The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in southwest Montana is the largest of the national forests in the state and is spread out over 3.32 million acres. In fact, it is so big that it is in eight different counties of Beaverhead, Gallatin, Madison, Silver Bow, Deer Lodge, Jefferson, Powell, and Granite. Over three million people visit the forest every year for many different activities.
In 1805, Sacajawea, who was the Indian guide for Lewis and Clark, spotted a rock that looked like a beaver’s head, which is where the name came from. Both the Beaverhead and Deerlodge National Forests were proclaimed in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt. You can find plenty of historic buildings and interpretive trails here in the forest so you can learn more about the history of the area.
In the summertime, you can go boating, swimming, or fishing at one of the hundreds of lakes, ponds, and rivers in the forest. You can also enjoy the more than 50 trails from one mile to over 50 miles in length. There are even some trails especially for equestrians, ATVs, and mountain biking. Winter sports include cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. Spend a night or a week at one of the 48 RV-friendly campgrounds here. Read on to check out our five favorite RV campgrounds.
Interstate 15 will take you right into the heart of Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Along the way you can check out one of the two scenic driving tours. The Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway goes from Grasshopper Creek to Wise River, and the Lemhi Pass crosses through the Bitterroot Range and into the Beaverhead Mountains.
The drive is so scenic since you can see native wildflowers, sagebrush, prairie grasses, and thick stands of lodgepole pine and douglas fir trees. Highway 43 and Interstate 90 will both lead you through the forest to the campground of your choice. Watch out for wildlife that tend to cross the roads here, especially at dusk and dawn. It is best to take it slow anyway, especially if you are driving a large campervan or pulling a trailer.
The roads further into the parks and campgrounds are typically not well groomed and tend to have potholes and ruts. The trees have low hanging branches in many areas, and you should be careful not to damage any of the flora as you head to your destination. Most people who use these campgrounds park their rigs in their campsite and just walk or ride to wherever they need to go.
If you like ATV riding, this campground is perfect for you. Open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Delmoe Lake Campground has 25 sites that have room for RVs and trailers up to 32 feet in length. The campground is 15 miles from Butte and Whitehall and has many ATV trails as well as a boat launch and fishing areas. The campsites all have picnic tables, fire pits with grills, and a cleared space. There are also several vault toilets in the park for your convenience.
If you want to do some fishing, the Delmoe Lake is a great place to catch some whoppers. From bass to catfish to trout, you should be able to find something you like here. This is bear country so all food must be kept in a bear resistant storage unit, which you can borrow for free from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge District office. Campsites are first-come, first-served, so get here early to get a good spot. Also, pets should be kept restrained and attended at all times during your stay.
Philipsburg Bay Campground is on Georgetown Lake and provides excellent access to water skiing, boating, and fishing, and swimming. Surrounded by mountains and overlooking the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, this gorgeous campground is perfect for everyone with 69 large campsites. These are mostly on a first-come, first-served basis so make sure you get here early if you want a specific spot. Most of the sites can accommodate an RV or trailer up to 60 feet in length.
Each campsite has its own fire pit with grill, picnic table, and a large cleared space. There are several vault toilets in the park as well. Georgetown Lake is a popular destination for fishing with rainbow and brook trout and kokanee salmon the most sought-after. Boating, canoeing, hiking, and biking are also favorites here with quite a few trails to explore. All food must be kept in a bear resistant storage unit, which you can borrow for free from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge District office. Also, pets should be kept restrained and attended at all times during your stay.
There are 220 lakes and quite a few swimming beaches here so make sure you pack your floaties and beach toys in the camper before heading to the forest. The Dillon Ranger District has several spots that are perfect for swimming such as Reservoir Lake. Swimming options in the Madison District includes Branham Lakes, Cliff Point, and Wade Lake. The Pintler District features swimming areas at Cable Mountain, Echo Lake, Lodgepole, Piney, and Rainbow Bay. There are also numerous other small lakes, ponds, creeks, and rivers where you can cool off during the summer.
The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest also has many lakes that allow boating so hook that boat trailer to the RV before you come. The Wisdom Ranger District in Wisdom, Montana has several lakes where you can go boating. Pintler has five boat-friendly lakes, which include Piney Camp, Philipsburg Bay, Lodgepole, Grassy Point, and Cable Mountain. If you are closer to the Madison Ranger District, check out Cliff Point, Elk Lake, and Wade Lake. Make sure you bring a life jacket for everyone and practice safe boating at all times.
The Butte-Jefferson Ranger District boasts the headwaters of the Columbia River Basin, Jefferson River, and Big Hole River as the best places to catch blue ribbon trout in Montana. In the northwest part of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest you can find more than 20 campgrounds with excellent fishing such as the East Fork, Moose Lake, and West Fork. For lake fishing, try the Delmoe Lake in Butte-Jefferson or the Reservoir Lake in the Dillon Ranger District. Don’t forget to pack your fishing gear and license in the rig before you head out.
Lowland Campground is about 20 miles north of Butte and just west of Interstate 15. Located close to Sheepshead Recreation Area, there are amazing fishing opportunities at Maney Lake. If you like to hike, it is also close to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. The campground has 12 spacious campsites that can house RVs and trailers up to about 24 feet in length These are all back-in sites and have plenty of room to maneuver your camper or trailer. You have to get here early to get a good spot because these are first-come, first-served.
All campsites have a fire pit, table, and a cleared space. Vault toilets are available in several areas around the park. Wood is typically found around the campground area that you can chop yourself or you can buy some from the camp store. All food must be kept in a bear resistant storage unit, which you can borrow for free from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge District office. Also, pets should be kept restrained and attended at all times during your stay.
Beaverdam Campground in the Fleecer Mountain Range 20 miles south of Butte has 15 campsites. These pads can accommodate from 24 to 50-foot RVs and trailers. You will find five pull-through sites and 10 back-in sites here, and since they are first-come, first-served, you need to get here early to get the spot you want. The campground is open year-round, but the water access is only available from Memorial weekend until Labor Day.
Each campsite has a picnic table, cleared space, and a fire pit with a grill for cooking. All food must be kept in a bear resistant storage unit, which you can borrow for free from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge District office. There are several vault toilets around the campground for your convenience. Also, pets should be kept restrained and attended at all times during your stay.
Lodgepole Campground has 20 campsites on the banks of Georgetown Lake. Each site has a cleared space, pad up to 60 feet long, a picnic table, and a fire pit with a grill for cooking. There is access to potable water at several sites around the campground as well as two restrooms and several vault toilets. Since these sites are all first-come, first-served, it is best if you get here early to get a spot, especially on weekends and holidays.
Being right across from Georgetown Lake, you can do some canoeing and kayaking as well as fishing for trout, salmon, and many other kinds of fish. There are also many trails for hikers, bikers, and equestrians. All food must be kept in a bear resistant storage unit, which you can borrow for free from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge District office. Also, pets should be kept restrained and attended at all times during your stay.
Pack your skis in the rig because you can find some awesome trails in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. In fact, there are 38 of them. The Chief Joseph Ski Trails off Highway 43 has three different trails from easy to most difficult. The Wade Lake Trail at Wade Lake Resort and Campground has a groomed trail that goes around Wade and Cliff Lakes. If you want a challenge, the Lodgepole Ridge Ski Trail starts at Georgetown Lake and has two trails; one that is difficult and one that is most difficult.
If you are looking for a variety of wooded trails, the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness area in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest has over 100 miles of trails, as well as the Continental Divide Trail, which is a 3,100-mile hike from Canada to Mexico. You can also try the Gold Creek Trail #153, Pioneer Loop #750, and the Pettengill Creek Trail #245. Make sure you pack your hiking boots and backpack so you can get out there and explore the amazing wilderness of this huge forest.
For big game hunting at its finest, pack your gun and hunting gear in the RV and get to the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. There are numerous species here such as antelope, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, moose, bears, elk, and deer. If you would rather hunt the small critters, you can find plenty of squirrels, rabbits, turkeys, and other wildlife here. Do not forget to bring your hunting license and tags and keep them with you during your hunt.
