4.1437 reviewsPrice
$10/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
20 campsites
Season
The campground is us...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
$10/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
20 campsites
Season
The campground is us...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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Thain Creek Campground, Highwood Mountains, Montana
Fall foliage chasers with high-clearance vehicles will find this spot near its best in September and October, aspens going gold, crowds thin, and the Windy Mountain trail leaving right from camp. Trout fishing in nearby streams rounds out a self-contained weekend.
Low-clearance cars and standard trailers take real damage on the 14-mile dirt road in, multiple reviewers have blown tires. There are no hookups, no dump station, no cell info, and supplies are 30 miles back in Great Falls, so if you're not fully self-sufficient before you turn o
Reference information about Thain Creek Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>Thain Creek Campground is the only campground in the Highwood Mountains. One of the 19 campsites can accommodate a maximum trailer length of 40 feet. The campground is usually open from May through the middle of fall.</p><p>A nearby trailhead leads up to Windy Mountain and back on a 6 mile loop trail, offering scenic views of the surrounding plains and faraway mountains. Other hikes are along Briggs Creek or from the North Fork Highwood Creek Trailhead. Please heed seasonal trail closures, as all trails in the Highwoods close either September 1st or Oct 15th .</p><p>All campgrounds on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest are first-come, first-served. Reservations are not available. Camping is limited to 16 consecutive days in one location. A campground fee is required. Please pay at the self-serve campground fee station. Campsites cannot be reserved by simply paying for the site; camper must be present. A food storage order is in effect to prevent human-bear conflicts on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Store all unattended food and attractants properly. Please see Food Storage Order for specifics. Open and close dates can vary depending on snowfall conditions. Please call the local district office or check our website. Leashed dogs are welcome. Horses are not allowed in campgrounds. Motorized OHVs must stay on the campground road. The campgrounds include access to potable water during the warmer months, and all have at least one handicap accessible vault toilet. Each campsite has a fire ring and/or grill, and a picnic table. Even if water is unavailable, campground fees are still required.</p><p style="margin-left:1.0in;"> </p><p style="margin-left:1.0in;"> </p>
The elevation is 4,700 ft. The campground is pack it in, pack it out and located on a hillside above Thain Creek among Lodgepole pines and Aspen. Two trail heads and several walk-in sites make the campground attractive to the tenter. Wide, level parking aprons are well suited for RVrs. Some sites overlook the creek.
Open Memorial Day weekend through November 15.
Wheelchair friendly vault is located by site 3.
The parking aprons are dirt and grass.
From Great Falls, MT, take US Rt. 89 east 3.3 miles to Highwood/State Rt. 228 sign. At sign, turn left onto State Rt. 228 and go 13.9 miles to stop sign. Continue straight onto gravel and dirt roadway, following Thain Creek signs, and go 10.1 miles to "T" intersection. Turn right, following Thain Creek signs, and go 7.2 miles to "Y" intersection. Bear left and go 1.1 miles to Recreation Area sign. Continue straight another 0.3 miles to campground. WET WEATHER ALTERNATIVE: Continue on State Rt. 228 north to Highwood, MT. Follow signs to campground.
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Fall is the standout season here. Aspens turn gold in September and October, days stay in the 50s–60s°F, and nights drop into the 20s–30s°F. Visitor numbers thin out. Early snow can arrive by mid-October, so bring layers. The campground stays open from May through mid-November. Mountain weather shifts quickly. Afternoons can be warm, evenings crisp. Rain turns the access road muddy and more challenging, which adds to the backcountry feel but also the frustration if you're not prepared.
Aspens turn gold in Sep–Oct, mild days and thin crowds; described as standout season.
Thain Creek Campground offers 20 campsites located amidst the Highwood Mountains at an elevation of 4,700 feet. The campground features lodgepole pines and aspens, providing shade and a charming forest setting. Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table and fire ring/grill for outdoor cooking and dining. Potable water is accessible from two spigots, and there is at least one wheelchair-accessible vault toilet. The parking aprons are wide and level, suitable for RVs, but there are no RV hookups. The campground is a pack-it-in, pack-it-out facility, and trash services are not provided. Motorized OHVs are restricted to campground roads, and horses are not allowed. Leashed dogs are welcome.
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