Cliff Point
Cliff Point Campground is located in southwestern Montana on the shoreline of scenic Cliff Lake. It is approximately 43 miles south of Ennis and 35 miles west of Yellowstone National Park. Each site in the small six site campground is equipped with a picnic table and fire ring. There is a centrally located vault toilet and drinking water tap. Some of the sites have partial shade. An undeveloped natural-surface boat launch is very close by and the lake has a no-wake speed limit. Visitors enjoy fishing, boating, and nearby hiking and ATV trails. All campsites are reservation only. With some tight curves and small turn-around loop, the campground may not be suitable for long trailers or RVs.
More like this: reservable in Montana · pets allowed in Montana
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 7 |
Site guide
7 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | 22 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 2 | A | 20 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 3 | A | 27 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 4 | A | 18 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 5 | A | 38 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 6 | A | 20 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| S&P Standard | S&P | 38 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 16 ft |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Fee to reserve campsite is non-refundable within 14 days of arrival date. Any changes in reserved dates may be assessed an additional fee by the National Recreation Reservation Service. |
A vault toilet and drinking water spigot are located in the center of the campground loop. Water is available May to September, exact dates being weather dependent. Picnic tables and fire rings are located in each site. A “bear proof” bin enables compliance with food storage regulations for those without a hard sided camping unit. A natural surface boat launch, suitable for small boats and trailers, is located across the small cove at the Day Use area. Garbage service is provided only from May 15 - September 15.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Travel south from Ennis for 38 miles on US Highway 287. As highway curves to east, turn south on Wade and Cliff Lakes road, also signed as Three Dollar Bridge fishing access site. Travel five miles on county road, which becomes Forest road #572, to Wade Lake Recreation Area. Follow signing to campground.
| Nearest town | Ennis, Montana |
| Coordinates | 44.7931° N, 111.5669° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Hell'S Canyon
47 mi from the campground
- PrescribedShenango Pile Rx
49 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 24.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Eagle's Curios ↗ | 24.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
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Cliff Point Campground - Cliff Lake, MT
Worth a stop
Wade Lake, Wade Lake Campground and Hilltop Campground are within one mile. The west entrance to Yellowstone National Park is about 35 miles east at West Yellowstone. The Earthquake Lake Visitor Center and Geologic Site is about a ten mile drive. The Lee Metcalf designated wilderness begins about five miles to the northeast. A short drive will bring you to much larger Hebgen Lake to the east and Henry's Lake to the south.
- 0.7 mi
- 9.8 miQuake Lake Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 12.6 miWindy Point Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 13.2 miWatkins Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 14.2 miPalisades Day Use ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miFault Trail1.1 mi trail
- 0.5 miHilltop1.1 mi trail
- 0.9 miCliff Lake Bench ↗5.6 mi trail
- 2.5 miLost Mine Canyon ↗7.4 mi trail
- 2.8 miFreezeout Loop Snowmobile ↗11.5 mi trail
- 3.2 miWest Fork Madison ↗14.3 mi trail
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
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge begins about 9.6 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 9.6 miRed Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 85,504 acres
- 10.7 miRed Rock Lakes Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Fish and Wildlife Service · 32,350 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
- Hutchins BridgeStructure · Cameron · 6.6 mi
- Joseph Sherwood House and StoreBuilding · Island Park · 12.5 mi
Natural features
At an elevation of 6313 feet, the campground and lake lie in the bottom of a forested ravine at the southern end of the Gravelly mountain range. The 600 acre lake is known for it’s beautiful clear aquamarine water. Wade Lake is less than 1 mile away. Moose, deer, eagles, otters, an occasional bear and a variety of waterfowl can be seen in the area.
Recreation
Cliff Lake offers fishing for rainbow and Yellowstone cutthroat trout, as well as boating, canoeing and swimming, despite the cold water. Boats can be rented at Wade Lake Resort. Just five miles away, the world renowned Madison River offers blue ribbon flyfishing. There are hiking opportunities nearby, including the trail to Hidden Lake, beginning at the upper end of Cliff Lake, as well as trails in the nearby Lee Metcalf Wilderness. Off Road Vehicle trails are abundant in the Gravelly range.
Guidebooks for Montana
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Cliff Point?
Sites at Cliff Point 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 Cliff Point?
Fee to reserve campsite is non-refundable within 14 days of arrival date. Any changes in reserved dates may be assessed an additional fee by the National Recreation Reservation Service.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Cliff Point?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Cliff Point have?
7 sites, including 7 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Cliff Point?
The longest site here provides 16 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 Cliff Point?
Yes, pets are allowed at Cliff Point. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Cliff Point?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 2 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Cliff Point?
Cliff Lake offers fishing for rainbow and Yellowstone cutthroat trout, as well as boating, canoeing and swimming, despite the cold water. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Cliff Point?
Ennis, Montana. Wade Lake, Wade Lake Campground and Hilltop Campground are within one mile.
Source: Getting there
What if Cliff Point is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Hilltop Campground (0.5 mi), Wade Lake (0.9 mi), and Madison River (5.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby