Hellgate Campground

Hellgate Campground is located 30 miles east of Helena, Montana, along Montana Highway 284, on the banks of Canyon Ferry Reservoir. In July of 1805 the Lewis and Clark Expedition traveled through the Canyon Ferry area exploring and mapping the Missouri River; when Lewis visited he described it as a beautiful and extensive plain country of about 10 to 12 miles wide which extended upwards further than an eye could see. In the 1850s the gold rush hit the Canyon Ferry area, attracting miners from all over the United States in the hopes of striking it rich. 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. Hellgate consists of 69 campsites and 3 group use shelters with overnight camping. Each standard campsite has a gravel camping pad, picnic table and fire ring, and one camping unit is permitted per site unless the site post marks it as a double. Hellgate Boat Ramp and Day Use Area provides two boat ramps, a parking area for boat trailers and several day use picnic sites. The Lewis and Clark Group Use Shelter includes 15 campsites, each with a fire ring and picnic table; the shelter is 30' x 60' with 12 picnic tables, 3 grills and 2 group use fire rings, and 3 vault toilets are easily accessible. The York Group Use Shelter includes 10 campsites, each with a fire ring and picnic table; the shelter is 30' x 60' with 12 picnic tables and 1 large communal fire ring, and 1 vault toilet is easily accessible. The Hellgate Bay Group Use Shelter includes 5 campsites, each with a fire ring and picnic table; the shelter is 30' x 36' with 7 picnic tables, 2 grills and 1 large communal fire ring nearby. The campground sits in an open valley between the Big Belt and Elkhorns mountain ranges, and along the bank of the reservoir a narrow riparian canopy provides partial shade. Hellgate is located halfway between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. Helena, the state capital, is 25 miles away, and Townsend, Montana, is 21 miles away.