White Earth Campground
White Earth Group Use Shelter is located at White Earth Campground, just east of the town of Winston, Montana, on Canyon Ferry Reservoir. In 1805, the Lewis and Clark expedition passed through this region. On July 22, 1805, Sacagawea recognizes the country and assures the men that the three forks of the Missouri were of no great distance. This news gave the expedition hope in the anticipation of soon reaching the headwaters of the Missouri River.
More like this: reservable in Montana · tent only in Montana · pets allowed in Montana · group sites in Montana
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 35 |
| group shelter electric | 1 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
36 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 002 | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 003 | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 004 | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 006 | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 007 | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 008 | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 009 | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 010 | Standard | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 011 | Standard | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | 8 / 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 5:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | We only charge fees during "Peak Seasons" the 1st weekend of May through the second weekend of September. |
| Accessibility | Sites 005, 018, White Earth Group Use Campsites are listed accessible |
White Earth Group Use Shelter is 30' X 44' shelter with electrical power. The shelter has 8 picnic tables, 5 campsites and an accessible vault toilet. White Earth Campground has 36 designated campsites, a boat ramp, and a parking area for boat trailers. During the peak summer months services include vault toilets, potable water, trash, recycling containers and campground hosts.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Heading north along MT highway 12/287 from Townsend. Drive north to the town of Winston, MT, and turn right onto Beaver Creek Road and follow the road 5.5 miles to the campground.
| Nearest town | Helena, Montana |
| Coordinates | 46.5211° N, 111.5879° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedWakina Sky Rx
23 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- PrescribedBear Gulch Rx
24 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- PrescribedSure Thing Swamp Rx
35 mi from the campground · 180 acres
- PrescribedKings Hill Cabin Piles Rx
48 mi from the campground · 1 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 1.8 mi |
| RV sales & service | D & D RV Center ↗ | 20.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sierra ↗ | 20.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
White Earth Campground, Winston, MT Off Grid Review
Worth a stop
White Earth Group Use Shelter is located halfway between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. The city of Helena, MT, the state's capital, is 25 miles away.
- 12.8 miNever Sweat Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Public land it sits in
Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest begins about 9.4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 9.4 miHelena-Lewis and Clark National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,177,729 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
- Spokane Hill Airway BeaconStructure · Winston · 6.1 mi
- St. Joseph's Catholic Mission ChurchBuilding · Townsend · 10.2 mi
- McCormick's Livery and Feed Stable SignSite · Townsend · 14.1 mi
Natural features
White Earth Campground sits along the banks of Canyon Ferry Reservoir in the open valley between the Big Belt and Elkhorn mountain ranges.
Recreation
Canyon Ferry Reservoir offers a wide range of year-round recreational opportunities. Water related activities include everything from swimming and fishing to sailing and motor-boating. Canoeists and kayakers explore the many quiet backwater bays. Jet skiers, windsurfers and water skiers skim the summer waves, while winter draws ice fishermen and ice skaters.
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 White Earth Campground?
Sites at White Earth 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 White Earth Campground?
We only charge fees during "Peak Seasons" the 1st weekend of May through the second weekend of September.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at White Earth Campground?
Check-in 5:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does White Earth Campground have?
37 sites, including 35 standard sites without power and 1 group shelter electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to White Earth Campground?
White Earth Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at White Earth Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at White Earth Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at White Earth 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.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at White Earth Campground?
Sites 005, 018, and White Earth Group Use Campsites 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
Is there cell service at White Earth Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at White Earth Campground?
Canyon Ferry Reservoir offers a wide range of year-round recreational opportunities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to White Earth Campground?
Helena, Montana. White Earth Group Use Shelter is located halfway between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park.
Source: Getting there
What if White Earth Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Coulter Campground (2.2 mi, first-come), Hellgate Campground (7.1 mi), and Jo Bonner Campground (9.7 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby