Dispersed camping near Victor, Montana offers backcountry experiences in the Bitterroot National Forest at elevations ranging from 4,000 to 8,000 feet. This mountainous region features numerous alpine lakes accessible by forest service roads that transition from maintained gravel to more technical routes. Summer temperatures typically range from 45-85°F with afternoon thunderstorms common in July and August.
What to do
Fishing access points: Rock Creek provides excellent fly fishing opportunities with multiple access points. A camper at Rock Creek Dispersed Spot noted, "Locals I ran into there love the fly-fishing at this site."
Hiking to alpine lakes: Several dispersed camping areas serve as basecamps for mountain lake hikes. At Bass Lake Dispersed Camping, a visitor shared, "Around 7 miles one way to the lake, only gain 3000ft over the course of the hike with around 1000ft of elevation gain in last mile."
Multi-lake exploration: Peterson Lake area serves as a gateway to multiple alpine lakes. One camper reported, "About 5 miles one way to Peterson lake, another 1 and 2 miles to Duffy and Holloway lakes above Peterson. Nice secluded valley heading into Bitteroot-Selway wilderness."
What campers like
Creek access: Many dispersed sites offer direct water access. At Lost Horse Dispersed Campground, a camper appreciated, "Camp is easy to get to. Gravel road for about 2 miles but it's pretty smooth. The view is gorgeous. Trees, mountains, and a nice sized river that cuts through."
Seclusion options: Blue Mountain offers camping opportunities away from crowds. A camper stated, "We drove about 45 minutes up the mountain on the 365 road, and found a very secluded camping spot with a absolute beautiful view. We hardly saw anyone on the way up but the road is very narrow."
Stargazing: Minimal light pollution provides excellent night sky viewing. A visitor at Petty Creek Road Dispersed Camping shared their experience: "Felt very private, and the stars were fantastic! Creek bed runs right next to the back site, but it was completely dried up in late July."
What you should know
Bridge conditions: Several access roads have aging infrastructure. One camper at Rock Creek Dispersed Spot warned, "We struggled with the two narrow bridges with tight turns in our travel trailer and then there's a large flood way dip in the road that you can bottom out on."
Road traffic variations: Some seemingly remote areas experience surprisingly heavy traffic. A reviewer observed, "This area allows disperse camping Beyond a certain point (there is a small sign). There is a map provided at the road trailhead. However it is confusing since I believe the map is upside down."
Cell service reliability: Connectivity varies significantly between sites. A camper at Petty Creek noted, "Service is spotty, verizon and at&t had only 1 bar. Found some random bones, saw some deer, and lots of bugs."
Tips for camping with families
Site selection for privacy: Some areas offer multiple sites with varied spacing. At Blue Mountain Forest Road 365, a camper advised, "Blue Mountain is a great place to recreate! Very dog friendly and tons of trails for hiking and mountain biking. Camping is allowed west of road 365."
Wildlife awareness: Prepare children for potential wildlife encounters. One camper mentioned, "Something is eating big game out here so lock up your food. Wayyyy better than sleeping in a parking lot."
Campsite maintenance: Some popular areas suffer from misuse. A camper cautioned, "Small area with a few places to park, thankfully nobody was there when we were but could be fun for a group!"
Tips from RVers
Turnaround challenges: Many forest roads lack adequate space for larger vehicles to maneuver. One RVer at Petty Creek Road shared, "We have a 27 foot RV towed with a truck that has a 8ft bed. Initially we missed the turn and had nowhere to turn around since this is on the side of a mountain."
Site depth limitations: Some sites cannot accommodate larger rigs. A camper noted, "Toyota Tundra pulling a 14' trailer. We were able to back into site (flat!) and do a 180° turn ok to exit."
Road surface conditions: Forest roads deteriorate seasonally. A visitor warned, "Road is absolutely clapped out going up for like ten miles. Wouldn't recommend a rv or trailer unless you don't mind washboards. I got a flat tire going up so be careful of sharp rocks."
