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Best Tent Camping near Ulm, MT

182 Reviews

Tent camping options surrounding Ulm, Montana include several established campgrounds with primitive facilities. Lowry Bridge Access Site offers tent sites with picnic tables and access to the river, while Mountain Palace Fishing Access Site near Cascade provides a few riverfront tent sites with basic amenities. Both locations serve as popular spots for anglers looking to camp near quality fishing waters along the Missouri River.

Most tent sites near Ulm feature gravel pads with minimal improvements. Fishing access sites like Lowry Bridge and Mountain Palace typically include fire rings and picnic tables, but campers should bring their own water as drinking water is not available. Several campgrounds require small fees for overnight camping, with different rates for residents and non-residents. Vault toilets are available at most established sites, though some more remote locations like Sluice Boxes State Park Campground lack facilities entirely. Wolf Creek Bridge and Lichen Cliff Fishing Access Sites provide basic tent camping with toilet facilities but limited privacy from nearby roads.

The camping experience varies significantly between locations. Sluice Boxes State Park offers walk-in tent camping that requires hikers to carry all equipment but rewards with solitude and scenic views. Sites near the Missouri River provide water access for fishing and cooling off during hot summer months. Little Log Campground features ten tent-only sites in a gulch above Holter Lake, though the sloped terrain limits flat areas for tent placement. "Not much of a campground, 5 campsites along the edge of the parking area and next to Recreation Road," noted one camper about Wolf Creek Bridge, highlighting how some fishing access sites prioritize boat access over camping comfort. For campers seeking seclusion, sites farther from main roads generally offer quieter experiences and better stargazing opportunities.

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Best Tent Sites Near Ulm, Montana (15)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Ulm, MT

1 Photos of 15 Ulm Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Ulm, MT

182 Reviews of 15 Ulm Campgrounds

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 10, 2019

    Holter Dam Rec. Site Campground

    Ranger review of Wenzel's Windy Pass Mummy 0° Sleeping bag and Holter Dam C

    Holter Dam Campground Review

    Holter Dam Campground at Holter Dam Recreation site is a BLM 15 site campground located just below Holter Dam. All 15 sites at the campground feature covered picnic tables with a fire ring. All the sites sit along the edge of a very large parking area. 13 of the sites have plenty of room for tents on a nice flat grassy area. Two sites are close together and have limited room for tents. The campground has a double vault toilet with numerous water faucets, and dumpsters. A second vault toilet can be found at the boat ramp area just a short distance from the campground. An ADA campsite sits right in front of the vault toilets. The concrete pad for the ADA site extends to and surrounds the fire ring allowing wheelchairs to get as close to the fire as they want. Campsites run $10 an night (½ price for senior and access pass holders). Keep an eye out on the surrounding hills around the campground for Big Horn Sheep. While staying at the campground we saw 5 sheep on the hill next to the campground entrance.

    Ranger review of the Wenzel Windy Pass Mummy 0° Sleeping bag

    I was quiet pleased with the Windy Pass 0° Mummy sleeping bag. The bag is roomy, giving you room to turn around in the bags with out needing to have to bag turn with you. On the bags stuff sack it says it is a cold weather bag 0-20 degrees. I slept warm all night with the temps dropping into the low 30's with it raining all night (snow was on the ground on the hills above us). I was quiet pleased with the amount of padding the bag provided during the night as my sleeping pad failed to hold air, but I was still able to sleep comfortably on the hard ground. I got up several times during the night and each time I was able to warm back up in just a few minutes after getting back in to the bag. It will be interesting to test it out next winter in colder weather to see if it meets its temperature claims. I weighted the bag, and at 4 pounds 10 ounces, you might not be taking this one out on a backpacking trip, but for the front country camping you can't go wrong with this warm bag, specially for the price of $45.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 10, 2019

    Departure Point Campground

    Parking Lot Camping

    Departure Point campground is basically camping in a parking lot. Four "campsites" are lined parking spots in a large paved area with a picnic table and fire ring at the end of the parking spot. The four spots are right next to each other. If you want to set up a tent you will be setting it up on the pavement. The area has two vault toilets, running water and trash service. Down below the camping area is a nice day use area with four picnic tables three of which are covered and right on the edge of the lake. Camping is not allowed in the day use area along the lake. So if you want to tent camp you will want to head to one of the other BLM campgrounds on the lake.

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

    Little Log Campground

    Ranger Review of Mountain House Lasagna and Little Log Tent Only Campground

    Little Log campground is a small 10 site tent only campground in the Log Gulch Recreation Area on Holter Lake. Located just past the larger Log Gulch campground this small campground sites in a gully above the lake. Flat locations to put a tent are limited due to the slope of the ground in the campground, but each site does have a flat area for a tent, however it may be hard to find room for more than one tent. Most of the choices for tent placement are at the end of the parking pad next the the picnic table and fire ring. The campground cost $15 per night, has trash service, running water and a double vault toilet. Each site has a picnic table and metal fire ring. A short distance from the campground and across the street is the day use area for the recreation area, where fishing appears to be good as we saw several large fish taken out of the lake in a short period of time. Registration for campsites is located in the day use area on the side of the road as you enter the recreation area.

    Ranger Review of Mountain House's Lasagna with meat sauce freeze dried meal.

    Gave this Lasagna a tried and liked it. Did find that it seemed to need something to make it real good, and that would be a packet of Parmesan cheese, if they would include the Parmesan to put on the lasagna after cooking then this would be an awesome meal. Even with out the Parmesan this is a good meal. Following the instructions and stirring well resulted in a well hydrated hot meal. A little on the saucy side, but the texture of the noddles and meat are spot on. At 2.5 servings per bag this is perfect for two people, the meal was a little two much for just me to eat on my own. Can't wait to eat this again on my summer backpacking trips, but will be bringing a little Parmesan to put on it.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 13, 2019

    Log Gulch Recreation Site

    Ranger Review of Wenzel Boulderdasche 33 Backpack and Log Gulch Recreation

    Log Gulch Recreation site has two campgrounds for a total of 72 campsites, Log Gulch and Little Log. The main campground Log Gulch Campground has 60 sites, plus two tent walk in sites. This is a paved campground with gravel parking pads. A large day use area with boat ramp, marina, fish cleaning site, Ramada and beach are below the campground across the road. The campground features a ranger station, two vault toilets (a third one can be found in the day use area), running water, trash service and a Ramada located at the top of the campground. Sites 1-13 are best suited for RV's. Two of the sites in Log Gulch are walk in tent only campsites. After sites 1-13 all the other sites are very nice large sites with plenty of room for tents, however finding a flat place may be challenging as the campground is built on a hill. Grassy sites can be found in the center of the main loop. All sites have picnic tables with fire rings. A small creeks runs along the edge of the campground. Two trail heads are at the campground, one at each end which connect to 4 miles of hiking trails. Fishing appears to very good at the marina as I watch two very large trout be pulled out of the water in a short period of time.

    Ranger Review of the Wenzel' Boulderdasche 33 Backpack

    I took this pack on a 7.5 mile hike and found it to be a comfortable pack that held everything I needed for a day hike. Like to retro look of the pack. One of its features is a padded internal laptop sleeve, which works well holding a hydration bag. Another feature I liked was that the clips were metal not plastic so I won't have to worry about cracking them when putting the pack down on the ground. Two side pockets and a top pocket have plenty of room to hold frequently used items so you won't have to open up the whole pack each time you want something. A chest strap would have been a nice feature to have. Loops on the back, bottom and top of the pack make it possible to strap additional items to the outside of the pack if needed, which could allow this pack to be used for an single overnight trip if you are a lightweight backpacker. A pretty nice pack for the price.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2018

    Dearborn Fishing Access Site

    Tiny tucked away campsite

    Dearborn Fishing access site has one campsite tucked away in the corner of the fishing access area next to the ADA Vault Toilet. Site has a picnic table and metal fire ring. The area has very little room to park so those camping their will likely have the site to them selves. The river access is a step set of stairs dropping down to the river so you not be having fishing boats or canoes using the site to access the river, but you can access the site from the river. A private residence is next to the fishing access site but the placement of the campsite does not make it feel like your in someones yard. The advantage of the one campsite is once you have your vehicle parked your site including the picnic table and fire ring can't be seen by others visiting the area. The site has no water or trash service.

  • M
    May. 10, 2025

    Kelly Gulch Road Dispersed Camping

    Beautiful views 40 min from Helena

    The gate was closed and does not open until May 15. I was able to walk up about less than a quarter mile and find a flat ground where I was able to set up my shelter. I’m sure this gets busy in the summertime. Since it’s on a mountain, the amount of flat areas are limited so it’s first come first serve. I took my bike and rode the Road a little bit and found an opening with an amazing spot to put up a hammock. There are absolutely no amenities here and you’re required a shovel and bucket if you were camping pack everything out and leave no trace. You can identify a campsite by how flat the ground is and usually there is a fire pit already made. There are bullet holes everywhere in signs and remnants of shells everywhere to be honest the vibe was very off almost eerie and deadening silence. I did not really enjoy the vibe, but that was me personally I’m sure you’ll enjoy this very much.

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

    Wolf Creek Bridge

    Newly upgrated FAS

    Wolf Creek Bridge FAS got a big upgrade over the winter.  The fishing access site is now fully paved.  No more parking in the mud or dirt.  With the upgrade the old vault toilet is gone and two new vault toilets have replaced it.  The site still has five campsites but four of them have been relocated.  One site sits at the entrance to the FAS, one site sits in the same location near the highway, the other three sites have moved across the parking area and sit near the vault toilets.  All sites have picnic tables, the three near the vault toilet have metal fire rings.  I expect that the other two will have rings soon.  Site still has no water or trash service.  This is a great location to start a nice day long float down the Missouri River, even better now that it is paved.  Site gains a star.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 8, 2018

