Price
$5 - $10/night
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
25 campsites
Season
Varies-late spring t...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Price
$5 - $10/night
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
25 campsites
Season
Varies-late spring t...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
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47.4858, -112.8808
Equestrians and serious backcountry hikers get the most out of this place. Straight Creek Trail #212 starts here and runs 15 miles into the Scapegoat Wilderness, and two loops have horse feeding troughs built in. Summer and fall both score well, and sites are spacious enough that
No potable water on-site means you're hauling everything in from Augusta, 30 miles back on dirt roads that turn rough in bad weather. Holiday weekends fill fast with no reservations available, so arrive early or risk driving that road for nothing.
Reference information about Benchmark Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>Benchmark Camping area is located approximately 30 miles west of Augusta, Montana. It has 25 campsites and available from Summer until Fall.</p><p><strong>Bears may frequent the area; keep all food out of sight in approved containers and remove all food from area after eating. Mandatory food storage is required.</strong></p>
The elevation is 5,300 ft. The campground is located on Wood Canyon Ford in the Sawtooth Range of the Rocky Mountain Front Range in a variety of conifers and Aspen, which provide all sites with shade. The campground is pack it in, pack it out and composed of three spurs, two of which have feeding troughs for horses (stock) at most of the sites. All sites have spacious parking aprons for RVs or tow vehicles with horse trailers. At the time of our visit, many of the sites were occupied by equestrian campers with their horses. Although the drive into the campground is long, it is scenic. It is located near Scapegoat Wilderness. The campground is located in bear country; practice safe food storage techniques. One thing that never fails to amaze the authors is the courage, fortitude, and tenacious drive of this country’s pioneers. Driving 15, 20, or more miles from a town to a National Forest campground, one’s admiration for those who passed this way on foot, horseback and wagon grows and grows. How those pioneering folks faced and overcame the challenges is a question the authors often discuss as they cruise across mile after mile of apparently endless prairie. Lewis & Clark National Forest 295
Open Memorial Day weekend through November 30; no services between Labor Day and November 30 - weather dependent
The water spigots are hand pumps.
The parking aprons are grassy and very wide.
In Augusta, MT, take County Rt. 435 for 0.3 miles to Fishing Access, Bean Lake sign (Eberl St.). Turn right onto Eberl St. (which becomes Laurel St. almost immediately and then Forest Rt. 235) and go 14.7 miles to a "Y" intersection. Bear left (following Benchmark sign) and go 15.4 miles to Benchmark campground sign. Turn left and go 0.3 miles to campground. NOTE: Starting with Eberl St., all but 0.3 miles is dirt.
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Summer brings daytime highs of 70-85°F with cool nights in the mid-30s to mid-40s. This is the most reliable season for dry weather and trail access. Fall offers clear skies and aspen color but shorter days. Winter closes the campground with heavy snowpack and freezing temperatures. Afternoon thunderstorms occur occasionally in summer.
Aspen color and clear skies make fall appealing though season shortens and services reduce.
Benchmark Campground offers 25 campsites situated in a scenic area of the Sawtooth Range. The sites are shaded by a mix of conifers and aspen. The campground is equipped with 2 hand-pump water spigots, vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. Potable water is not available. Campers are expected to adhere to mandatory food storage regulations due to the presence of bears in the area.
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