Bear Creek Campground and Picnic Area
Bear Creek Campground is a nice summer or fall destination for those looking to camp, hike, or picnic. At an elevation of 6,350 feet, this campground contains 12 designated campsites. There is a group size limit within the wilderness boundary here of no more than 15 people and 20 head of stock, and stock are not allowed on the south side of the creek. No camping is authorized at the trailhead and certified weed-free hay is required. This campground has vault toilets and drinking water is available in spring/summer only. No garbage service is provided, so pack out what you pack in. Bear-resistant food storage boxes are available.
More like this: first-come in Montana · tent only in Montana
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | There is a $15.00 per night fee for overnight camping. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Year round |
| Forest | Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest |
| Fees | There is a $15.00 per night fee for overnight camping. |
| Rules | 16 day stay limit. Food Storage Requirements. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 45.1626° N, 111.5565° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedUnits 75 And 47 Rx
38 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Grizzly Outfitters ↗ | 13.8 mi |
| RV sales & service | Valley Trailer Sales Inc ↗ | 44.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Bear Creek Provincial Park Review. Camping in Kelowna, BC
Worth a stop
- 5.9 miStorey Ditch Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
- 13 miPalisades Day Use ↗Day use
- 13.7 miEldridge Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 14.1 miWindy Point Boat Launch ↗Boat launch
Trails nearby
- 0.4 miTrail Fork Bear Creek ↗5.5 mi trail
- 0.4 miMiddle Fork Bear Creek ↗8.9 mi trail
- 0.4 miNorth Fork Cutoff0.7 mi trail
- 1 miNorth Fork Bear Creek ↗5.4 mi trail
- 1.6 miLake Cameron3.2 mi trail
- 1.8 miRoamer Cutoff1.9 mi trail
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Lee Metcalf Wilderness.
- inLee Metcalf Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 242,068 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
Historic landmarks nearby
Guidebooks for Montana
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Reference
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to camp at Bear Creek Campground and Picnic Area?
There is a $15.00 per night fee for overnight camping.
Source: Forest Service
Is Bear Creek Campground and Picnic Area open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season Year round.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Bear Creek Campground and Picnic Area?
Bear Creek Campground and Picnic Area is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Bear Creek Campground and Picnic Area is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Palisades Campground (12.6 mi, first-come), Red Cliff Campground (15.4 mi), and Clover Meadows Dispersed Camping and Picnic Area (16.1 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby