U.S. Forest Service · Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest · Montana

East Fork Campground

East Fork Campground is located in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in western Montana. The campground is seated at the base of a forested hillside, adjacent to the East Fork of Rock Creek and just below the East Fork Reservoir. There is creek access, and a short jaunt up the road leads to the shores of the 380-acre lake flanked by forested hillsides and a view of the Anaconda Range. The campground includes an inviting day use area in an open meadow bordered by the creek. The campground offers visitors close access to the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. There are 8 first-come, first-served campsites, and the camping fee is $15 per night.

Sites are first-come, first-served. Recreation.gov lists this campground for paying on site, and you may be able to pay with the Scan and Pay feature of its app.

More like this: first-come in Montana

View of East Fork Rock Creek and picnic area in open fieldEast Fork Campground entrance signEast Fork Rock Creek alongside open fieldCampsite with picnic table and fire ring
Photos courtesy of Forest Service · Recreation.gov

Amenities & rules

East Fork Campground has 8 campsites suitable for tents, trailers, and RVs. Sites include picnic tables and fire rings. A water pump and single vault restroom are on site. The campground includes a day-use picnic area with dedicated parking, two picnic tables, and a fire ring. The campground is accessible late May through mid-November, depending on weather conditions.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near East Fork Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 0.24 inches of precipitation, 2.0 inches of snowFebruary: 0.39 inches of precipitation, 1.2 inches of snowMarch: 0.47 inches of precipitation, 1.2 inches of snowApril: 0.83 inches of precipitation, 1.1 inches of snowMay: 1.74 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 1.67 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.83 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.85 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.71 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 0.68 inches of precipitation, 0.3 inches of snowNovember: 0.46 inches of precipitation, 1.8 inches of snowDecember: 0.31 inches of precipitation, 2.5 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 22.3°F averageFebruary: 26.1°F averageMarch: 34.7°F averageApril: 41.6°F averageMay: 50.2°F averageJune: 57.7°F averageJuly: 65.0°F averageAugust: 63.1°F averageSeptember: 54.5°F averageOctober: 42.6°F averageNovember: 30.3°F averageDecember: 21.6°F average0 in0.5 in1 in1.5 in2 in2.5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Glen 4 N, 5 miles from the recreation area point at 5,054 feet, station USC00243570 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 9 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 10 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Philipsburg, travel south on Highway 1 for about 6.5 miles to the junction with Skalkaho Highway/Highway 38. Turn right onto Highway 38 and continue west for 6.1 miles, then turn left onto County Road 672. Just before this turn you will see an approach sign for East Fork Reservoir/Wilderness Access/672.

AreaRecreation.gov lists no exact point for this campground. The recreation area is at 45.50° N, 112.80° W. Call the office before you drive.

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Sand Creek

    26 mi from the campground · 35,520 acres · 83% contained

  • Prescribed
    Rx Hell'S Canyon

    43 mi from the campground

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Explore

Video

East Fork Campground Best Campsites - Inyo National Forest, CA

Natural features

The campground is set in a forested area alongside East Fork Rock Creek. A short walk through the riparian area or open meadow leads to the creek and good fishing. Lodgepole Pine provide ample shade. The campground is located near East Fork Reservoir, where visitors can enjoy a view of the Pintlers. The Pintler Ranger District is known for its high, rugged, and beautiful mountain scenery, as well as the variety of wildlife that makes its home there, including elk, moose, deer, mountain lions, birds of prey, and bears (grizzly and black bears). Learn more about bear safety and forest-wide Food Storage Order.

Recreation

East Fork Campground provides access to nearby opportunities for hiking, backpacking, bike riding, hunting, fishing, OHV riding, and boating. There’s good fishing for rainbow and cutthroat trout is good in East Fork Rock Creek. The creek has the largest population of bull trout in the Upper Clark Fork drainage - it is illegal to target bull trout, if caught they must be released immediately with minimal handling. Participants must have Montana licenses to hunt or fish. Visitors will find no shortage of trails within the Pintler Ranger District. Numerous trails lead into the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, which covers almost 250 square miles and straddles the Continental Divide along the crest of the Anaconda Range. The East Fork Trailhead is close by, the starting point for the Page Lake Trail #8039 and East Fork Trail #8038. Both trails quickly cross into the wilderness area and connect to the Continental Divide Trail. Please remember, wilderness areas are off-limits to all vehicles, including bicycles.

Guidebooks for Montana

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Montana
    Vicky Soderberg and Ken Soderberg, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Moon Montana, Wyoming and Idaho Camping
    Becky Lomax, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping Montana
    Kenneth L. Graham, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at East Fork Campground?

No. East Fork Campground is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: How first-come camping works

How many sites does East Fork Campground have?

8 sites.

Source: Site mix

What is there to do at East Fork Campground?

East Fork Campground provides access to nearby opportunities for hiking, backpacking, bike riding, hunting, fishing, OHV riding, and boating. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation