Is this real?

Do people out here in the east camp?

If so, where is YOUR favorite place to camp in this neck of the woods or lack there of?

Boat or raft to some island on the Yellowstone with lots of big cottonwoods.

There are some incredible places to camp in the Custer National Forest near Ashland. Liscom Butte comes to mind. Years back I saw black bear sign in and around there, and listened to elk bugling off in the distance. If you are up for some exercise, you can get into some pretty remote country. Water does get a little hard to find. The wise thing to do would be to touch base with the Ranger’s Office in Ashland, get some advice, guidance, and maps.

At the Bison, with the Bison.

Remember ticks and rattlesnakes. No bears but ticks and rattlesnakes are a problem.

I definitely keep those things in mind.

I've lived here quite a while, but it just seems like no one I know actually goes camping. Everywhere else I've lived, its been a staple of weekend activity.

I wasn't sure if that was indicative of the area or indicative of the people I'm around.

Maybe I just need new friends.

A camping I will go...

We camp around Fort Peck. Hell Creek just north of Jordan has a great campground, with electric hookups for campers, or spots with little lean-to shelters and picnic tables that are great if you have a tent, or there's just prairie too if you prefer that. They have outhouses and a bath house with pay-showers (bring quarters). It does cost to camp at Hell Creek State park. There is also a marina where you can buy a few supplies and bait...they also have cabin and pontoon rentals.
If you don't care about amenities, I recommend Nelson Creek on Fort Peck. It has sandy beaches, and it's nicer to fish off the banks...but no electric hookups or bath house.

Here is the link to the MT State parks camping sites near Miles City...

http://montanastateparks....ode=submit

You can camp at 12 mile dam. Every time I have there has been trouble but I love that place. Also Matthews Rec area 10 miles east of town on the old highway

Strawberry Hill is a great place! There is another recreation place out past there a few miles but I do not remember the name of it. Beautiful and remote camping areas. It's been many years since I have been there but I am pretty sure camping is allowed at both places.

Notice that compared to western Montana, eastern Montana has very few state parks and the only one the state wants to hang on to is Mikoshika and I don't think Makoshika allows camping.

Amorette F. Allison wrote:

Notice that compared to western Montana, eastern Montana has very few state parks and the only one the state wants to hang on to is Mikoshika and I don't think Makoshika allows camping.

Here is information for Makoshika.

http://montanastateparks....kId=630711

Medicine Rocks State Park near Ekalaka is really nice. Clean, and rarely crowded. Bring water, as the pump was not working last week.

Liz

Amorette,

Actually, Makoshika State Park does allow camping. The sites with electricity generally require a reservation, but any site without electricity is fair game and first-come, first-served.

There's actually several other state parks in Eastern Montana, besides Makoshika (some that allow camping), and none of these are currently in any peril of going away.
Medicine Rocks State Park south of Ekalaka allows camping. However, this site has no improvements except a hand-pump for water and a few fire rings and picnic shelters.

(Sidenote - Pirogue Island State Park right here at MC used to allow camping but was changed to day-use only due to persistent vandalism.)

Way to the north, but still eastern Montana, Brush Lake State Park also allows camping and some sites have electricity.

Though you're getting a tad more central vs eastern Montana with this one, Tongue River Reservoir State Park also has copious amounts of camping - both with electrified and non-electrified sites. Not sure if it still is, but a few years back Tongue was the most heavily visited water-based park in the State Park system.

The only park in eastern Montana that's in any real danger of going away is Hell Creek.

Not a camper, but the campground where 191 crosses the Missouri has a picturesque location...CMR refuge etc.

Red Shale campground - about 5 or so miles West of Broadus. Not spectacular but shady, pretty and uncrowded.

Buffalo Gap campground - just outside Beach ND (so yes, a few miles into ND - not in MT) - way more pleasant that I would have expected.

Both may be a tad on the hot side until Fall.

My go to place for high altitude cool - East Rosebud campground - about a half hour outside of Absarokee - pushing it to call it "Eastern" but it is pretty and cool.

All of these are forest service campgrounds. And I am definitely a "car camper"!

None of these places have hookups for the RV.

[Edited by mikeh (7/5/2016 11:32:09 AM)]

If you don't consider a three hour drive long, I can certainly recommend Devils Tower. There are three or four campgrounds with great views of the tower. If you don't want to climb the tower, the trail around the base is wonderful.