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Montana

Looking for the best camping in Montana? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Montana. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Camping Spots in and near Montana

  • Harrison, Montana

    Relax at Potosi Hot Springs

    4.3
    Rain filled the air and fog hung low. It was to dreary to do much, but the idea of soaking in a natural warm springs beneath the peaks of the Tobacco Root mountains was too tempting to stay in side.Potosi Hot Springs is about 25 minutes out of the town of Pony, MT. It’s one of my favorite places ...
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  • West Glacier, Montana

    Explore Avalanche Creek

    5.0
    0.7 mi
    Avalanche Creek is one of Glacier National Park's easiest features to access and also one of its most unique. The old-growth cedar forest is home to towering trees, moss-covered boulders, and a rushing stream of glacial water. A small loop trail winds through the lower forest and leads to a bri...
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  • Bozeman, Montana

    Relax at Fairy Lake

    5.0
    Have a day to kick back and relax? With just a short drive of under an hour (from Bozeman), you could be enjoying the outdoors at a scenic alpine lake. Fairy Lake is a gorgeous glacial lake located at the north eastern base of Sacagawea Peak in the Bridger Mountain Range.To access the lake trail,...
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  • Big Timber, Montana

    Crazy Peak Scramble

    4.5
    Do you like high alpine scrambles? Climbing exposed spires? Partying on a mountain top?If you said yes to any of the above, head to Big Timber Montana and prepare for a great time. Crazy Peak is an epic highpoint within the Crazy Mountains, located in southwestern Montana. Although this hike can ...
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  • Browning, Montana

    Backpack the Continental Divide in Glacier NP

    4.0
    33.4 mi / 5257 ft gain
    Park your car at the Two Medicine North Shore Trailhead, and take a National Park Shuttle (if they are running during the season--they stop around Labor Day in September) or set up a private shuttle service to St. Mary and the Red Eagle Trailhead (only ~$10-20 bucks a person).The first day from t...
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  • Glacier County, Montana

    Explore Two Medicine Lake

    5.0
    Two Medicine Lake sits in the southeastern part of Glacier NP away from the more popular Going-to-the-Sun Road. The 2-mile long lake has a 100 site campground that serves visitors on a first-come-first-serve basis; the campground opens mid-April and closes in November. From the main parking area...
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  • Darby, Montana

    Backpack to Little Rock Creek

    9 mi / 1780 ft gain
    Little Rock Creek is one of the Bitterroots' best kept secrets. In late spring, the glacier lilies are in full bloom, and sprinkle the valley floor. At that time of year, there may also be quite a bit of snow on the ground, which will require some bushwhacking to stay on the trail.Little Rock Cre...
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  • Gallatin Gateway, Montana

    Hike to Lava Lake

    5.0
    6 mi / 1600 ft gain
    The 6 mile round trip to Lava Lake is a steady climb that runs beside Cascade Creek through the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. The trail starts at the Gallatin River and continues upward through dense evergreen forest. There are no confusing intersections but is quite rocky and considered to be moderate...
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  • Roscoe, Montana

    Backpack to Rainbow Lake via the East Rosebud Trail

    3.0
    16 mi / 1600 ft gain
    Also known as "The Beaten Path", the East Rosebud Trail is a highly traveled and well maintained trail with amazing views and a handful of lakes along the route. The trail is ultimately 26 miles long and places you near Cooke City. Rainbow Lake is located 7 miles from the trailhead and is a perfe...
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  • Gallatin Gateway, Montana

    Hike to Golden Trout Lakes

    4.0
    5 mi / 1300 ft gain
    The Golden Trout lakes offer a scenic getaway just out of the Gallatin Valley Canyon. To access the trail head, turn east onto Portal Creek Road #984 and continue southeast for 6.8 miles. The road is in rough condition and is better suited for vehicles with a higher clearance. The trail head is e...
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  • West Glacier, Montana

    Camp at Sprague Creek Campground on Lake McDonald

    4.5
    Ten miles long and nearly 500 feet deep, Lake McDonald, the largest lake in Glacial National Park. Sprague Creek is a small 25-site campground on the northeast shore of the lake, about 9 miles from the west entrance of the park. Campsites are on a first-come, first-serve basis and fill up early....
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  • Anaconda, Montana

    Hike the Johnson Lake Loop

    16 mi / 3160 ft gain
    Day 1: After pulling into the Middle Fork parking lot, there will be two trailheads. Sign in at either one, but I started at TH 28 to head directly to Johnson Lake. A gradual climb passes beautiful waterfalls and recovering burn scars dotted with flowers. To Johnson Lake is 5.2 miles with an ele...
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  • Gallatin Gateway, Montana

    Hike to Emerald and Heather Lake

    5.0
    10.9 mi / 2000 ft gain
    Once in Bozeman, Take 19th Ave. south to Hyalite Canyon Rd. Turn left and continue past Hyalite Reservoir; when the road splits, take the left fork toward Palisade Falls. Continue past Palisade Falls to the end of the road. The trailhead is immediately ahead of you. This hike is around 11 miles t...
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  • Fishtail, Montana

    Backpack the Beartooths via the West Rosebud Trail

    22.69 mi / 6795 ft gain
    The West Rosebud Trail functions as one of the major routes to Granite Peak, the highest point in Montana. The trailhead (6,558') is located approximately 80 miles south of Billings in the Beartooth Absaroka Wilderness. The road to the trail passes Emerald and West Rosebud Lakes just before arriv...
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  • West Glacier, Montana

    Camp at Bowman Lake

    5.0
    26.85 mi / 3005 ft gain
    Bowman lake is the 3rd largest lake in Glacier National Park and one of the most remote areas accessible by car. The drive out on a dirt road is slow and bumpy but the reward is an area without crowds and lots of adventure potential. The first-come-first-served campground offers 48 sites near t...
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  • Anaconda, Montana

    Backpack the Warren Pass Loop

    12 mi / 2000 ft gain
    Often overlooked due not to its lack of scenery, but rather because of its proximity to both Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness in southwest Montana is a haven for hikers and backpackers seeking a true wilderness experience. Established in 1964, the area strad...
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