Alta Campground
Alta Campground is located in a scenic forest in the heart of Montana's Bitterroot National Forest. The West Fork of the Bitterroot River flows nearby, giving visitors access to some of the best fishing the area has to offer, as well as other water-related recreation.
More like this: reservable in Montana · big rigs in Montana · pets allowed in Montana
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 14 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 60 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
14 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | Back-in | 48 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 03 | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 04 | 50 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 05 | 45 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 06 | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 2 | Yes | |
| 07 | 55 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 08 | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 2 | Yes | |
| 09 | 55 | Gravel | 10 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 10 | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 2 | Yes | |
| 11 | 55 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 2 | 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 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 70 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 02, 03, 12, 13 are listed accessible |
The campground offers 14 campsites, three of which are accessible, for tent and RV camping. Each site can accommodate up to 10 people and two vehicles. Utility hookups are not available. Parking spurs are gravel. Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. A campground host is available on-site and trash collection bins are placed throughout the facility. One bear-proof container is provided at the campground for those traveling on bicycle or ATV to properly store food and other attractants.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Forest | Bitterroot National Forest |
| Booking | Reserve a site by visiting Recreation.gov or by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777). |
| Fees | $15/Night for single unit, $5/Night for extra vehicle |
| Rules | Camping limited to 16 consecutive days. Quiet hours: 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Pets must be leashed. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Darby, travel south on Highway 93 for about four miles. Turn right onto Road # 473 and continue southwest, past Painted Rocks Lake, for about 30 miles to the campground on the right.
| Nearest town | Darby, Montana |
| Coordinates | 45.6239° N, 114.3019° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. Late cancellations are subject to additional fees.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx D4 Piquett Creek
16 mi from the campground · 2,210 acres
- PrescribedScf Nz Pile Burn Rx
19 mi from the campground · 34 acres
- PrescribedRx D3 Cameron Gaps
28 mi from the campground · 1,100 acres
- WildfireSand Creek
47 mi from the campground · 35,520 acres · 83% contained
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 ↗ | 45.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Alta Campground - Bitterroot National Forest, MT
Worth a stop
The Alta Ranger Station, located on Hughes Creek FS Road #5693, was the first Forest Service Ranger Station in the United States, built in 1899. It remains a popular tourist location and is just 5 minutes from the campground. Hughes Creek, once a vibrant placer gold mining site, is an historic area which accounted for 88 percent of all the placer gold recovered in Ravalli County from 1904-1948. Horse Creek natural hot springs can be found about 18 miles south from the campground, via gravel road with high-clearance vehicle recommended. The nearest town is Conner, which provides some services and is approximately 27 miles to the north. Darby is about 32 miles away and offers full services.
- 11.5 miReynolds Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.6 miHughes Creek ↗1.2 mi trail
- 0.7 miAlta Pine0.1 mi trail
- 1.9 miRazorback Ridge ↗15.1 mi trail
- 1.9 miCoal Creek ↗6.1 mi trail
- 2.3 miDeer Creek ↗13.4 mi trail
- 2.4 miChicken Creek ↗7.1 mi trail
Trailheads within three miles
- 2.3 miChicken-deer Creek Trailhead ↗Bitterroot National Forest
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 Bitterroot National Forest, which overlaps Salmon-Challis National Forest.
- inBitterroot National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,664,512 acres
- inSalmon-Challis National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 4,396,382 acres
- 14.6 miSelway-Bitterroot Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 1,347,644 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
- Alta Ranger StationBuilding · Conner · 0.4 mi
- Boulder Point LookoutBuilding · Darby · 14.8 mi
Natural features
The campground is located along the West Fork of the Bitterroot River, a popular fishing river in the area. Large, yellow-barked ponderosa pine trees tower above many of the campsites, which along with fir, aspen and lodgepole pine, provide pleasant shade. The campground is situated at an elevation of about 4,580 feet. A variety of wildlife can be seen in the area, including bald eagles, piliated woodpecker, mule and white-tailed deer, moose, elk, bighorn sheep and numerous songbirds.
Recreation
Fly fishing and wading in the Bitterroot River, which runs alongside the campground, are popular activities. A variety of trails and unimproved roads are great for exploring by bike or off-road vehicle. Hiking trails to various mountain peaks, including to Lookout, Razorback and Thunder Mountains, as well as Beaver and Deer Creek Points, are nearby. The Alta Pine interpretive trail is located 1/2 mile to the north. Painted Rocks Lake is located about five miles north of the campground. Visitors enjoy swimming, kayaking, boating and fishing. Anglers will find mountain whitefish and a variety of trout.
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 Alta Campground?
Sites at Alta Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reserve a site by visiting Recreation.gov or by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777). Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Alta Campground?
$15/Night for single unit, $5/Night for extra vehicle
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Alta Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Alta Campground?
A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation.
Source: Charges and cancellations
How many sites does Alta Campground have?
14 sites, including 14 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Alta Campground?
The longest site here provides 70 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 Alta Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Alta Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Alta Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Camping limited to 16 consecutive days.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Alta Campground?
Sites 02, 03, 12, and 13 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Alta Campground?
Fly fishing and wading in the Bitterroot River, which runs alongside the campground, are popular activities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Alta Campground?
Darby, Montana. The Alta Ranger Station, located on Hughes Creek FS Road #5693, was the first Forest Service Ranger Station in the United States, built in 1899.
Source: Getting there
What if Alta Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Rombo (9.8 mi), Fales Flat Campground (10.9 mi, partly first-come), and Horse Creek Hot Spring & Campground (11.3 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby