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Best Dispersed Camping near Sheridan, MT

45 Reviews

The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and surrounding BLM lands dominate the camping landscape around Sheridan, Montana, with dispersed sites comprising the majority of overnight options. Ruby Reservoir Recreation Area, located near Alder, provides primitive camping with vault toilets and established fire rings, while Maiden Rock Dispersed along the Big Hole River offers surprisingly well-maintained sites with picnic tables and fire pits despite its free, dispersed designation. Most camping areas sit at elevations between 6,000-7,000 feet, with many positioned along rivers or reservoirs, creating opportunities for fishing, wildlife viewing, and mountain scenery.

Forest Service roads throughout the region require careful navigation, with many sites accessible only via dirt or gravel roads that may become challenging after rain or snow. A 16-day stay limit applies to most dispersed camping areas, particularly along Forest Service Route 100 where camping is restricted to designated locations only. As one camper noted, "Disperse camping along FS route 100 is only allowed in designated locations in this part of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest." Cell service varies significantly across the region, with better coverage near highway corridors and limited to no service in more remote areas. Campers should arrive prepared with water, as most sites lack potable sources, and practice proper waste management as most areas operate on a pack-it-in, pack-it-out basis.

Mountain views and water access rank among the most appreciated features in camper reviews, with Maiden Rock Dispersed receiving consistently high ratings. "This place looks like a paid campground, only free! All the spots have a picnic table, fire pit and bear box. The mountain views all around you are gorgeous," reported one visitor. Sites near highways like Homestake Pass Dispersed and Barretts Station Park Campground serve as convenient overnight stops for travelers, though some report highway noise as a drawback. Ruby Reservoir offers additional recreational opportunities beyond camping, with one visitor noting, "If you want to find garnets just head to the lake shore and start digging." Wildlife sightings, including cattle grazing through some camping areas, add to the authentic Montana backcountry experience.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Sheridan, Montana (19)

    1. Ruby Reservoir Recreation Area

    5 Reviews
    Virginia City, MT
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 683-8000

    "Be prepared for steep inclines in some situations. While it was quiet people wise, I’m pretty sure you can hear the dam because we had rumbling noise that woke both of us up."

    "You can bring campers, motorhomes, or tent camp like we did! There is a bathroom available as well! Lots of neat agates in the parking lot! I highly recommend this area! This was our view each morning"

    2. Mill Creek Road Camp

    Be the first to review!
    Sheridan, MT
    6 miles

    3. Meadow Creek Dispersed Campground

    1 Review
    Norris, MT
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 682-4253

    4. Maiden Rock Dispersed

    13 Reviews
    Divide, MT
    31 miles

    "The spot is close to the freeway, but far enough that you won’t hear any of the noise so it’s perfect if you are on a road trip. :)

    There are some train tracks that run by it, but I didn’t notice if"

    "Picnic benches, tent camping spots, rv spots! We might have been lucky but no mosquitos! It’s across the bridge in case you can’t find it from google maps :)"

    5. Homestake Pass Dispersed

    14 Reviews
    Butte, MT
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 683-3900

    "There’s a big area that had a dozen RVs & tents, but it was late & we wanted space so we followed a rough dirt road 1/2 a mile to find a spot in the trees."

    "The dispersed camping is super easy to find, and it's right off the highway! It was perfect for a quick spot to camp on our way home to Colorado instead of getting a hotel room."

    6. Humbug Spires Trailhead Basecamp

    1 Review
    Divide, MT
    30 miles

    "Only 3 miles from the highway, this campsite is at the end of a well maintained, slightly rutted gravel road. It’s wide enough for trailers."

    7. Barretts Station Park Campground

    5 Reviews
    Dillon, MT
    35 miles

    "Lots of highway noise and also some rail road tracks between the campground and the highway. There are a couple back in camping spots for smaller campers but they were taken when we arrived."

    "There are 9 tables dispersed in a grassy area and a couple RV parking spaces. There are pit toilets and a water pump. I was serenaded by Canadian Geese nesting on the nearby cliff."

    8. Pipestone Trailhead Camp

    1 Review
    Whitehall, MT
    31 miles

    9. Homestake Lake Camp

    1 Review
    Butte, MT
    34 miles

    "This campsite is right off the exit, but not very noisy. There were several other campers and RVs and trucks there. Even just parts of cars."

    10. 6100N Dispersed Camping Area

    2 Reviews
    Cameron, MT
    38 miles
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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Sheridan, MT

31 Photos of 19 Sheridan Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Sheridan, MT

45 Reviews of 19 Sheridan Campgrounds

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 16, 2019

    6100N Dispersed Camping Area

    Large flat camping area

    Disperse campsite 6100N is located a short distance off of forest road 100. This camping area is a nice large flat grassy area to camp in, perfect for tents. Camping area sits along the Upper Ruby River. One large rock fire ring is available. Fir and Juniper trees surround this camping area. Disperse camping along FS route 100 is only allowed in designated locations in this part of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. All forest service disperse camping rules are in affect. Stay is limited to 16 days. No facilities at this site so come prepared. Site is at an elevation of 6621 feet

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 16, 2019

    Coal Creek Dispersed Camping Area

    Flat camping area next to Coal Creek

    Coal Creek Disperse Camping Area is a large flat grassy parking area just barely off the main road. Site has a large rock fire ring with plenty of flat areas to set up a tent or park a camper. Site is right next to Coal Creek. Being so close to the road you will have no privacy, but the remoteness of the area should mean little to no traffic at night. Disperse camping along FS route 100 is only allowed in designated locations in this part of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. All forest service disperse camping rules are in affect. Stay is limited to 16 days. No facilities at this site so come prepared. Site is at an elevation of 7000 feet

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 4, 2020

    Cow Creek Dispersed Camping Area

    Dispersed camping with great views

    Cow Creek Disperse camping area is a large fairly flat grassy area just off the road. Area is in the wide open on a high spot above the Ruby River meaning less bugs as you are unprotected from any breeze that may be blowing. The site has great views of the surrounding mountains and of the Ruby River below. Site has on large rock fire ring. Plenty of room to fit a large group at this location, with no problem finding flat spots for your tents. Disperse camping along FS route 100 is only allowed in designated locations in this part of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. All forest service disperse camping rules are in affect. Stay is limited to 16 days. No facilities at this site(so come prepared. Site is at an elevation of 6428 feet.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 17, 2019

    6100M Dispersed Camping Area

    Disperse camping on the shore of the Ruby River

    Dispersed Camping Area 6100M is a large camping area a short distance off forest road 100 with five established sites. Three of the sites are in the open and two are tucked in the trees along the edge of the Ruby River. The tree sites are very nice, sitting among large fir trees. Rock fire rings can be found at all sites, one of the treed sites along the river has a metal fire barrel. Disperse camping along FS route 100 is only allowed in designated locations in this part of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. All forest service disperse camping rules are in affect. Stay is limited to 16 days. No facilities at this site so come prepared. Site is at an elevation of 6567 feet

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 16, 2019

    6100X Dispersed Camping Area

    Just a grass camping area next to a creek

    Dispersed Camping Area 6100X is not much to talk about. The location is just barely off the road in a bumpy grassy area along Forest Service route 100. This camping area is wide open, not much of a site, but does have a small rock fire ring. I would suggest not using the fire ring as small sage brush is growing along the edge of the ring, would build a new ring if you wanted a fire. While the ground is a little bumpy you should have no problem find a level enough spot for a tent and a camper should be no problem at all. Disperse camping along FS route 100 is only allowed in designated locations in this part of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. All forest service disperse camping rules are in affect. Stay is limited to 16 days. No facilities at this site so come prepared. Site is at an elevation of 7024 feet.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 20, 2019

    6100J Dispersed Camping Area

    Disperse camp with a Outhouse!!!

    A Outhouse!!!. Dispersed Camping Area 6100J is a large camping area a short distance off forest road 100 with four to six established sites depending on how you look at it. But the best thing of all is just across FS road 100 is a vault toilet. The camping area sits between FS 100 and the Ruby River, unfortunately none of the sites are along the river. I said 4-6 sites as a few of the rock fire rings are very close to another fire ring, could fit to groups of campers at these sites, but why would you want to be so close to someone else while disperse camping. Good size fire rings at nice flat locations with plenty of room to set up camp. The vault toilet did not have any paper in it when I visited, but it was after the usual camping season and the middle of hunting season. The site also has 3 tie up rails for horses at the entrance to the camping area. Disperse camping along FS route 100 is only allowed in designated locations in this part of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. All forest service disperse camping rules are in affect. Stay is limited to 16 days. No facilities at this site(except for the vault toilet) so come prepared. Site is at an elevation of 6472 feet

  • Maddie F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 26, 2025

    Maiden Rock Dispersed

    BEST SPOT YET

    Hands down the best spot I’ve found on this app so far!!

    Literally was talking to myself as I pulled up making weird noises because I was in so much awe at how beautiful the spot was! The sunsets here are amazing or at least the night I stayed was!

    The camping spots are somewhat close together so that’s good to keep in mind.

    But omg, the spot is insane. The mosquitoes were not bad at all. The spot feels like a perfect little oasis.

    The spot is close to the freeway, but far enough that you won’t hear any of the noise so it’s perfect if you are on a road trip. :)

    There are some train tracks that run by it, but I didn’t notice if the train was noisy or going by as I was car camping!

    Getting to the spot - you will get off the main road and drive through some dirt roads and past some private property. At the end of one of the roads you’ll see a small bridge you’ll drive over and the camping spots are maybe 30 seconds past the bridge.

    Also an incredible spot to fish!

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 22, 2018

    Ruby Reservoir Recreation Area

    Primitive campground on the Ruby Reservoir

    The BLM's Ruby Reservoir is a disperse camping area. The only facilities at this campground is a double vault toilet. There is no signage on the highway to indicated the campground. After passing the dam look for the first paved turn with a stop sign on the right side of the road, this is your turn, the pavement will stop after a couple hundred feet. Lots of campsite can be found by following the web of roads once the pavement ends. Off road travel is not allowed. Their are no metal fire rings, all the fire rings in the area are made of rocks. Being a primitive camping area this is a trash-in-trash-out site, and you will need to bring your own water. This is a nice area, and I have camped here several times during hunting season. The fishing is decent as well. If you want to find garnets just head to the lake shore and start digging. Small ones can be found on the surface, bring a shovel and dig deeper if you want something decent. If you use a gold pan shake the gravel around for several minutes then flip the pan is the easiest way to find them as the garnets are heavy and will settle to the bottom of the pan. Site is free with a 16 day stay limit.

  • Ann A.
    Aug. 14, 2022

    Homestake Pass Dispersed

    Popular, spacious

    There’s a big area that had a dozen RVs & tents, but it was late & we wanted space so we followed a rough dirt road 1/2 a mile to find a spot in the trees. The Homestake Trailhead down the road has a bathroom. We did have a weird experience: a truck camped near us with two people who openly watched us the entire morning & followed us to the trailhead before driving on.

Guide to Sheridan

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Sheridan, Montana, where nature awaits with stunning landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, these spots offer something for everyone.

Fishing Adventures while Free Camping near Sheridan

  • The Ruby Reservoir Recreation Area is a great place for fishing enthusiasts, with decent fishing opportunities available right at the reservoir.
  • Campers can enjoy garnet hunting along the shores, making it a fun activity for families and friends alike.
  • The area is known for its tranquil environment, perfect for casting a line and relaxing by the water.

Scenic Views for Dispersed Campers

  • The Maiden Rock Dispersed area offers breathtaking mountain views and a picturesque river, making it an ideal spot for photography and nature lovers.
  • Each site is equipped with picnic tables and fire pits, allowing for cozy evenings under the stars while enjoying the stunning scenery.
  • The proximity to the freeway makes it a convenient stop for those traveling through the region, without sacrificing the beauty of nature.

Outdoor Activities for Dispersed Campers

  • The Homestake Pass Dispersed area is perfect for hiking and exploring nearby trails, providing ample opportunities for outdoor adventures.
  • Campers can experience wildlife encounters, as some visitors have reported seeing cows wandering through their sites, adding a unique touch to the camping experience.
  • With its spacious layout and beautiful vistas, this area is well-suited for both tent and RV camping, accommodating various camping styles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Sheridan, WY?

The Sheridan area offers several free dispersed camping options in the surrounding national forests and BLM land. Near the Ruby River, 6100M Dispersed Camping Area provides multiple established sites, with some tucked among large fir trees along the river's edge. For those seeking impressive views, Maiden Rock Dispersed offers beautiful sunset vistas in a scenic location. These sites typically operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Look for established fire rings and flat areas that indicate appropriate camping spots. Always follow Leave No Trace principles and check with local ranger districts for current conditions and regulations before heading out.

What amenities are available at dispersed camping sites around Sheridan?

Dispersed camping sites around Sheridan are primarily primitive with minimal amenities. 6100J Dispersed Camping Area stands out with access to a vault toilet just across Forest Service Road 100. Most other sites feature basic rock fire rings and flat areas for tents or campers. Ruby Reservoir Recreation Area offers a double vault toilet as its only facility. Generally, dispersed sites don't provide potable water, electricity, trash service, or picnic tables. Campers should plan to bring all necessary supplies, including water, and be prepared to pack out all trash. Cell service varies throughout the region, so don't count on reliable connectivity.

Are there any seasonal restrictions for overnight camping in the Sheridan area?

Seasonal restrictions for dispersed camping around Sheridan typically depend on weather conditions and forest regulations. Homestake Pass Dispersed and other higher elevation areas may be inaccessible during winter months due to snow. Humbug Spires Trailhead Basecamp and similar areas with gravel access roads might have seasonal closures during spring thaw when roads become muddy and susceptible to damage. Most dispersed camping in national forests typically limits stays to 14 days within a 30-day period. Always check with the local Forest Service or BLM office before your trip, as fire restrictions often apply during dry summer months, and some areas may implement temporary closures due to wildlife concerns or land management needs.

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