Best Tent Camping near Virginia City, MT
Tent campsites near Virginia City, Montana range from established campgrounds to primitive backcountry sites across the surrounding mountains and valleys. Revenue Flats offers tent camping with fire rings in an open setting, while Varney Bridge Fishing Access Site provides tent sites with picnic tables and fire pits along the Madison River. Mill Creek Campground in Beaverhead National Forest, located 7 miles from Sheridan, offers shaded tent sites with basic amenities including vault toilets and hand pump wells for water.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature dirt or gravel parking pads with designated areas for pitching tents. Vault toilets are common at established sites, though drinking water availability varies significantly. Fire rings and picnic tables are standard at developed tent sites, while dispersed camping areas may have rudimentary rock fire rings or none at all. Bear activity is present throughout the region, with some campgrounds providing bear-proof food lockers. Campers should note that many higher elevation tent sites, particularly in the Tobacco Root Mountains, remain inaccessible until July due to snowmelt and are typically closed by September.
The tent camping experience near Virginia City offers varying levels of solitude depending on location and season. Spanish Lakes provides backcountry tent camping reached via a challenging 9-mile hike, rewarding visitors with pristine alpine lakes and mountain views. Sites along fishing access points like Varney Bridge can experience regular daytime traffic from anglers, particularly during peak fishing seasons. Tent campers at Revenue Flats enjoy exceptional stargazing opportunities but minimal shade during daytime hours. According to one visitor, "The sites have a large rock fire ring in the cooking area with logs sitting around it to sit on," highlighting the rustic but functional nature of many tent sites in the area. Walk-in tent sites at several campgrounds provide greater separation from vehicle noise and other campers.