Chinamen's Campground
- Review campsite details -- RV's larger than 20 feet long maybe be to large for many of the campsites. This Campground is located at the very northern end of Canyon Ferry Reservoir, 30 miles east of Helena, Montana, along Montana Highway 284 and offers year-round access to a wide range of recreational opportunities. The Canyon Ferry area has a rich mining history. In the 1850’s the gold rush hit the Canyon Ferry area attracting miners from all over the United States in the hopes of striking it rich.
More like this: reservable in Montana · big rigs in Montana · pets allowed in Montana
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 37 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
37 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 21 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 002 | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 003 | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 004 | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 005 | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 006 | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 007 | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 008 | 25 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 009 | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 010 | 35 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 05:00 PM, checkout 04:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 47 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | We only charge fees during "Peak Seasons" the 1st weekend of May through the second weekend of September. |
| Accessibility | Sites 010, 022 are listed accessible |
This Campground has 38 campsites many of the campsites are too small for RVs larger than 20 feet long. The campground has gravel roads with campsites containing a picnic table and a fire ring. During the summer months services include vault toilets, potable water, trash, and a campground host.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Heading north along MT highway 12/287, drive north to Spokane Creek Rd and turn right Yellow flashing light. Follow Spokane Creek Rd for 4.6 mi and turn right onto Co Rd 430/Canyon Ferry Rd and continue on to Chinamen's Campground. The campground will be on the right.
| Nearest town | Helena, Montana |
| Coordinates | 46.6547° N, 111.7053° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedBear Gulch Rx
19 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- PrescribedWakina Sky Rx
19 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- PrescribedSure Thing Swamp Rx
32 mi from the campground · 180 acres
- PrescribedHogum Creek Road Piles Rx
44 mi from the campground · 5 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 10.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | D & D RV Center ↗ | 14.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sierra ↗ | 14.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Canyon Ferry changes names of two campgrounds- Chinamen and Confederate
Worth a stop
Canyon Ferry Reservoir is located halfway between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park along with the capital city of Helena, Montana.
- 5.5 miNever Sweat Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 6 miClark's Bay Day Use Site ↗Day use
- 13 miMissouri River Fishing Access Site ↗Fishing site
Trails nearby
- 1 miCave Ridge ↗9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-bike
- 2.2 miHoliday1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-bike
- 2.2 miFrontage Trail4.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 3.4 miLittle Hellgate ↗6.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest begins about 11.2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 11.2 miHelena-Lewis and Clark National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,177,729 acres
- 12.1 miGates of the Mountains Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 28,460 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Spokane Hill Airway BeaconStructure · Winston · 7.8 mi
- W. C. Child RanchBuilding · East Helena · 11.5 mi
- Montana Aeronautics Commission Operations Historic DistrictBuilding · Helena · 14.1 mi
Natural features
This Campground sits at the north end of Canyon Ferry Reservoir between the Big Belt and Elkhorn’s mountain ranges.
Recreation
Canyon Ferry Reservoir offers a wide range of year-round recreational opportunities. Water related activities include everything from swimming and fishing to sailing and motor-boating. Canoeists and kayakers explore the many quiet backwater bays. Jet skiers, windsurfers and water skiers skim the summer waves, while winter draws ice fishermen, ice boaters and ice skaters.
Guidebooks for Montana
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Chinamen's Campground?
Sites at Chinamen's Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Chinamen's Campground?
We only charge fees during "Peak Seasons" the 1st weekend of May through the second weekend of September.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Chinamen's Campground?
Check-in 05:00 PM, checkout 04:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Chinamen's Campground have?
38 sites, including 37 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Chinamen's Campground?
The longest site here provides 47 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Chinamen's Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Chinamen's Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Chinamen's Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Chinamen's Campground?
Sites 010 and 022 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Chinamen's Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Chinamen's Campground?
Canyon Ferry Reservoir offers a wide range of year-round recreational opportunities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Chinamen's Campground?
Helena, Montana. Canyon Ferry Reservoir is located halfway between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park along with the capital city of Helena, Montana.
Source: Getting there
What if Chinamen's Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Court Sheriff Campground (0.2 mi), Jo Bonner Campground (1.2 mi), and Riverside Campground (1.4 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby