Is Blacks Pond Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

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

Are there showers at Blacks Pond Campground?

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

How many campsites does Blacks Pond Campground have?

Blacks Pond Campground has 2 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Arrive early for the best site selection.

Are dogs allowed at Blacks Pond Campground?

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

What amenities are available at Blacks Pond Campground?

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

What activities can I do at Blacks Pond Campground?

Popular activities at Blacks Pond Campground include Fishing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Blacks Pond Campground

3.17

6 reviews

Featured in:Mountain Camping Montana

Quick Facts

3,734 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

2 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Book on Recreation.gov Official Website

Get Directions

Elevation by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.

Quick Facts

3,734 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

2 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Book on Recreation.gov Official Website

Get Directions

Elevation by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.

Blacks Pond Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

No campsite fee categories listed.

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Provider

406-784-2344

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

Blacks Pond Campground

45.3492, -106.2862

Nearby places

Ashland, MT - Approximately 15.25 miles and roughly 20-25 minutes of travel time depending on road conditions.

Weather at Blacks Pond Campground

Best Time to Camp at Blacks Pond Campground

Best season: summer. Summer delivers the warmest, most reliable weather and the longest daylight for exploring Blacks Pond — expect daytime highs typically in the mid-60s to mid-80s°F and cool nights in the 40s–50s°F. This is peak time for hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing or paddling on the pond, and enjoying the mix of prairie and montane scenery while the two first-come, first-served sites make crowds minimal compared with larger campgrounds. Be aware that summer is also Montana's wildfire season; check current B Peak months: July, August, June, September Avoid: December, January, February

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.0 / 5

Overview: 'Best season: summer' with warm days and cool nights; longest daylight for exploring.

Planning Tips

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.

About Blacks Pond Campground

Blacks Pond Campground sits in the Custer Gallatin National Forest foothills near Ashland, Montana, operated by the Ashland District Office. This very small primitive campground offers first-come, first-served tent sites with vault toilets and access to pond fishing. The setting blends prairie and montane scenery at an elevation that delivers warm summer days and cool nights, with no trash service so pack-it-in, pack-it-out rules apply.

Blacks Pond Campground offers camping on a very small scale, with only two campsites available. The type of accommodations is basic, with no reservations.

Weather and SeasonsBest season: summer. Summer delivers the warmest, most reliable weather and the longest daylight for exploring Blacks Pond — expect daytime highs typically in the mid-60s to mid-80s°F and cool nights in the 40s–50s°F. This is peak time for hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing or paddling on the pond, and enjoying the mix of prairie and montane scenery while the two first-come, first-served sites make crowds minimal compared with larger campgrounds. Be aware that summer is also Montana's wildfire season; check current B Peak months: July, August, June, September Avoid: December, January, February

Elevation3734 ft above sea level

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com, licensed under CC BY 4.0, processed by Outdoorithm.

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground occupies a transition zone where prairie grasslands meet montane forest. Blacks Pond itself anchors the setting, though specific details about its size and shoreline character aren't documented. The surrounding terrain shows Montana's geological variety: weathered sedimentary layers and scattered volcanic remnants mark millions of years of landscape change. Open meadows alternate with forest groves, creating a mix of sun and shade across the small camping area.

Lodging & AccommodationsThere are no lodging accommodations such as cabins or lodges at this campground.

Programs & ActivitiesNo cultural or educational programs are listed for the campground.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Stay Limit

The campground does not provide explicit information about the stay limit.

Guests Allowed Per Site

No specific information on the number of guests allowed.

Groups

Group camping is not mentioned as being available at Blacks Pond Campground.

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are not allowed

Reservation PlatformsBlacks Pond Campground does not use reservation platforms; first-come, first-served.

AccessibilityAn accessible toilet is explicitly mentioned in the campground's description.

Site SizeTwo campsites are available, but specific dimensions or size categorizations (e.g., large, small) are not mentioned.

PrivacyDetails about the level of privacy at the campsites are not provided.

Total Campsites2 campsites

Recommended SitesNo specific recommendations for choosing sites due to limited campground size.

Amenities available

Blacks Pond Campground offers a very minimalistic camping experience on the Ashland Ranger District with only two campsites. "Trash Pickup: No" and "Firewood: No" highlight the lack of on-site amenities provided. A notable feature is the accessible toilet facility available for campers. Water and other common amenities like picnic tables, firewood availability, or a camp store are explicitly unavailable. This is a first-come, first-served campground with no reservation system.

Vault toilets

I manage this campground

Things to do at Blacks Pond Campground

Recreational activities are not explicitly detailed in the source material for Blacks Pond Campground.

Fishing3.0/5

Water Sports2.0/5

No mentions of kayaking; small pond may limit practical kayaking.

Winter Activities

Signature experiences

Stargazing3.5/5Remote NF foothills and primitive site imply low light pollution, but not stated.

Not sure what to pack?Our complete camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

No Potable WaterThis campground does not have potable water on-site. Bring all the water you need for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

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

Good to know

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, and timing, compiled by Outdoorithm from public reviews and operator information.

Reviews

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From Booking Sources

3.2

6 reviews

Mixed Reviews

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

User reviews for Blacks Pond Campground are minimal and provide very limited insight. One review notes, "Blacks pond campground pretty," with no additional context.

Review Summaries

Based on 6 reviews

What Campers Love

There are no detailed positive highlights in the user reviews.

Based on 6 reviews

Common Concerns

There are no specific complaints mentioned about the campground.

Based on 6 reviews

Site-Specific Reviews

The campground only has two sites, and no reviews are specific to an individual campsite.

Based on 6 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

User-provided tips or recommendations are not available.

Based on 6 reviews

Seasonal Insights

No seasonal trends are mentioned in user reviews.

Based on 6 reviews

Camper Quotes

"Blacks pond campground pretty." (Jason Monson, 2021)

Based on 6 reviews

Accessibility Features

Accessibility reviews are not provided by users.

Based on 6 reviews

Pet-Friendly Features

No user reviews address pet policies or experiences with pets at the campground.

Based on 6 reviews

Reviews on Outdoorithm

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Blacks Pond Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

No campsite fee categories listed.

Get Notified When Available

We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.

Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans

263,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account

Learn more about alerts →

Share this campground

Recreation Dot Gov

Provider

406-784-2344

Go if

You want a quiet, small-scale fishing camp in the national forest and are comfortable packing out all trash.

Skip if

You need reservations, developed amenities, or on-site trash disposal.

Nearby Campgrounds

Custer Gallatin National Forest

Red Shale Campground sits in the foothills of Custer Gallatin National Forest near Ashland, Montana, operated by the Ashland District Office. This small campground offers tent, RV, and primitive sites with vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables spread across quiet, well-spaced loops. Campers come for stargazing, wildlife viewing, and easy highway access with minimal road noise.

Blacks Pond Campground

Quick Facts

Quick Facts

Get Notified When Available

Ask Camp Sage about Blacks Pond Campground

Campground Map

Weather at Blacks Pond Campground

Best Time to Camp at Blacks Pond Campground

Planning Tips

About Blacks Pond Campground

Best Campsites

Reserving a campsite

Amenities available

Things to do at Blacks Pond Campground

Policies & Safety

Trip Planning Tools

Reviews

What Campers Love

Common Concerns

Site-Specific Reviews

Get Notified When Available

Go if

Skip if

Explore related camping guides

Ask Camp Sage about Blacks Pond Campground

Best Time to Camp at Blacks Pond Campground

Planning Tips

Best Campsites

Reserving a campsite

Amenities available

Things to do at Blacks Pond Campground

Policies & Safety

Trip Planning Tools

Reviews

What Campers Love

Common Concerns

Site-Specific Reviews