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Deerlodge/Beaver Dam
Overview
The Beaver Dam Campground, managed within the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, offers a serene escape for travelers who prefer a rustic, natural environment over a crowded resort. Located high in the mountains south of Butte, this site serves as a peaceful basecamp for exploring the rugged beauty of Southwest Montana. Visitors can expect a traditional camping experience where the sound of the wind through the lodgepole pines replaces the noise of the city, providing a true sense of solitude and connection to the wilderness.
Location & Surroundings
Situated approximately 15 miles south of Butte, the park is nestled within the Thompson Park recreation area. The surrounding landscape is characterized by dramatic granite formations and dense evergreen forests that provide a sense of seclusion. Its proximity to the Continental Divide provides a unique geographic context, offering cooler temperatures and fresh mountain air even during the peak of summer. The drive into the area is highly scenic, showcasing the rolling hills and deep valleys of the Montana wilderness.
Amenities & Park Features
As a National Forest site, amenities at Beaver Dam are designed to support a self-contained RV lifestyle. While the park does not offer electricity or sewer connections, it provides essential features for a comfortable stay:
- Potable water is available seasonally through centrally located hand pumps throughout the loops.
- Each campsite is equipped with a heavy-duty picnic table and a fire ring for cooking and evening campfires.
- Well-maintained vault toilets are distributed throughout the campground for guest convenience.
The spacious site layouts offer significantly more privacy and natural buffering than most commercial parks, allowing guests to enjoy their own slice of the forest.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Outdoor enthusiasts will find a wealth of recreation options just steps from their site. Popular activities in the immediate area include:
- Hiking or mountain biking along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, which is easily accessible.
- Exploring the Eagles Nest Trail, which offers panoramic views of the highland peaks and surrounding valleys.
- Fishing for brook trout in the small mountain streams that crisscross the local terrain.
For a change of pace, the historic city of Butte is a short drive away, where visitors can learn about the rich mining heritage and unique Victorian architecture of the region.
Who This Park Is Best For
This park is ideal for dry campers and boondockers who prioritize scenery and immersion in nature over modern luxuries. It is best suited for small to mid-sized RVs and trailers due to the winding forest access roads and specific site dimensions. If you are a nature photographer or avid hiker looking for direct access to Montana’s backcountry, Beaver Dam provides the perfect atmosphere to disconnect and recharge. It is a top choice for those seeking a quiet, authentic mountain retreat.
Amenities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Manesha Ilapperuma
This is a small campground. The road to get in there is pretty decent. Overall beautiful and peaceful but there are lot of people on ATVs constantly riding in and out to go on the trails nearby. Neat and clean campsites, fun rock formations nearby. Couple of things to note- some sites have absolutely no shade and there are no dumpsters (it’s pack in/ pack out).
Andrea Craig
It was very secluded, loved that that there are only 15 campsites, Hardly any traffic, best part no cell service! So you can actually disconnect. It does say there is a creek, however, if you like to go poking around the bear brush then I’m sure you could find the teeny tiny creek that flows through there. We were not that venturous, so we drove to an actual lake. If you don’t care about being close to water than it’s not a bad spot to camp, but we were here in 90° weather and would have preferred some sort of water, especially for the dogs. Side note: Horse flies are awful, awful, awful up there.
Chris H
Beautiful campground. Campsites are far enough away from each other that you have a little bit of privacy. We went on Monday In July and there was only one other camper there. Camping was $15 a night. Bathrooms were clean. We took a walk at dusk and seen lots of wild visitors to camp. Be bear prepared. Yeti sells a cooler that you can add a lock to. Store garbage in your car.
Jennifer Allen
Really enjoy this campground. It's pretty quiet and calm most of the time. Has vault toilets, drinking water, picnic area with group fire pit, and lots of area to explore nearby.
Greg Lundell
Easy access from I-15. Only about a 15 minute drive up into the pines. The campground has fun rock features and hiking nearby. The road is a little bumpy but easily accessible in a car. We had a truck and 30 foot trailer and other than driving a bit slower to smooth out the bumps, we had no trouble. Several camp sights were pull throughs. Also many nice picnic areas available for day use. We called the ranger office ahead, and they said it rarely fills up. We had no trouble finding a spot on a Friday evening in June. We would come again.
Andy Roberts
Great place to camp during Tour Divide, Bear boxes for your food and water pumps
Oliver Kruszka
Off the beaten path. Had to drive through many herds of cows. Very quiet. Clean bathroom, nice rocks.
J & B Tuohy
Beaverdam Campground has everything you need for a comfortable camping trip in the woods of Montana. Vault toilets are fairly clean (for vault toilets 😁), and the readily available water means you can stay for days without worrying about washing or drinking water. The location can't be beat...great trails, good climbing trees, standing rocks for kids to climb...our daughter loved watching the wildlife. It's peaceful, quiet, lots of space between mist of the sites...and you can't beat the price of $5 per night (or $2.50 discounted). The chipmunks might drive you crazy by getting into your truck, but they're manageable! And it's well worth the trouble to stay at this first come, first serve campground. The road in is a bit bumpy with washboard in some places, but we had no problem getting our large travel trailer in and out. This is easily one of our favorite boondocking spots yet!
Logan Sunday
Beautiful place. Tons of mosquitoes but enjoyed our stay. Road was a bit bumpy in spots but overall doable for a bigger trailer
Ryan Whiteside
$5 to camp, pretty good sites ... Water looked rusty color. Didn't see hiking trails but you could try scrambling to the tops of the many Rock outcrops. Cows in campground, not sure why, seems like they are trapped. Saw a big bull moose.