Bear Creek Campground - Mt
Bear Creek Campground is a First Come - First Served facility located at the base of the western slope of the Madison Range in southwest Montana. It's part of an administrative site that also includes the Bear Creek and Bear Creek Bunkhouse rental cabins and a trailhead for entry to the Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area. The small campground features 12 campsites, 6 on each side of the creek. The six sites north of the creek include facilities for horses/stock, while those south of the creek are non-horse use only. This is the only campground on the west side of the Madison mountain range so it can be expected to be crowded and busy during hunting season.
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 | Entry | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek Campground | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | 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 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Scan and pay is available for credit card users with the recreation.gov app. Otherwise, payment is by cash or check at the fee tube, with the exact dollar amount. No change is available. |
Each campsite will have a parking site, picnic table and fire ring. There are two centrally located water hydrants, with water usually being available fro mid-May through September and a centrally located bear box for food storage. There are two SST outhouses, one on each side of the creek. Campsites 7 - 12, on the north side of the creek, are equipped with hitchrails and corrals for horses. Horses are not permitted at Campsites 1 - 6. Additional corrals are planned to be installed at the trailhead but there may not be a corral guaranteed for each campsite.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Season | June 1 |
| Forest | Custer Gallatin National Forest |
| Booking | No Reservations This campground does not use a reservation system. It is managed on a first-come, first-served basis. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Ennis MT, travel south on US Highway 287 eleven miles to Cameron. Turn left onto Bear Creek Road and travel on pavement for 3 miles, turn right and pavement ends. Travel 1.5 miles and turn left. Travel one mile and turn right. Travel just under one mile and turn left at the old school house. Finally travel 2.3 miles to the campground.
| Nearest town | Ennis, Montana |
| Coordinates | 45.1100° N, 110.5996° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedShenango Pile Rx
40 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Parks Fly Shop ↗ | 7.5 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 26.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Valley Trailer Sales Inc ↗ | 52.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Bear Creek Provincial Park Review. Camping in Kelowna, BC
Worth a stop
The Lee Metcalf Wilderness is adjacent to the campground. The west entrance to Yellowstone National Park is about 70 miles to the southeast. Lewis and Clark State Caverns is about 60 miles to the north.
- 8.8 miLa Duke Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 13 miYankee Jim Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miMain Bear Creek3.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miBear Creek (snowmo/XC)3.9 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 0.2 miKnox Lake ↗6.9 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1.1 miBear Fork (XC)0.9 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 1.1 miLobo (XC)0.9 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 1.2 miRollercoaster (XC)0.8 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
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
This campground sits inside Custer Gallatin National Forest.
- inCuster Gallatin National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,412,203 acres
- 3.8 miAbsaroka-Beartooth Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 937,102 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
- Gardiner BridgeStructure · Gardiner · 7.5 mi
- Gardiner JailBuilding · Gardiner · 7.5 mi
- US Post Office–Yellowstone MainBuilding · Yellowstone · 10.4 mi
Natural features
At the base of the Madison mountain range, the campground is situated in a draw between hills on the edge of the National Forest. The Lee Metcalf Wilderness is immediately to the east and a State wildlife management area to the north. The trailhead, at the site, provides access to the Middle Fork and Trail Fork trails, as well as access to ascend Sphinx Mountain, a prominant peak in the range. Most campsites are shaded by Douglas fir and aspen trees.
Recreation
Hiking, horseback riding and hunting are very popular activities by visitors to this campground and parking may be difficult to find during peak season. The Middle Fork and Trail Fork trailhead is located only steps away. Because the trails lead to designated Wilderness, no motorized or mechanized use is allowed on the trails. The trailhead is the starting point for those climbing Sphinx Mountain. From December 2 until noon of May 15, the Wildlife Management Area just north of the campground is closed to all entry except to those who stay strictly on the trail and are only passing through to Forest lands. It is open for recreational use the remainder of the year.
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 Bear Creek Campground - Mt?
Sites at Bear Creek Campground - Mt are reservable on Recreation.gov. No Reservations This campground does not use a reservation system. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Bear Creek Campground - Mt?
Scan and pay is available for credit card users with the recreation.gov app. Otherwise, payment is by cash or check at the fee tube, with the exact dollar amount. No change is available.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Bear Creek Campground - Mt?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Bear Creek Campground - Mt have?
1 site, including 1 standard site without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Bear Creek Campground - Mt?
Yes, pets are allowed at Bear Creek Campground - Mt. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Bear Creek Campground - Mt?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Bear Creek Campground - Mt?
Hiking, horseback riding and hunting are very popular activities by visitors to this campground and parking may be difficult to find during peak season. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Bear Creek Campground - Mt?
Ennis, Montana. The Lee Metcalf Wilderness is adjacent to the campground.
Source: Getting there
What if Bear Creek Campground - Mt is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Eagle Creek Campground (6.1 mi), Mammoth Campground (Yellowstone) (10.5 mi), and Snowbank Campground (12.6 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby