How much does camping cost at Trapper Springs?

Camping fees at Trapper Springs range from $20-$50/night. Prices may vary by site type (standard, hookup, premium) and season. Book online to see exact pricing for your dates.

Is Trapper Springs first-come first-served or reservation?

Trapper Springs accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Can I see photos of campsites at Trapper Springs before I book?

Yes! Trapper Springs has 17 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 Trapper Springs?

Trapper Springs is open May 01 to September 30. 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 Trapper Springs?

Trapper Springs does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Can I have a campfire at Trapper Springs?

Fire policies at Trapper Springs: Firewood is available for purchase at Red Mountain Campground when the volunteer campground host is present. Collecting or cutting wood is prohibited on BLM administered lands throughout the lower Madison River corridor.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

How many campsites does Trapper Springs have?

Trapper Springs has 15 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Trapper Springs?

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

What amenities are available at Trapper Springs?

Trapper Springs offers: Restrooms, Potable Water. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Trapper Springs?

Popular activities at Trapper Springs include Fishing, Boating. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Trapper Springs (Mt)

4.03

38 reviews

BLM Dillon Field Office, 1005 Selway Drive, Dillon, MT 59729

Great for Groups

Featured in:Fishing Camping Montana

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

4,482 ft

Price

$20 - $50/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

15 campsites

Season

Campsites are reserv...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

RV Friendly

Book on BLM Dillon Field Office Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

4,482 ft

Price

$20 - $50/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

15 campsites

Season

Campsites are reserv...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

RV Friendly

Book on BLM Dillon Field Office Official Website

Get Directions

Trapper Springs (Mt)

$20.00 - $50.00 / night

Campsite Fees

Campsites: $20.00; Pavilion: $50.00. Plus Recreation.gov reservation transaction fee ($8 online / $9 phone / $3 in person).

Group Site Fee$50.00

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Recreation Dot Gov

Provider

406-683-8000

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

BLM Dillon Field Office, 1005 Selway Drive, Dillon, MT 59729

Trapper Springs (Mt)

BLM Dillon Field Office, 1005 Selway Drive, Dillon, MT 59729

Nearby places

Bozeman (approximately 20.5 miles), Norris (approximately 8 miles), Ennis (distance not specified).

Weather at Trapper Springs (Mt)

Current alerts(5)

ALL Trapper Springs campsites are First-Come First-Served until futher notice. The group pavilion may still be reserved online.
Additional vehicles at campsites are $5 each. Maximum vehicle limit is 3 per campsite. Truck and camper/trailer count as one vehicle. Additional vehicles must be paid for on-site.
Campsites are available for reservation for the Peak-Season times of May 1st through September 15th. All sites are first-come-first-serve from September 16th through April 30th. Reservations are available on a rolling 6-month basis.
Campsites must be occupied nightly

Best Time to Camp at Trapper Springs (Mt)

Best season: summer. Summer delivers the best combination of warm, dry weather and peak river recreation at Trapper Springs — expect daytime highs in the 70s–80s°F with cool nights in the upper 40s–50s. This is prime time for floating and boating on the lower Madison, afternoon swimming (water remains quite cold), and world-class trout fishing in early mornings and evenings. Campsite reservations are strongly recommended for July–August when crowds are highest; be prepared for afternoon winds and possible late-summr Peak months: July, August, June, September Avoid: December, January, February

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.0 / 5

Summer (70s-80s) is peak season for fishing, tubing and floating; described as best season.

Planning Tips

Peak Season: May 01 to September 30. Book 2-3 months ahead.
Operating Season: Campsites are reservable May 1 - September 15 and first-come-first-serve September 16 - April 30.

About Trapper Springs (Mt)

Trapper Springs sits along the lower Madison River near Dillon, operated by the BLM Dillon Field Office as a seasonal mid-elevation forest campground. The spacious sites offer direct access to world-class trout fishing and float-tubing water, with vault toilets, potable water, fire rings, and picnic tables. Reviewers praise the clean facilities and peaceful setting, though shade is limited and wind can be strong.

Trapper Springs Campground provides standard nonelectric campsites and a reservable group shelter. There are 15 campsites, including accessible ones, making it suitable for both RVs and tent camping. However, the area is described as open sage with minimal privacy or shade.

Weather and SeasonsBest season: summer. Summer delivers the best combination of warm, dry weather and peak river recreation at Trapper Springs — expect daytime highs in the 70s–80s°F with cool nights in the upper 40s–50s. This is prime time for floating and boating on the lower Madison, afternoon swimming (water remains quite cold), and world-class trout fishing in early mornings and evenings. Campsite reservations are strongly recommended for July–August when crowds are highest; be prepared for afternoon winds and possible late-summr Peak months: July, August, June, September Avoid: December, January, February

Elevation4482 ft above sea level

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground occupies a semi-arid landscape at 4,482 feet, where golden sagebrush plains stretch toward distant peaks and the Madison River carves through millions of years of geological history. Bear Trap Canyon rises nearby, its cliffs revealing layered rock formations shaped by the persistent river. This is high desert country with big sky views and minimal vegetation. The open terrain delivers unobstructed sunrises and sunsets, but expect little natural shade. The river provides the only real relief from the exposed setting.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Stay Limit

You may stay up to 14 nights during a visit at this campground.

Guests Allowed Per Site

Organized Group permits are required for groups larger than 15 people. Individual sites likely have a lower guest limit.

Groups

The group shelter is a reservable facility that costs $50 per day. It is suitable for organized groups, with parking available for up to 20 vehicles.

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsReservations can be made via Recreation.gov or the contact center at 877-444-6777.

AccessibilityThe campground provides an ADA-accessible trail to the Madison River and accessible vault toilets. However, there were no user reviews specifically mentioning experiences with accessibility features.

Site Size15 campsites are available. Some reviewers noted the spacing between sites, with one stating, 'sites are spaced pretty far apart.

PrivacyThe campground is described as being in 'open sage' with minimal trees, resulting in little privacy. One reviewer commented, 'open sage, no privacy,' and another mentioned, 'no shade.

Total Campsites15 campsites

Recommended SitesRecommended for RVs and campers due to limited shade and terrain challenges for tents as noted in reviews.

Best CampsitesSite #6 sits closest to the river, giving quick access for fishing and tubing. Site #3 has large rocks that make tent placement tricky. Sites are spaced far apart across the open terrain, which helps with noise but doesn't add privacy since there's minimal vegetation between them.

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Recreation.gov Guide

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Amenities available

Trapper Springs Campground offers 15 campsites with amenities such as three accessible vault toilets, drinking water during the peak season, picnic tables, fire pits, and a group use pavilion. Firewood can be purchased at the nearby Red Mountain Campground when the volunteer host is present. Visitors also have access to an ADA-accessible trail leading to the Madison River. According to reviewers, the campground is 'basic with outhouses, fire rings, and picnic tables,' and one mentioned that the vault toilets were 'very clean.' However, recent reviews indicated issues with water availability, such as 'there was no water available at any of the water spigots' (June 2023).

Potable water

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Firewood available

Vault toilets

Group Sites

I manage this campground

RV details

Activities you can enjoy

The campground offers access to the Madison River, which is famous for trout fishing and is a popular spot for tubing during summer. Other activities include camping, day use, and picnicking. As one user noted, 'If you like to river raft this is the place to go.' Wildlife viewing opportunities are also highlighted by some, with one review describing the area as 'perfect for kids and families' with 'prime access to the lower Madison and wildlife viewing.'

Fishing

Boating

Water Sports

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

No Electric HookupsElectric hookups are not available at this campground. RV campers should arrive with a full battery and plan for off-grid power (generator hours/quiet rules permitting).

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

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

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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

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From Booking Sources

4.0

38 reviews

Satisfactory

Trapper Springs (Mt) is satisfactory, placing it in the bottom 60% of campgrounds based on reviews

Users generally appreciate the clean facilities, proximity to the Madison River, and spacious sites. However, some criticisms include the lack of privacy, minimal shade, and water availability issues in recent years.

Review Summaries

Based on 38 reviews

Best sites at a glance

Pulled from per-site mentions in 38 reviews.

Site #5Loved
Site #5 was described as quiet and enjoyable despite the lack of shade.
Site #3Mentioned
Site #3 was noted for limited space due to large rocks, making it less suitable for multiple tents.
Site #6Issues noted
Site #6 had issues with water availability.

What Campers Love

Clean and well-maintained vault toilets, spacious campsites, good access to the Madison River for fishing and tubing, and a peaceful environment with minimal traffic.

Based on 38 reviews

Common Concerns

Lack of shade and privacy, noise from nearby roads, and intermittent availability of drinking water. One review from June 2023 specifically noted, 'The water has not been turned on in over a year.'

Based on 38 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Bring extra shade or canopies to mitigate the lack of natural shade. Ensure your tent stakes are securely fastened as strong winds can dislodge them, as noted by one reviewer: 'The wind gets wild...

Based on 38 reviews

Seasonal Insights

Summer is favored for river-based activities like tubing and fishing. However, several users noted the lack of shade during the hotter months.

Based on 38 reviews

Camper Quotes

1. 'Great area to visit, river is fantastic with lots of rafting and fly fishing.' - Greg S. 2. 'Campground is open sage, no privacy.' - Happy Wanderer. 3. 'Vault toilets were very clean.' - Becky...

Based on 38 reviews

Accessibility Features

Accessible vault toilets and ADA trails are available; however, no specific user feedback on accessibility features was found.

Based on 38 reviews

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Go if

You want direct river access for trout fishing or tubing in a quiet setting without crowded facilities.

Skip if

You need reliable shade, wind protection, or guaranteed drinking water availability throughout your stay.

Nearby Campgrounds

BLM- DILLON FIELD OFFICE, 1005 SELWAY DRIVE, DILLON, MT, 59725

Red Mountain sits along the Madison River in southwestern Montana, managed by the BLM Dillon Field Office. This small campground offers budget-friendly tent and RV sites with vault toilets, potable water, and fire rings. Anglers and boaters use it as a base for fishing and floating the river, with nearby Norris Hot Springs a short drive away.