacy. Will definitely stay here again.

  • Jessa
    May. 1, 2021

    Dunn Creek Flats Campground

    Dunn Creek Dispersed Camping on Kootenai River

    Such a gorgeous spot off the river. Has multiple site with picnic table and fire rings. A vault toilet available. Also possibly water, but it wasn’t working when we went.

  • Tee C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 5, 2023

    Sheldon Mountain Trailhead Camp

    Nice equestrian campground!

    It’s Saturday and no one is here but me. Picnic tables, metal fire rings with grills, vault toilets. Big pretty pine trees! I get one bar of Verizon service but it’s not very useful.


Guide to Rexford

Tent camping near Rexford, Montana centers around Lake Koocanusa, a 90-mile long reservoir created by Libby Dam on the Kootenai River. The area sits at approximately 2,400 feet elevation with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during days and dropping to 45-55°F at night. Winter camping is limited as most facilities close after the first significant snowfall, typically in late October.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: The Yaak River near Whitetail Campground offers excellent trout fishing in a peaceful setting. One camper mentioned, "We spent the afternoon with our chairs on the riverbank and dangling our feet in the water."

Hiking trails: Several hiking options exist within 30 minutes of Rexford, particularly in the Kootenai National Forest. According to a visitor at Grave Creek Campground, "There is the old warden camp and down on the creek. No services, semi remote, very quiet, dusty, views of the mountains."

Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse wildlife including deer, elk, and various bird species. Campers should be prepared for encounters, as one camper at Grave Creek noted, "You are in grizzly country. Lot's of deer walking around, very safe, locals are very friendly."

What campers like

Quiet atmosphere: Many campgrounds in the Rexford area provide a peaceful experience away from crowds. A visitor to Whitetail Campground shared it was a "Very quiet and beautiful spot. Our site had a nice open meadow and was right next to access to the river."

Clean facilities: Despite being primitive, many area campgrounds maintain clean facilities. As one camper at Whitetail Campground observed, it had "One of the cleanest vault toilets I have been in!"

Access to water: Most popular camping areas provide direct water access. A camper at Bowman Lake Campground in nearby Glacier National Park mentioned, "Nice NPS campground within walking distance to Bowman Lake and several trailheads. This is a good spot to camp if you plan on hiking or boating near/on the lake."

What you should know

Road conditions: Many access roads to the best tent camping near Rexford are unpaved and can be challenging. A visitor to Bowman Lake advised, "Be prepared for a dusty, bumpy, narrow, pot-holed drive in on the road. If the road is wet, it is treacherous!"

Bear safety: Proper food storage is mandatory throughout the region. A camper at Martin Lake recommended, "Advisable to store food by hanging from high tree branch to discourage bear investigations."

Seasonal closures: Most campgrounds operate from late April through October. The Riverside Park situation has changed recently, with one visitor noting, "The town of Eureka closed this park to overnight camping as they had trouble with people over staying there welcome."

Limited amenities: Most campgrounds offer minimal facilities. A camper at Grave Creek described it as having "No services, semi remote, very quiet, dusty, views of the mountains."

Tips for camping with families

Bug protection: Insect repellent is essential, especially in early summer. A visitor to Bowman Lake warned, "I experienced more mosquito bites here than at any other spot in Montana. Bring your repellant!"

Weather preparation: Pack for temperature fluctuations, even in summer. One camper at Bowman Lake Campground advised, "You'll be at high elevation so be ready for cooler nights. I used my 0-degree sleeping bag, and that worked great."

Alternative swimming spots: When Lake Koocanusa gets crowded, consider smaller lakes or river access points. A visitor to Whitetail Campground shared, "Clean bathrooms and water close by. The tent pads are level and usually rock free. We spend a lot of our summer here."

Tips from RVers

Size restrictions: Many campgrounds near Rexford have limitations for large vehicles. For Bowman Lake, a camper noted, "The road leading to the campground is pretty rough, but it is manageable if you go slow. The road is pretty narrow, so just be careful of oncoming cars."

Limited hookups: Most campgrounds near Rexford don't offer electrical or water hookups. Bring sufficient supplies and be prepared for dry camping. According to one visitor at Whitetail Campground, "11 camp spots, pit toilets and 1 yurt. The yurt was $25/night with reservation and the tent spots were $7."

Multiple options: The Yaak River Road offers several camping alternatives within a short distance. A camper pointed out, "There are four campground along this road: Yaak falls, red top (only 3 spots), white tail, and Pete's creek."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Rexford, MT?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Rexford, MT is Riverside Park with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Rexford, MT?

TheDyrt.com has all 30 tent camping locations near Rexford, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.