West End Tent and Trailer Campground Campground

List of Campsites

Overview

Reservations are only allowed on the day of arrival. Overnight occupany is required.

Booking a campsite and not arriving will result in a No-Show per the rules and regulations.

This location is not staffed by gate attendants. Check in/out with the camphost or via text.  

West End Tent and Trailer was historically a first come first serve campground. We have mirrored this with the ability to claim your campsite with an online reservation. You can only claim a campsite today for up to 14 nights from today. No advanced reservations are allowed.   

West End Tent and Trailer Campground is nestled on a hill on the north shore of Fort Peck Lake. The campground features 13 campsites with electrical hook-ups as well as an overflow section. West End Tent and Trailer tends to be quieter than our main campground and is popular with fishermen thanks to its proximity to a few boat ramps.  

Fort Peck Dam, which impounds Fort Peck Lake is the first dam built in the upper Missouri River Basin. The area surrounding Fort Peck was first charted by Lewis and Clark in 1804, and the pristine natural condition of the river and surrounding area awed the renowned explorers. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the Fort Peck project in 1933, thousands of people from all over the country migrated to Montana during the midst of the Great Depression in hopes of earning a living. Today, Fort Peck Lake is a sportsman's paradise with excellent fishing, wildlife viewing and other countless outdoor recreation opportunities.   

Recreation

Fort Peck Lake provides almost 400 square miles of recreation opportunities. These include boating, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and swimming. There are two boat ramps located within two miles of the campground to provide access. The Beaver Creek Nature Area is five miles away and provide three miles of trails to hike and bike on. 

Fishing: Fort Peck Lake enjoys nationwide recognition as a hot spot for walleye fishing. Fort Peck Lake provides excellent boating and fishing opportunities. The lake also offers excellent fishing for sauger, smallmouth bass, lake trout, chinook salmon and northern pike. The introduction of cisco as a forage fish in 1983 proved successful and has increased both the size and number of game fish.

Wildlife Viewing/Hunting: The Fort Peck Lake Area and the Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge provide superb hunting of deer, elk, big horn sheep, and prong horn. The Missouri River Breaks are known for producing large elk and other game animals.  

Facilities

Each of the 13 designated campsites has electrical hookups available as well as a picnic table and fire ring. Some of the overflow campsites have picnic tables and fire rings. Shower facilities with flush toilets are found within the campground as well as a vault toilet. There are water spigots available throughout the campground and a dump station is located approximately 5 miles away near the Downstream Campground.   

Natural Features

The campground is located on a hill overlooking Fort Peck Lake. Most campsites provide at least a partial view of the lake. It is not uncommon to see deer visit the campground in the evening. The location provides a great view of thunderstorms as they pass over the lake from the safety of a camper. 

contact_info

For facility specific information, please call (406) 526-3411.

Nearby Attractions

• Fort Peck Lake is a Montana treasure for its vast size and outdoor recreation opportunities. Six recreation areas within a few miles of the dam provide access for water sports, fishing and hunting. 
• The Fort Peck Interpretive Center and Museum is located just downstream of Fort Peck Dam. For more information, call 406-526-3411. 
• Tours of the Fort Peck Powerhouse are regulalry scheduled, call 406-526-3411 for more information. 
• The Leo B. Coleman Wildlife Pasture, located just outside the Town of Fort Peck and Downstream Campground is home to Fort Peck's Bison herd and provides an excellent wildlife viewing auto route. 
• The Historic Fort Peck Theater is located in the town of Ft. Peck is a popular historic destination in summer months.  
• The 1.1 million acre Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge surrounds Fort Peck Lake and helps preserve the natural habitat for numerous wildlife species.

Charges & Cancellations

Reservation changes and cancellations can be made on Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.  

For more information on rules and policies regarding reservation cancellations and changes, please visit: https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies.   

