Hilltop Campground
Hilltop Campground is located on top of the hill mid-way between Cliff and Wade Lakes. It's about a 3/4 mile steep, winding drive from the Cliff Lake road. There are 18 sites which are all shaded and quiet, away from the crowds at the lakes.
More like this: reservable in Montana · pets allowed in Montana
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / – | Yes |
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
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
There are picnic tables and fire rings in each campsite. There are four rustic outhouses and three fresh water hydrants spread throughout the campground.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest |
| Fees | There is a $15.00 per night fee for this campground. |
| Rules | 16 day stay limit. Food Storage Requirements. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Nearest town | Ennis, Montana |
| Coordinates | 44.7996° N, 111.5632° 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 ↗ | 24.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Eagle's Curios ↗ | 24.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
The Madison River, a world famous trout stream, is about seven miles from the campground. The west entrance to Yellowstone National Park is less than 40 miles.
- 0.3 mi
- 9.4 miQuake Lake Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 12.2 miWindy Point Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 13 miWatkins Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 13.8 miPalisades Day Use ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miHilltop1.1 mi trail
- 0.4 miFault Trail1.1 mi trail
- 0.5 miCliff Lake Bench ↗5.6 mi trail
- 2.7 miLost Mine Canyon ↗7.4 mi trail
- 3 miFreezeout Loop Snowmobile ↗11.5 mi trail
- 3.4 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 10 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 10 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
- 15 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 · 6.2 mi
- Joseph Sherwood House and StoreBuilding · Island Park · 12.7 mi
Natural features
The campground is located on top of a rolling hill in an old growth Douglas Fir forest.
Recreation
There are fishing, swimming and small craft boating opportunities at Cliif Lake, about 1,25 miles, and Wade Lake, about 1.75 miles away. There is a hiking trail from the campground to Wade Lake campground and it also accesses other routes on the trail system.
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 Hilltop Campground?
Sites at Hilltop 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 Hilltop Campground?
There is a $15.00 per night fee for this campground.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Hilltop Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Hilltop Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Hilltop Campground have?
1 site, including 1 standard site without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Hilltop Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Hilltop Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Hilltop Campground?
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 Hilltop Campground?
There are fishing, swimming and small craft boating opportunities at Cliif Lake, about 1,25 miles, and Wade Lake, about 1.75 miles away. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Hilltop Campground?
Ennis, Montana. The Madison River, a world famous trout stream, is about seven miles from the campground.
Source: Getting there
What if Hilltop Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Cliff Point (0.5 mi), Wade Lake (0.6 mi), and Madison River (5.4 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby