I'm heading for Montana in a month or so and would appreciate any help on places to boondock in W. Montana, especially near Dillon, Missoula, and Flathead Lake and W. Glacier. I have a small Casita trailer and a 4 by 4 vehicle, so I can get into some moderately bad spots. Am looking for privacy and the ability to stay a couple of weeks in each spot, but don't want to be too far from a town so I can get groceries, etc. (let's say 30 miles MOL).Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

I go to Dillon every summer to visit my cousin for a couple of weeks and fish. Done a lot of traveling in the area you are talking about in my camper. I usually stay in USFS campgrounds. I do remember one boondocking spot on the Flathead River, where Glacier NP is across the river. Here is a Google map. .I keep a very good website of my travels (see signature link). If you go to the Campsite Map page and look at all the separate year pages, you'll see every place I've camped. You might find a spot from there, although most are USFS campgrounds. However, USFS boondocking sites in the general area of the campgrounds are likely.The boondocking spot I mentioned above was on 8/5/09 and a picture is below. The mountain is in Glacier NP and the river is at the base of the mountain. My log says the road was very washboarded. Also not particularly private, since boaters/rafters launch there.Have fun. I'll be back in that area in August and I'll look for your Casita. :)

Many National Forest's allow where you can get to camping, ie if you can drive up a dirt road and find a spot, you can camp (pack-in/pack-out). The problems you will have so many of the places you list, well, like Flathead, most of the land around it is private, state-park or reservation land. East of Flathead, up the Swan Valley you might be able to find some nice places.Missoula and Dillon are mostly private. South and west of Missoula up towards Lolo has some nice places, north-west of Dillon is Beaverhead.West Glacier has some nice places near by that are NF. We used to go south of there toward Hungry Horse a lot

Last year in Montana we were in the Gravelly Range of mtns to the east of Dillon, and south/west of Ennis,MT. The roads in the area would work fine for your rig, and there was numerous places to boondock. Be cautious of the area though as it is frequented by wolves and grizzly bears, so a clean camp is a must. I believe you would be in the Beaverhead/Deerlodge National Forest. There is a office in Ennis and Dillon depending which way you come from. It is not too far from West Yellowstone. You can access alot of the area off the highway as you follow it from West Yellowstone towards Ennis. The Madison River is well known for fly fishing.

Thanks everyone for the replies, hoping for more. I've camped in those areas, but always in campgrounds, so would really like some hard-core specifics on where to boondock (i.e., exact road etc.) if anyone cares to share, like Ralph and Camorhino's's done - thanks. I drive a silver Toyota FJ with Utah plates - if you see me, I'll have a beer or coffee or whatever handy so come on over. :)

National Forest Service lands are usually a VERY good spot to find disbursed camping areas. Stop at district office for information about local rules and regulations but USUALLY when there is no prohibited signs, camping is permitted. Usually there are some restrictions like distance to a water course or lake (for example).Good luck / Skip

Boondocking in Montana | Good Sam Community

d-mac1
Explorer
May 14, 2013
ReneeG wrote:

We checked these out. If you have a large RV, like ours, you won't fit. But, if you have a TC or smaller RV, then they'll work for you. There are about four down this road, all on the river, and each has a nice outhouse. Here's a link I found with information on boondocking in Wyoming - boondocking information.

Our rig seems similar to yours. We've got a 36' fiver, where did you end up? We'd like to go up and camp somewhere near Tetons/Yellowstone (could even be on Idaho side if needed). Then we want to go up toward Glacier and into Canada.

Thanks for any info you can provide.
NinerBikes
Explorer
May 07, 2013
bcsslc wrote:
The Idaho side is washboard and dusty.

Noted, come in from the Wyoming side then. All of that area is so nice looking to camp in.
bcsslc
Explorer
May 07, 2013
The Idaho side is washboard and dusty.
ReneeG
Explorer
May 06, 2013
Google Earth is an excellent way to scout out these areas too. You should be able to get somewhat close, then scan to the exact area.
campersuzid
Explorer
May 06, 2013
"Doesn't look that good in general, but I think I can find something." Really?

Get yourself a Motor Vehicle User Map (MVUM) for those national forests you think you might be interested in. They should all be on-line as a .pdf files by now. The reason I make this suggest is you'll find all the areas you can boondock, even those way off the beaten path. I think you'll find your options are numerous.
narcodog
Explorer II
May 06, 2013
NinerBikes wrote:
narcodog wrote:
NinerBikes wrote:
Any ideas for dry camping in Wyoming, just south of the entrance into Yellowstone National park? I am towing a 21 foot travel trailer with a VW touareg 4x4, not looking for rough washboarded out roads, would be interested in 3 or 4 days of camping tops, near some fly fishing on the Snake River in Yellowstone for some day trips. Forest Service or BLM land would be great.

There is a road at Flagg Ranch it runs west into Idaho. There are three or four CG's out that road, that's it. There is nothing from YNP south of Jackson.

Is the side from Wyoming paved for a while? Pull off the side of the road and camp, or designated campgrounds?

If I remember correctly it is paved past Flagg Ranch then it is a nice gravel rd.
PF_PM
Explorer
May 06, 2013
North side of the Hungry Horse Res has some sites for free.. Just SE
of Martin City..
NinerBikes
Explorer
May 06, 2013
narcodog wrote:
NinerBikes wrote:
narcodog wrote:
NinerBikes wrote:
Any ideas for dry camping in Wyoming, just south of the entrance into Yellowstone National park? I am towing a 21 foot travel trailer with a VW touareg 4x4, not looking for rough washboarded out roads, would be interested in 3 or 4 days of camping tops, near some fly fishing on the Snake River in Yellowstone for some day trips. Forest Service or BLM land would be great.

There is a road at Flagg Ranch it runs west into Idaho. There are three or four CG's out that road, that's it. There is nothing from YNP south of Jackson.

Is the side from Wyoming paved for a while? Pull off the side of the road and camp, or designated campgrounds?

Thank you ND, for the beta.

If I remember correctly it is paved past Flagg Ranch then it is a nice gravel rd.
narcodog
Explorer II
May 06, 2013
NinerBikes wrote:
narcodog wrote:
NinerBikes wrote:
Any ideas for dry camping in Wyoming, just south of the entrance into Yellowstone National park? I am towing a 21 foot travel trailer with a VW touareg 4x4, not looking for rough washboarded out roads, would be interested in 3 or 4 days of camping tops, near some fly fishing on the Snake River in Yellowstone for some day trips. Forest Service or BLM land would be great.

There is a road at Flagg Ranch it runs west into Idaho. There are three or four CG's out that road, that's it. There is nothing from YNP south of Jackson.

Is the side from Wyoming paved for a while? Pull off the side of the road and camp, or designated campgrounds?

If I remember correctly it is paved past Flagg Ranch then it is a nice gravel rd.
ReneeG
Explorer
May 05, 2013
NinerBikes wrote:
narcodog wrote:
NinerBikes wrote:
Any ideas for dry camping in Wyoming, just south of the entrance into Yellowstone National park? I am towing a 21 foot travel trailer with a VW touareg 4x4, not looking for rough washboarded out roads, would be interested in 3 or 4 days of camping tops, near some fly fishing on the Snake River in Yellowstone for some day trips. Forest Service or BLM land would be great.

There is a road at Flagg Ranch it runs west into Idaho. There are three or four CG's out that road, that's it. There is nothing from YNP south of Jackson.

Is the side from Wyoming paved for a while? Pull off the side of the road and camp, or designated campgrounds?

We checked these out. If you have a large RV, like ours, you won't fit. But, if you have a TC or smaller RV, then they'll work for you. There are about four down this road, all on the river, and each has a nice outhouse. Here's a link I found with information on boondocking in Wyoming - boondocking information.

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