Alta Campground
Campground · Montana · 14 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Bitterroot National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 14
- Bookable sites
- 70 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 10
- People per site
- 4
- Accessible sites
- 4,948 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Alta Campground is located in a scenic forest in the heart of Montana's Bitterroot National Forest. The West Fork of the Bitterroot River flows nearby, giving visitors access to some of the best fishing the area has to offer, as well as other water-related recreation.Recreation
Fly fishing and wading in the Bitterroot River, which runs alongside the campground, are popular activities. A variety of trails and unimproved roads are great for exploring by bike or off-road vehicle. Hiking trails to various mountain peaks, including to Lookout, Razorback and Thunder Mountains, as well as Beaver and Deer Creek Points, are nearby. The Alta Pine interpretive trail is located 1/2 mile to the north. Painted Rocks Lake is located about five miles north of the campground. Visitors enjoy swimming, kayaking, boating and fishing. Anglers will find mountain whitefish and a variety of trout.
Facilities
The campground offers 14 campsites, three of which are accessible, for tent and RV camping. Each site can accommodate up to 10 people and two vehicles. Utility hookups are not available. Parking spurs are gravel. Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. A campground host is available on-site and trash collection bins are placed throughout the facility. One bear-proof container is provided at the campground for those traveling on bicycle or ATV to properly store food and other attractants.
Natural Features
The campground is located along the West Fork of the Bitterroot River, a popular fishing river in the area. Large, yellow-barked ponderosa pine trees tower above many of the campsites, which along with fir, aspen and lodgepole pine, provide pleasant shade. The campground is situated at an elevation of about 4,580 feet. A variety of wildlife can be seen in the area, including bald eagles, piliated woodpecker, mule and white-tailed deer, moose, elk, bighorn sheep and numerous songbirds.
Nearby Attractions
The Alta Ranger Station, located on Hughes Creek FS Road #5693, was the first Forest Service Ranger Station in the United States, built in 1899. It remains a popular tourist location and is just 5 minutes from the campground. Hughes Creek, once a vibrant placer gold mining site, is an historic area which accounted for 88 percent of all the placer gold recovered in Ravalli County from 1904-1948. Horse Creek natural hot springs can be found about 18 miles south from the campground, via gravel road with high-clearance vehicle recommended. The nearest town is Conner, which provides some services and is approximately 27 miles to the north. Darby is about 32 miles away and offers full services.
Charges & Cancellations
A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. Late cancellations are subject to additional fees. For full details see NRRS Reservation Policy.The facts
- 14 bookable sites
- 4 accessible sites
- Vehicles up to 70 ft
- Up to 10 people per site
- Loops: AREA ALTA CAMPGROUND
Site types
- 14 Standard Nonelectric
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Fire pits
- Picnic tables
- Grills
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups.
14 campsites at Alta Campground
Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Grade | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | AREA ALTA CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Slight | 48 ft | 10 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 03 | AREA ALTA CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 60 ft | 10 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 04 | AREA ALTA CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 50 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 05 | AREA ALTA CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 45 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 06 | AREA ALTA CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 55 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 07 | AREA ALTA CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 55 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 08 | AREA ALTA CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 55 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 09 | AREA ALTA CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 55 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 10 | AREA ALTA CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 55 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 11 | AREA ALTA CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 70 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 12 | AREA ALTA CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 55 ft | 10 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 13 | AREA ALTA CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | 55 ft | 10 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 14 | AREA ALTA CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 40 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
| 15 | AREA ALTA CAMPGROUND | Standard Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 55 ft | 10 | 🐾 |
Getting there
From Darby, travel south on Highway 93 for about four miles. Turn right onto Road # 473 and continue southwest, past Painted Rocks Lake, for about 30 miles to the campground on the right.
45.62389, -114.30194 · 45°37'26.0"N 114°18'7.0"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 3.8 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 3.9 | 3.8 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 11.3 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Alta Campground
- Can you reserve a site at Alta Campground?
- Yes, Alta Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Alta Campground have?
- 14 sites.
- What is the maximum RV length at Alta Campground?
- 70 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Alta Campground?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Alta Campground.
- Are campfires allowed at Alta Campground?
- Campfires are allowed at Alta Campground. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Also listed by
Alta Campground also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Alta Campground's operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- $15/Night for single unit, $5/Night for extra vehicle
Restrictions:
- Camping limited to 16 consecutive days. Quiet hours: 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Pets must be leashed.
Camping near Alta Campground
- Rombo 9.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Fales Flat Campground 10.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Selway River (4 Rivers) 13.3 mi · Permit · we watch it
- Twogood Cabin 15.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Medicine Point Lookout 15.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Twin Creek Campground Group Camping Site 16 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Slate Creek Campground 5.2 mi · Campground
- Horse Creek Hot Spring & Campground 11.3 mi · Campground
- Sam Billings Memorial Campground 14.1 mi · Campground
- Spring Creek Campground 16.2 mi · Campground
- Crazy Creek Campground 17.2 mi · Campground
- Lost Spring Campground 17.5 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone 406-821-3269
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
Comments