Discover the best forest campgrounds near Virginia City, Montana with hiking

United States
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Montana
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Virginia City

94% (39 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Virginia City

3 top forest campgrounds near Virginia City with hiking

Available this weekend

88%

(38)

Mad RIver Farm Camping

7 sites · Tents40 acres · Ennis, MT

Please read bullet points below before you book with us. Wake up to the impressive scenery of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the sun shining over the Madison range on this nearly 50 acre farm in McAllister, Montana. You'll be camped in a wide open grass pasture JUST OFF Hwy 287, 1.5 miles from Ennis Lake and the Madison River which offers some of the most diverse fly fishing in Montana. The Madison River runs through this scenic valley and is flanked by the towering Madison, Gravelly and Tobacco Root ranges which are all visable from our campsites. Our land is filled with wildlife including fox, coyotes, sandhill cranes, bald eagles, osprey, deer and antelope. Horses in the pasture to the North and cattle to the South. Crash in our field and you're only about 1 hour from Yellowstone, without the Yellowstone prices and congestion. The town of Ennis is 7 miles and the best steakhouse in the valley is 2 minutes north up HWY 287. Plan an easy afternoon trip to the historic Old West town of Virginia City (20 miles). We are surrounded by endless trails for hiking, 4 wheeling and trail riding. Big Sky Ski Resort is an hour and 30 minutes over the Madison Range. Take an evening to go to Norris Hotsprings (9 miles). Lewis and Clark Caverns one of the most highly decorated limestone caverns in North America is only 28 miles away. The list of activities goes on and on, but there is always the option to just relax and feel comfortable doing nothing. This is the perfect place to choose to be disconnected and unplugged for a while, but not to far off the beaten path so its an easy camp. 45°26'15.5"N 111°43'53.8"W https://goo.gl/maps/i7jR4qSxP4SkU1QTA -Parking is just off HWY 287, very easy access by bike or vehicle. Vehicles will stay in the designated parking are and campers will walk to any area of the pasture they wish to set up camp! -This is a field, a pasture where grass grows to feed cattle. The views of the Madison Range and Tobacco Root Mountains is incredible. There are a few areas of trimmed grass, but for the most part this is a pasture with long grass. This area is not maintained like a KOA. This is not at all what would call "roughing it" but I grew up in Montana and we have different standards here. -We ask that you please give room to other campers, you'll have so much room it should never be an issue. -There is now a porta potty and fire pit! both of which are for all campers to use. Please do not set up camp right next to the firepit, right next to the porta potty or in the parking area. -This is a pasture alongside the road in Montana. There are no parking lot lights. There is no wifi. There are no trees or shelters. It is not private because it is an open field along HWY 287. That being said there are rarely ever more than 1-2 camping groups at a time. -The Campfire is communal. Everyone needs to be able to enjoy. There are several area to set up camp. We usualy will only have 1-2 campers at any given time. The most we have ever had at once is 4. -You're free to walk around and find your perfect spot. You can walk through the tall grass or you can camp in one of the spots that is trimmed down. You have that freedom! We trim down the "road", the firepit, a couple campsites and the area around the garbage and porta potty. We dont want to completely mow down our pasture. We like to keep it wild. When Hipcampers are not using the area its a place for deer, antelope, cyotes and sandhill cranes. If you want to have a campground with manicured walkways/camping spots this is not the green pasture for you. 🇺🇸 July 4th update FYI the 2 track road down to the canvas wall tent has irrigation water covering it. Don’t go down the path to the tent, you will get stuck. There are plenty of places to camp without driving down toward the canvas tent. There is a saw horse blocking the road. Please do not move the saw horse or drive down the road.

Fish Creek House Bed and Breakfast

1 site · Lodging40 acres · Whitehall, MT

. Conveniently located near the Beaverhead DeerLodge Forest, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Off road riding , x country skiing in winter Southwest Montana between Butte and Bozeman Convenient to Butte and Bozeman airports Full breakfast served. Two guest bedrooms and baths . Come as a guest ,leave as a friend

Along the Gallatin River in Bozeman

4 sites · RVs, Tents3 acres · Gallatin Gateway, MT

The land is 3 acres of private property that crosses the Gallatin River. It is walking distance to a well know Cowboy Steakhouse and Bar and a Pizza and Beer spot. The Gallatin River is famous for it's fly fishing. A short walk and over the bridge will find you at a tributary of the Gallatin River, so you have two places to wade, fish or play in the water. The property is home to whitetail deer, turkey, and American eagles.The river used to be a tributary, but there was an ice jam that changed the river flow and now the river that runs past our property is the main river and can be canoed or rafted for fishing.

Nearby parks

Explore the area’s public lands.

77%

(13)

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

Wisdom, Montana

81%

(50)

Custer Gallatin National Forest

Lodge Grass, Montana

Forest camping near Virginia City with hiking guide

Overview

In the heart of Madison County, Virginia City delivers history on the edge of the Rocky Mountains. The town’s gold rush past offers a view into the Old West, with heritage buildings and local museums revealing how residents lived in the 18th century. Head outside Virginia City’s borders to Yellowstone, America’s first national park, to witness active geysers and see some of the country’s most iconic nature spots. Then check out Beaverhead-Deerlodge and Helena-Lewis and Clark national forests for hiking trails, scenic drives, and spectacular mountain views. Park the RV in a national forest, pitch a tent among Christmas trees, or rent a cabin with toilets and drinking water—any way is a good way to enjoy natural beauty near Virginia City.

Where to go

Yellowstone National Park

With 2.2 million acres of parkland, Yellowstone is home to active geysers, waterfall hikes, scenic drives, and cozy campsites. The 12 campgrounds offer group camping and tent camping, with one RV campground featuring 50-amp hookups and a dump station. After setting up camp, admire Yellowstone’s unique geology from the comfort of the roads with a trip around the Grand Loop. Or, hike the expansive trail system to see Yellowstone Lake, multiple backcountry waterfalls, and spring wildflower blooms. If you can’t snag a campsite in the park, consider a Hipcamp just outside the Yellowstone entrance.

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

The largest national forest in Montana, Beaverhead-Deerlodge offers a scenic escape for camping, paddling, mountain hikes, and lakeside lounging. A host of campgrounds fill this 3.3 million-acre forest, with everything from cabin rentals and group camping to dispersed tent camping and RV campsites. Enjoy stunning mountain views in every season, but check campground amenities to see which spots offer winter access if visiting in the colder months.

Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest

Spanning seven mountain ranges, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest is an outdoor hub for camping, hiking, horseback riding, and snow sports. Chase adrenaline in the winter with skiing and snowmobiling along the peaks, or wander through the meadows on scenic summer walking trails. For a unique holiday celebration, pick up a permit to cut a Christmas tree from the national forest. Find easy access to natural beauty with a stay at one of the forest’s many campgrounds, where most tent camping, RV campsites, and cabins offer basic amenities like toilets and drinking water.

When to go

Camping near Virginia City is most popular from June to September, when warm summer days make it inviting to explore mountain trails and lakeside hikes. Temperatures average in the low 80s. Nights can get chilly during the shoulder season, so bring extra layers to keep evenings around the campfire fun and cozy. Snowy winters make Montana an exciting destination for snow sports and winter scenery. Check up on Montana’s road condition report to plan a route through parks and forests.