Wade Lake
Wade Lake Campground is located in southwestern Montana on the shore of it’s scenic namesake lake. It is approximately 43 miles south of Ennis and 35 miles west of Yellowstone National Park. The 25 site campground, including two group sites, is situated in a dense Douglas Fir forest on the hillside above the lake. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and fire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water taps are provided in each of the two camping loops. The campground is situated on a steep hillside. For many of the sites, particularly in the upper loop, the only flat space for a tent may be in the parking driveway.
More like this: reservable in Montana · pets allowed in Montana · group sites in Montana
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 23 |
| Group sites | 2 |
| Host/management | 4 |
Site guide
25 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lower Loop | Group | 20 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 12 / 4 | Yes | Prime | |
| 2 | Lower Loop | Standard | Back-in | 36 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 3 | Lower Loop | Standard | Back-in | 38 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 4 | Lower Loop | Standard | Back-in | 28 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 5 | Lower Loop | Standard | Back-in | 36 | Gravel | Partial | Lakefront | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 6 | Main Loop | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime | |
| 7 | Main Loop | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime | |
| 8 | Main Loop | Group | Back-in | 24 | Gravel | Partial | 12 / 4 | Yes | Prime | |
| 9 | Main Loop | Standard | Back-in | 33 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | Prime | |
| 10 | Main Loop | Standard | Back-in | 33 | Gravel | Partial | 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 | 30 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. |
There are five vault toilets and five drinking water spigots spread throughout the campground. Water is available May to September. Picnic tables and fire rings are located in each site. Two group camping sites and two walk-in tent camping sites are available. “Bear proof” bins enable compliance with food storage regulations. A natural surface boat launch, suitable for small boats and trailers, is provided. Day-use parking space for the lake is minimal. Garbage service is provided only from May 15 to September 15.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest |
| Booking | All sites are by reservation and reservations can be made by calling toll free 1-877-444-6777 or visiting www.recreation.gov. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance. |
| Fees | There is a $15.00 per night fee for this campground. Cash and check only. There is no way to make change, so please bring correct amount. |
| Rules | 16 day stay limit. Food Storage Requirements. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Nearest town | Ennis, Montana |
| Coordinates | 44.8053° N, 111.5720° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Hell'S Canyon
47 mi from the campground
- PrescribedShenango Pile Rx
48 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 ↗ | 25.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Eagle's Curios ↗ | 25.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
WADE LAKE & PALISADE CAMPGROUND
Worth a stop
Cliff Lake, Cliff Point Campground and Hilltop Campground are within one mile. Hilltop is available on a “first come first served” basis. 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.
- 0.9 mi
- 9.7 miQuake Lake Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 11.7 miWindy Point Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 13.3 miPalisades Day Use ↗Day use
- 13.5 miWatkins Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miFault Trail1.1 mi trail
- 0.2 miCliff Lake Bench ↗5.6 mi trail
- 0.3 miHilltop1.1 mi trail
- 2.6 miFreezeout Loop Snowmobile ↗11.5 mi trail
- 3.1 miWest Fork Madison ↗14.3 mi trail
- 3.2 miLobo Mesa ↗14.7 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 9.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 9.9 miRed Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 85,504 acres
- 11.2 miRed Rock Lakes Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Fish and Wildlife Service · 32,350 acres
- 14.7 miLee Metcalf Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 242,068 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 · 5.8 mi
- Joseph Sherwood House and StoreBuilding · Island Park · 13.3 mi
Natural features
At an elevation of 6217 feet, the campground and lake lie in the bottom of a forested ravine at the southern end of the Gravelly mountain range. The spring fed 200 acre lake is known for its beautiful clear aquamarine water. The larger Cliff Lake is less than 1 mile away. Moose, deer, eagles, an occasional bear and a variety of waterfowl can be seen in the area.
Recreation
Wade Lake offers fishing for rainbow and brown 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. Hiking trails begin right at the campground, as well as, in the nearby Lee Metcalf Wilderness. Off Road Vehicle trails are abundant in the Gravelly range though there are no trails in the immediate campground area.
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 Wade Lake?
Sites at Wade Lake are reservable on Recreation.gov. All sites are by reservation and reservations can be made by calling toll free 1-877-444-6777 or visiting www.recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Wade Lake?
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 Wade Lake?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Wade Lake open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Wade Lake have?
29 sites, including 23 standard sites without power and 2 group sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Wade Lake?
The longest site here provides 30 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 Wade Lake?
Yes, pets are allowed at Wade Lake. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Wade Lake?
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. 16 day stay limit.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Wade Lake?
Wade Lake offers fishing for rainbow and brown 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 Wade Lake?
Ennis, Montana. Cliff Lake, Cliff Point Campground and Hilltop Campground are within one mile.
Source: Getting there
What if Wade Lake is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Hilltop Campground (0.6 mi), Cliff Point (0.9 mi), and Madison River (5 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby