Devil's Elbow Campground

Devil's Elbow Recreation Area is situated on the picturesque "Devil's Elbow" of Hauser Lake. Just a short drive from Helena, the state capital, the area offers stunning views of the Big Belt and Elkhorn mountains, and the feeling of seclusion and abundant nature is sure to impress. Fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, hiking, mountain biking and boating are all immediately accessed from the greater Hauser Lake Recreation Area, including several world class mountain biking trails. A 48-site campground with spacious, level gravel parking pads that accommodate RVs, camper trailers and tents; five of the 48 sites are designated for tents. Every campsite has a fire ring with a grill grate and a picnic table. All sites are reservation only. Men's and women's vault toilets are located in each loop of the campground as well as near the boat launch, and potable water and garbage dumpsters are provided throughout the campground and day use areas. There is a large concrete boat launch with a courtesy dock, plus day use and overnight dock slips for campers — first-come, first-served with no assigned slips. A fish cleaning station sits near the day-use parking. The area also has a small beach, picnic areas and small pavilions, benches along the lake, and a ramada/pavilion with power and lights available by advanced reservation. A network of non-motorized dirt, gravel and paved trails runs through Devil's Elbow, Two Camps Vista and Clark's Bay, letting you walk or bike around the area without contending with vehicles. A small marina, general store with gas and a bar/restaurant are a half mile away. The campground and day use areas sit in a shrub-steppe landscape of sage brush and bunch grasses, and every campsite has a view of the lake and mountains. Ponderosa pine and deciduous trees are scarce and do not provide much shade, but the lake helps keep temperatures down on hot summer days. Nearby are hundreds of miles of trails, Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands, state parks and the Lewis and Clark Trail. Helena, a short drive away, has great restaurants, museums, the capitol building, old mining settlements, Last Chance Gulch, Reeder's Alley and a vibrant downtown with a walking mall.