Branham Lakes Campground and Picnic Area
The Branham Lakes Campground is a nice rustic campground on 3 acres. At almost 9,000 feet, this campground is one of the highest places you can drive to in Southwest Montana. There is a day-use picnic area here, ADA accessible toilet, water in spring/summer, as well as a boat launch and fishing access area. Although the road to get here is a dirt road that is rocky in places and may not be suitable for low-profile vehicles, and trailers are not recommended, the alpine meadows and views of the Tobacco Root mountains are worth the trek. The campground’s six sites rest along the lakeshore, surrounding by the beauty of nature.
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 this campground. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest |
| Fees | There is a $15.00 per night fee for this campground. |
| Rules | Forest-wide stay limit: Camping in an area, campsite, or developed campground is limited to 16 accumulated days within any 30 day period. The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest has a mandatory forest-wide Food Storage Order. Food Storage Requirements 2014 Food Storage Order |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 45.5175° N, 111.9891° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedUnits 75 And 47 Rx
48 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 22.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Grizzly Outfitters ↗ | 37.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | Bretz RV & Marine - Butte, MT ↗ | 38.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 1.4 miBell Lake3.1 mi trail
- 1.5 miBlaine Mountain3.8 mi trail
- 1.9 miNorth Meadow Creek ↗5.1 mi trail
- 2.1 miBridge Canyon4.3 mi trail
- 2.2 miPedro2.5 mi trail
- 2.5 miCliff Lake0.8 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
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest begins about 10.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 10.5 miBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,614,456 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 Branham Lakes Campground and Picnic Area?
There is a $15.00 per night fee for this campground.
Source: Forest Service
Is Branham Lakes Campground and Picnic Area open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Branham Lakes Campground and Picnic Area?
Branham Lakes Campground and Picnic Area is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Branham Lakes Campground and Picnic Area is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Mill Creek Campground (4.9 mi, first-come), Potosi Campground and Picnic Area (5.6 mi, first-come), and Red Mountain (21.3 mi, seasonal).
Source: Campgrounds nearby