Coulter Campground
Coulter Campground offers 5 boat-in campsites on the east side of Upper Holter Lake and adjacent to the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness. Approximately 1 mile north is a large day-use area (Meriwether Picnic Site) with wilderness access and boat docks. A scenic river trail provides access between the campground and picnic site. The campground, located within a scenic river canyon, provides excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing. Fish Your National Forests: Fish available include: Trout, Walleye; Types of fishing available include: Shore, Motorized boat, Spin, Bait;
More like this: first-come in Montana · tent only in Montana
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | Free |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest |
| Fees | Free |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 46.5133° N, 111.5428° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedWakina Sky Rx
25 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- PrescribedBear Gulch Rx
26 mi from the campground · 300 acres
- PrescribedSure Thing Swamp Rx
37 mi from the campground · 180 acres
- PrescribedKings Hill Cabin Piles Rx
46 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 ↗ | 2.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | D & D RV Center ↗ | 22.3 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Sierra ↗ | 23.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Coulter Bay Campground Review: Site A27
Worth a stop
- 13.7 miNever Sweat Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Public land it sits in
Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest begins about 7.8 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 7.8 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
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Guidebooks for Montana
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Reference
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to camp at Coulter Campground?
Free
Source: Forest Service
Is Coulter Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Coulter Campground?
Coulter Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Coulter Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are White Earth Campground (2.2 mi), Hellgate Campground (8.6 mi), and Jo Bonner Campground (11.3 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby