Is Black Canyon Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Black Canyon Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays, to secure a spot.

Can I see photos of campsites at Black Canyon Campground before I book?

Yes! Black Canyon Campground has 4 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

What is the best time to visit Black Canyon Campground?

Black Canyon Campground is open There is a dock here as well as a floating vault toilet from the third week of May until the middle of September.. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Black Canyon Campground?

Black Canyon Campground does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

How many campsites does Black Canyon Campground have?

Black Canyon Campground has 17 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Arrive early for the best site selection.

Are dogs allowed at Black Canyon Campground?

Pets are not allowed at Black Canyon Campground. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Black Canyon Campground?

Black Canyon Campground offers: Restrooms. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

Black Canyon Campground

2.86

7 reviews

P.O. Box 7458, Fort Smith, MT, 59035, USA

Summer Destination

Featured in:Boating Camping Montana

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

3,648 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

17 campsites

Season

There is a dock here...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Book on National Park Service Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

3,648 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

17 campsites

Season

There is a dock here...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Book on National Park Service Official Website

Get Directions

Black Canyon Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

No paid fee categories listed.

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Recreation Dot Gov

Provider

(307) 568-5406BICA_media@nps.gov

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Campground Map

P.O. Box 7458, Fort Smith, MT, 59035, USA

Black Canyon Campground

P.O. Box 7458, Fort Smith, MT, 59035, USA

Nearby places

Fort Smith, MT is the closest city.

Weather at Black Canyon Campground

Best Time to Camp at Black Canyon Campground

Best season: summer. Summer offers the warmest, most reliable conditions for boat access and shoreline camping — expect daytime highs in the 80s–90s°F and cooler nights in the 50s–60s°F with very clear skies and steady 5–10 mph breezes. Docks are installed Memorial Day through Labor Day, making July and August the peak months for boating, swimming, fishing, and easy gear shuttles to the 17 boat-access tent sites. Holiday weekends can be busier on the water, but the campground itself remains intimate; plan trips mid‑ Peak months: July, August, June, September Avoid: December, January, February

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.5 / 5

Summer is the practical season; docks in place Memorial Day–Labor Day and warm daytime temps.

Planning Tips

Operating Season: There is a dock here as well as a floating vault toilet from the third week of May until the middle of September.

About Black Canyon Campground

Black Canyon Campground sits on the Montana shore of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, accessible only by boat during summer months when docks are installed. Operated by the National Park Service, this small, primitive site offers vault toilets and shoreline tent camping in a secluded foothill setting near Fort Smith. Visitors boat in to fish, swim, and camp along the canyon's edge, though bear activity occasionally prompts temporary closures.

Black Canyon Campground caters exclusively to tent campers and is accessible only by boat.

Weather and SeasonsBest season: summer. Summer offers the warmest, most reliable conditions for boat access and shoreline camping — expect daytime highs in the 80s–90s°F and cooler nights in the 50s–60s°F with very clear skies and steady 5–10 mph breezes. Docks are installed Memorial Day through Labor Day, making July and August the peak months for boating, swimming, fishing, and easy gear shuttles to the 17 boat-access tent sites. Holiday weekends can be busier on the water, but the campground itself remains intimate; plan trips mid‑ Peak months: July, August, June, September Avoid: December, January, February

Elevation3648 ft above sea level

Natural Features and SceneryAncient limestone and dolomite formations rise from the shoreline, revealing layers deposited by prehistoric seas. The Bighorn River carved these canyon walls over millions of years, creating a microclimate where desert, mountain, and aquatic ecosystems meet. Bighorn sheep navigate the cliffs above the water. The canyon's depth and orientation produce dramatic light shifts at sunrise and sunset.

Lodging & AccommodationsNo hotel-style accommodations are present within this campground.

Programs & ActivitiesThere is no mention of cultural or educational programs at Black Canyon Campground.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Guests Allowed Per Site

Unknown number of guests per tent site.

Groups

There is no information about designated group camping sites.

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are not allowed

Reservation PlatformsNot reservable in advance. Walk-up or first-come-first-served policies apply.

AccessibilityNo specific accessibility features are mentioned.

Site SizeAll 17 sites appear to be standard tent sites.

PrivacyNo information on site privacy is available.

Total Campsites17 campsites

Recommended SitesNo recommendations for individual campsites provided.

Amenities available

Black Canyon Campground is a boat-in-only facility located within Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. It features 17 tent sites and is accessible only by watercraft, situated five lake miles from the Ok-A-Beh boat ramp. Currently, the campground is closed as of 8/30/22 due to aggressive bear activity caused by improper food storage by campers. Notably, docks are seasonal, available between Memorial Day and Labor Day, while the campground itself remains open all year.

Vault toilets

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

While specific activities at Black Canyon Campground are not detailed in the source, it is part of the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, which generally offers opportunities for hiking, boating, and wildlife viewing.

Winter Activities

Water Sports

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Policies & Safety

Trip Planning Tools

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Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

From Booking Sources

2.9

7 reviews

Mixed Reviews

Black Canyon Campground has mixed reviews, placing it in the bottom 85% of campgrounds based on reviews

User reviews highlight Black Canyon Campground as somewhat hidden and less visited. However, no significant details are provided beyond this.

Review Summaries

Based on 7 reviews

What Campers Love

The campground is noted for its secluded location by at least one user: 'Great campground kind of hidden.'

Based on 7 reviews

Common Concerns

No user complaints are explicitly detailed, though the current closure due to bear activity suggests previous issues with food storage.

Based on 7 reviews

Site-Specific Reviews

No reviews targeting specific sites within the campground are available.

Based on 7 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

No user-provided tips or recommendations are available.

Based on 7 reviews

Seasonal Insights

No seasonal trends are derived from the user reviews.

Based on 7 reviews

Camper Quotes

'Great campground kind of hidden.'

Based on 7 reviews

Accessibility Features

There are no reviews addressing accessibility features.

Based on 7 reviews

Pet-Friendly Features

No reviews discuss experiences related to pets.

Based on 7 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Nearby Campgrounds

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Afterbay Campground, Rte 200, Fort Smith, MT 59035, USA

Afterbay Campground sits in the Montana foothills within Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, operated by the Crow Tribe of Indians near Fort Smith. This small campground offers electric and water hookups, a dump station, and vault toilets, serving tent and RV campers who come for lake access and wildlife viewing. Fall brings cooler temperatures, big game rutting, waterfowl migration, and calmer conditions on nearby Yellowtail Lake.

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Grapevine Campground sits at 3,196 feet in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area near Fort Smith, Montana, operated by the Crow Tribe of Indians. This 14-site campground offers tent and RV camping with vault toilets, potable water, a dump station, and fire rings. Summer brings mid-70s to low-90s°F days ideal for boating and fishing on Afterbay Lake, with cool nights in the 40s–50s°F.

Medicine Creek Campground

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Medicine Creek Campground sits in the foothills of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area near Lovell, Wyoming. Operated by the National Park Service, this very small primitive site offers fewer than 10 spots for tent campers seeking backcountry-style access to the canyon and reservoir. Visitors use the campground as a base for boating, paddling, and hiking the canyon rims during the warm summer months.

Barry's Landing & Trail Creek Campground

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Barry's Landing & Trail Creek Campground sits along Bighorn Canyon in the foothills near Lovell, Wyoming, operated by Hidden Treasure Charters within Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. This small campground offers tent and RV sites with vault toilets, bear-proof storage boxes, and a quiet atmosphere ideal for boaters and anglers accessing the canyon's waters. The exposed, sun-drenched setting provides unobstructed canyon views but offers little natural shade.

Horseshoe Bend Campground

Horseshoe Bend Campground, Horseshoe Bend Marina, Lovell, WY 82431, USA

Horseshoe Bend Campground sits in the foothills of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area near Lovell, Wyoming, operated by Hidden Treasure Charters. This mid-sized campground serves as a base for canyon exploration, with electric and water hookups for RVs, tent sites, and a dump station. Visitors come for boating, fishing, swimming, and hiking along the dramatic canyon landscape, with a camp store and full amenities supporting extended stays.

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Campgrounds

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Black Canyon Campground

About Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

Context for the broader area surrounding Black Canyon Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

The vast, wild landscape of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area offers visitors unparalleled opportunities to immerse themselves in the natural world, and experience the wonders of this extraordinary place. With over 120,000 acres, one can find an astounding diversity in ecosystems, wildlife, and more than 10,000 years of human history to explore.

Directions

Bighorn Canyon has two districts that are separated by a three hour drive. To get to the North District at Fort Smith, MT from Billings, take Interstate 90 south to Hardin, MT. Turn at exit 495 onto State Highway 313 to St. Xavier and then to Fort Smith, Montana. To get to the South District at Lovell, WY from Billings, MT, take Interstate 90 west. Turn at exit 434 at Laurel, MT. Turn onto US 310 East/US 212 South. Turn at US 310 East to Lovell. The visitor center is on the east side of Lovell.