Spillway Campground
Spillway Campground is located in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in southwest Montana. It is situated on the northwestern shore of the East Fork Reservoir, flanked by forested hillsides with views of the Anaconda-Pintler range. Campsites are surrounded by mature conifers, and several sites are set back from the lake’s edge, offering an ideal setting for visitors seeking recreation and relaxation. The campground provides visitors close access to the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. There are 12 campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis. 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 · tent only in Montana
Site map
9 campsite locations mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The site numbers are theirs and may not match the posts at the campground. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | There is a fee of $15.00 per night for this campground, with a $5 for addtional vehicles. |
Spillway campground has 12 campsites suitable for tents, trailers, and RVs. Sites include picnic tables and fire rings. One water pump and two double vault restrooms are on site. There is no overflow parking in this campground. 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.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations can be made via www.recreation.gov for this site. |
| Fees | There is a fee of $15.00 per night for this campground, with a $5 for addtional vehicles. |
Weather by month
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. You will see an approach sign for East Fork Reservoir/Wilderness Access/672.
| Coordinates | 46.1270° N, 113.3832° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx D3 Cameron Gaps
29 mi from the campground · 1,100 acres
- WildfireSand Creek
40 mi from the campground · 35,520 acres · 83% contained
- PrescribedScf Nz Pile Burn Rx
43 mi from the campground · 34 acres
- PrescribedRx D4 Piquett Creek
44 mi from the campground · 2,210 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | Hamilton RV Sales Of Montana ↗ | 38.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Spillway Campground - Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, AZ
Worth a stop
- 7.5 miPebble Beach Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 2.5 miHundred Acre Meadows Trail2.5 mi trail
- 2.6 miMcDougal Snowmobile4.3 mi trail
- 2.6 miEast Fork Trail ↗5.6 mi trail
- 3 miPage Lake Trail ↗6.9 mi trail
- 3.5 miBlodgett Snowmobile ↗11.2 mi trail
- 3.5 miEast Fork Snowmobile ↗13.2 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
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest begins about 2.3 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 2.3 miBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,614,456 acres
- 4.1 miAnaconda Pintler Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 158,712 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
- Moose Lake Camp Historic DistrictHistoric district · Philipsburg · 8.7 mi
- Philipsburg Grade SchoolBuilding · Philipsburg · 14.5 mi
- M. E. Doe HouseBuilding · Philipsburg · 14.6 mi
Natural features
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, and bears (grizzly and black bears). The campground sits just off the shore of East Fork Reservoir. Learn more about bear safety and forest-wide Food Storage Order.
Recreation
Spillway 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 in East Fork Rock Creek and the lake. 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
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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 Spillway Campground?
No. Spillway Campground is first-come, first-served. Reservations can be made via www.recreation.gov for this site. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Spillway Campground?
There is a fee of $15.00 per night for this campground, with a $5 for addtional vehicles.
Source: Forest Service
Is Spillway Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Spillway Campground have?
12 sites.
Source: Forest Service
Can I bring an RV to Spillway Campground?
Spillway Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What is there to do at Spillway Campground?
Spillway 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
What if Spillway Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Piney Campground And Boat Launch (6.1 mi, partly first-come), Philipsburg Bay Campground (7.1 mi, partly first-come), and Lodgepole Campground (7.9 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby