Bannack Campground

The Great Outdoors

A highlight of RV camping at the Bannack Campground is strolling down the deserted streets of Bannack to get a taste of what life was like in the Old West. It’s considered the best preserved of Montana’s ghost towns, with historical displays, re-enactors, and activities held during the warmer months. You can embark on a guided tour from the visitor center or explore independently along one of the numerous hiking trails that wind along the banks of Grasshopper Creek.Dillon campers are also on the doorstep of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, which is the largest of its kind in Montana. It encompasses more than three million acres across nine separate sections, one of which lies just north of the Bannack Campground. It surrounds the slopes of Tweedy Mountain, which is the highest point in Montana’s Pioneer Range at 11,154 feet. Aside from being traversed by the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and the Nez Perce National Historic Trail, the forest is also home to grizzly bears, Canadian lynx, bighorn sheep, and moose.To the west of the Bannack Campground lies the Salmon-Challis National Forest, which is located just across the border in Idaho. It encompasses parts of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, the Sawtooth Wilderness, and the Jim McClure-Jerry Peak Wilderness. A highlight of this protected area is the Wild and Scenic Salmon River that winds through the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, where everything from hiking to white water rafting, mountain biking, and rock climbing on offer. The Salmon-Challis National Forest also encompasses Idaho’s tallest mountain, Borah Peak, which rises to 12,662 feet and can be accessed along a challenging, seven-mile hiking route.

Exploring the City

RV camping at the Bannack Campground is just 30 minutes’ drive from Dillon where you can find a couple of supermarkets for stocking up on supplies. There are also gas stations here if you need to fill up your RV rental and a good selection of eateries and fast-food restaurants for dining out.While visiting Dillon, stop in at the Beaverhead County Museum, which preserves the natural and cultural history of the region. The museum has been collecting, displaying, and interpreting local history for more than 50 years and is housed in a charming log building complex in the heart of the downtown area. Explore the authentic homesteaders' cabin and see the first flush toilet outhouse in Dillon, then browse the mining and agricultural equipment on display. The Beaverhead County Museum also features a one-room schoolhouse and a 1909 Union Pacific Depot, as well as a diorama illustrating the early 19th century Lewis and Clark Expedition.Camp in an RV near Dillon and spend a day visiting the city of Butte, which serves as the seat of Silver Bow County. It’s home to the World Museum of Mining, where you can stroll through a recreated 1890s mining town, browse a range of antique mining tools, and tour the inactive silver and zinc mine known as the Orphan Girl. Also worth visiting is the Dumas Brothel, a historic red-brick brothel that operated between 1890 and 1982. When it closed its doors, it was the longest operating brothel in the United States and has reopened for tours of its Victorian-era rooms, which are believed by some to be haunted. A short stroll from the Dumas Brothel is the Mai Wah Society Inc, where Butte's Asian heritage is celebrated and the Piccadilly Museum of Transportation, where vintage cars and motoring memorabilia are displayed.Whether you want to discover the gold mining history of Montana or explore its breathtaking wilderness areas, book an RV in Beaverhead County and start planning your next vacation.