Western Montana

We found a great campground really close to Missoula and were pleasantly surprised to find a fishing pond too! The price of gasoline is prompting us to look nearby for outside opportunities where we can take our small motor home out for a quick weekender without spending a fortune.

Beavertail Hill State Park is a quick trip about 25 miles east of Missoula, right off Interstate 90, at Exit 130. The campground is just one-quarter mile south of the highway. You can see the Fishing Pond, which is immediately to the north of the highway. This is actually the Beavertail Hill Fishing Access Site, and not part of the State Park. This is a SUPER spot for youngsters to fish from shore! I’ll get back to the Fish Pond later on, but on to the Campground!

Camping at Beavertail is wonderful! There are 28 spaces, and two of these have tipis for rent! The tipis are huge (17-foot diameter) and have indoor-outdoor carpet. They rent for $25 a night and have their own parking space and fire rings. (Other than carpeting, the tipis are completely empty.)

The Campground does have a 28-foot limit on RV and trailer length. Overall, I thought most of the spaces were a little small and close together. We are here early in the vacation season so there are plenty of open spaces. Space #18 has a concrete pad for handicap accessibility and also a concrete sidewalk leading to the ADA restroom. The entire campground is very level and easy to navigate. Firewood is available for $4 a bundle (from a vending machine). There is also a self-guided nature trail that takes about an hour to walk. Chipmunks abound, and our dog, Pouie, can bear witness that chipmunks love to torture dogs who are tethered, staying just out of reach while they chatter away endlessly, or so it seems.

The campground is adjacent to the Clark Fork River and there is one-half mile of access. We tried our luck fishing here, but the spring runoff still made the river too silty. The Fishing Pond was much better!

Beavertail Fishing Access Site Fish Pond is open during normal fishing season (3^rd Saturday in May until November 30) and The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks stocks the 28-acre Pond with rainbow trout each year. In some previous years a few largemouth bass and some cutthroat trout were planted so there is always a chance to hook one, but Rainbow are what we caught. Standard Montana Fishing Regulations apply. Overnight camping is not allowed at the Pond and it is only open from 8 am to 10 pm.

There is a gravel boat ramp (only electric motors allowed). The parking lot is also gravel. There is a handicap accessible restroom. RV and trailer length limitation is 35 feet. There are no fees for fishing.

How to Get Here: Exit 130 off Interstate 90, about 25 miles east of Missoula. The park is ¼ mile south of the Interstate. The Fishing Pond is immediately to the left of the Interstate.

Fees:

Camping fee is $15 for Residents and non-residents, $7.50 for disabled and over age 62.

Day use of the Campground for picnic and fishing is free for Montana Residents, $5 for non-residents.

TO RESERVE A TIPI call (406) 542-5531

There is no fee at the Fishing Pond

Hours of Operation:

The campground is open May 1 to September 30.

The fishing pond is open during fishing season (3rd Saturday in May through November 30)