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 alongside it, giving visitors access to some of the best fishing the area has to offer, as well as other water-related recreation. Fly fishing and wading in the river are popular activities, and a variety of trails and unimproved roads are great for exploring by bike or off-road vehicle. Hiking trails to various mountain peaks, including Lookout, Razorback and Thunder Mountains, as well as Beaver and Deer Creek Points, are nearby, and the Alta Pine interpretive trail is half a mile to the north. Painted Rocks Lake, about five miles north, draws visitors for swimming, kayaking, boating and fishing; anglers will find mountain whitefish and a variety of trout. 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, and is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Utility hookups are not available and parking spurs are gravel. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided, a campground host is on site, and trash collection bins are placed throughout the facility. One bear-proof container is provided for those traveling by bicycle or ATV to properly store food and other attractants. 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 sits at an elevation of about 4,580 feet. A variety of wildlife can be seen in the area, including bald eagles, pileated woodpecker, mule and white-tailed deer, moose, elk, bighorn sheep and numerous songbirds. The Alta Ranger Station, 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 five minutes from the campground. Hughes Creek, once a vibrant placer gold mining site, accounted for 88 percent of all the placer gold recovered in Ravalli County from 1904 to 1948. Horse Creek natural hot springs are about 18 miles south, via a gravel road with a high-clearance vehicle recommended. The nearest town is Conner, roughly 27 miles north, which provides some services; Darby, about 32 miles away, offers full services.