Bear Creek Campground - MT

Bear Creek Campground is a first come, first served facility located at the base of the western slope of the Madison Range in southwest Montana. It is part of an administrative site that also includes the Bear Creek and Bear Creek Bunkhouse rental cabins and a trailhead for entry to the Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area. This is the only campground on the west side of the Madison mountain range, so it can be expected to be crowded and busy during hunting season. There is very little firewood available anywhere near the campground. The small campground features 12 campsites, six on each side of the creek. The campground will be undergoing improvement installations in the spring/early summer of 2023. Each campsite will have a parking site, picnic table and fire ring. There are two centrally located water hydrants, with water usually available from mid-May through September, and a centrally located bear box for food storage. There are two SST outhouses, one on each side of the creek. Campsites 7-12, on the north side of the creek, are equipped with hitchrails and corrals for horses; horses are not permitted at campsites 1-6. Additional corrals are planned to be installed at the trailhead but there may not be a corral guaranteed for each campsite. Hiking, horseback riding and hunting are very popular activities here, and parking may be difficult to find during peak season. The Middle Fork and Trail Fork trailhead is located only steps away and is the starting point for those climbing Sphinx Mountain, a prominent peak in the range. Because the trails lead to designated Wilderness, no motorized or mechanized use is allowed on them. From December 2 until noon of May 15, the Wildlife Management Area just north of the campground is closed to all entry except to those who stay strictly on the trail and are only passing through to Forest lands; it is open for recreational use the remainder of the year. The campground is situated in a draw between hills on the edge of the National Forest, with the Lee Metcalf Wilderness immediately to the east and a state wildlife management area to the north. Most campsites are shaded by Douglas fir and aspen trees. The west entrance to Yellowstone National Park is about 70 miles to the southeast, and Lewis and Clark State Caverns about 60 miles to the north.