    Holter Dam Rec. Site Campground

    Very nice, very busy campground

    Holter Lake Recreation Area campground is a very nice campground with 52 camp sites. The entire campground including parking pads is paved. The site also has a swimming beach, boat ramp, docks, fish cleaning station, and accessible fishing walkway. The site has several vault toilets as well as water faucets through out the campground. This is a very busy campground with sites filling up fast, especially on the weekends. All sites are first come first serve, no reservations. If you want to avoid the crowd bring a tent and camp in the tent only area, when we visited no one was using the eight tent only sites, yet all the other sites in the camp ground were full. Each campsite has a fire-pit and picnic table.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 26, 2022

    Nilan Reservoir

    Camping on the shore of Nilan Reservoir

    Nilan Reservoir Fishing Access site has six campsites on the south west shore of the reservoir.  These sites are small and close together, while you can set up a tent these sites are better suited to RV campers.  Sites are in the open near the road.  Three set of two sites with a vault toilet located with sites 1 & 2 and another at sites 5 & 6.  The fishing access site has a boat launch located by sites 5 & 6 and this is also the location of the fee station.  Site five is the best location for a tent as it has a patch of grass.  Each site has a picnic table and metal fire ring.  This is a trash in-trash out campground.  Site is also dry so be sure to bring all the water you will need.  Price varies by state residency and if you have a fishing license or not.  Price varies from $5 to $18 a night (picture included that shows the break down)

Guide to Ulm

Tent campsites near Ulm, Montana range from fishing access sites to state parks, typically situated along waterways. Most sites require self-sufficiency as amenities are limited and many locations charge different fees for residents versus non-residents. During summer months, fishing access sites become busy with boaters and anglers, particularly on weekends and holidays.

What to do

Water recreation access: At Eureka Reservoir, campers can enjoy calm water activities earlier in the season than river locations. "Sweet calm water access... You can go here to get your feet wet earlier in the season," notes Jean L.

Fish from shore: Lichen Cliff offers easy fishing access with shallow creek areas. "Good location to cool off on a hot day as the creek is shallow," explains Dexter I., making it suitable for beginners.

Hiking opportunities: Sluice Boxes State Park Campground provides access to extensive trail networks. Campers report "ton of spots to camp at as long as you walk off the trail a ways," according to Chloe B., who also mentions the area offers solitude despite daytime hikers.

What campers like

Paved access improvements: Wolf Creek Bridge received significant upgrades to its facilities. "Wolf Creek Bridge FAS got a big upgrade over the winter. The fishing access site is now fully paved. No more parking in the mud or dirt," reports Dexter I., who appreciated the addition of new vault toilets.

Quiet waterfront locations: Tent campsites near Ulm provide peaceful settings away from busy areas. At Lowry Bridge Access Site, Susan A. found a "Nice, quiet, clean campground. About 5 level sites. Good for small RVs."

Winter access options: Some locations near Ulm remain open year-round for hardy campers. According to Sterling C., "Camp Rotary is great for winter camping" with cabins that have "semi-decent heating" and "super warm" bathrooms, which extends the camping season beyond summer months.

What you should know

Fee structures: Most fishing access sites charge overnight fees that vary based on fishing license status. At Lowry Bridge Access Site, Marilyn K. notes the site is "4 miles off route 200, Left on MT-21, Right on Lowry Road, over bridge" with "Picnic table, fire ring, pit toilet, gravel pad. 5-6 sites mostly level. BLM land free."

Limited space at fishing access sites: Many sites have minimal designated camping areas. Wolf Creek Bridge has "Small boat ramp site 4 spaces for small campers," according to Lowell S., with no hookups available.

Pack-in requirements: Some sites require carrying all equipment. Sluice Boxes State Park demands visitors be "up for hauling in your stuff and back out" and requires comfort with "not having access to a bathroom or a fire pit," according to one camper.

Road conditions: Access roads vary in quality between sites. For Lowry Bridge, Susan A. mentions, "Road to the campground is decent," while other locations may require high-clearance vehicles.

Tips for camping with families

Shallow water options: Sites with gradual water entry work best for families with young children. Lichen Cliff has "a large pullout from the road. It is along the creek, which is pretty," notes James M., providing safer water access.

Look for designated tent areas: Due to terrain challenges, finding flat spots can be difficult. Little Log Campground presents challenges as "Flat locations to put a tent are limited due to the slope of the ground in the campground," cautions Dexter I., though "each site does have a flat area for a tent."

Consider tent-only areas: For families wanting separation from RVs, Little Log Campground offers "a small 10 site tent only campground in the Log Gulch Recreation Area on Holter Lake," situated "in a gully above the lake."

Tips from RVers

Site placement matters: At Mountain Palace Fishing Access Site, "sites 1 & 2 sit above the Missouri river and are quite nice with great views of the Missouri river, the third one sits next to Recreation Road," explains Dexter I., highlighting how positioning affects privacy and views.

Be aware of size restrictions: Most tent campsites near Ulm cannot accommodate large rigs. Lowry Bridge is noted as "Good for small RVs" but lacks facilities for bigger vehicles.

Expect parking lot-style setups: Many fishing access sites are designed primarily for boat access. Wolf Creek Bridge has sites "along the edge of the parking area and next to Recreation Road," which lacks privacy but provides convenience for anglers.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Ulm, MT is Lowry Bridge Access Site with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 15 tent camping locations near Ulm, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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