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Downstream (MT) Campground

List of Campsites

Overview

Downstream Campground is located just below Fort Peck Dam on the Missouri River in northeastern Montana. Recreation enthusiasts and sportsmen enjoy the beauty of Fort Peck Lake's 1,500 miles of shoreline. A variety of high quality outdoor activities are available, including camping, boating, fishing, hunting, sightseeing and wildlife viewing. 

Fort Peck Dam, which impounds Fort Peck Lake is the first dam built in the upper Missouri River Basin. The area surrounding Fort Peck was first charted by Lewis and Clark in 1804, and the pristine natural condition of the river and surrounding area awed the renowned explorers. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the Fort Peck project in 1933, thousands of people from all over the country migrated to Montana during the midst of the Great Depression in hopes of earning a living. Today, Fort Peck Lake is a sportsman's paradise with excellent fishing, wildlife viewing and other countless outdoor recreation opportunities.  

For more information, visit the Fort Peck Project Website or call 406-526-3411.

Recreation

The vast size of Fort Peck Lake and its remoteness from major population centers provide a variety of high quality outdoor experiences. Popular recreation activities include camping, boating, fishing, hunting, sight-seeing, picnicking, biking, hiking, photography, watching wildlife and just relaxing.  

Fort Peck Lake: Fifteen hundred miles of pristine shoreline serve as a haven for those wishing to get away from the stresses of modern life. There are 27 recreation areas located around the reservoir. The areas near and around the dam offer paved roads, electricity, showers and playgrounds while facilities around the rest of the lake are more primitive with gravel roads, picnic tables and vault toilets. Access roads to many of the remote areas may be impassable in inclement weather.  

Fishing: Fort Peck Lake enjoys nationwide recognition as a hot spot for walleye fishing. Fort Peck Lake provides excellent boating and fishing opportunities. The lake also offers excellent fishing for sauger, smallmouth bass, lake trout, chinook salmon and northern pike. The introduction of cisco as a forage fish in 1983 proved successful and has increased both the size and number of game fish.   

Wildlife Viewing/Hunting: The Fort Peck Lake Area and the Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge provide superb hunting of deer, elk, big horn sheep, and prong horn. The Missouri River Breaks are known for producing large elk and other game animals.
Trails: Three miles of paved nature trails wind along the Missouri River and through the surrounding wooded area. This trail area is a popular birding and wildlife viewing area.

Disc Golf Course: A disc golf course "The Fortress" was installed in summer of 2021. Discs are available to check out at the gate house. 

Interpretive Center & Museum: The Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum offers displays of wildlife dioramas, aquariums, dinosaur fossils and dam construction history. Open Friday through Monday 9am to 4pm.

Facilities

Downstream Campground offers 86 family campsites, 71 of which have electrical hookups; 16 sites are tent-only. One large group campsite is available with electrical hookups. Five day-use picnic shelters are available for reservations, all with electrical hookups as well as two overnight group use areas with shelters.

The campground offers flush and vault toilets, showers, playgrounds, a basketball court and horseshoe pits. A dump station and fish cleaning station are located on-site. 

Natural Features

A shady grove of cottonwoods covers the grassy campground, making Downstream a pleasant place during the heat of the summer. In autumn, the leaves turn a beautiful golden yellow. Three fishing ponds, including scenic Winter Harbor, dot the landscape below the dam.

Nearby Attractions

• Fort Peck Lake is a Montana treasure for its vast size and outdoor recreation opportunities. Six recreation areas within a few miles of the dam provide access for water sports, fishing and hunting.  
• The Fort Peck Interpretive Center and Museum, is located just downstream of Fort Peck Dam. For more information, call 406-526-3493. 
• The Leo B. Coleman Wildlife Pasture, located just outside the Town of Fort Peck and Downstream Campground is home to Fort Peck's Bison Herd and provides an excellent wildlife viewing auto route. 
•  The Historic Fort Peck Theater is located in the town of Ft. Peck is a popular historic destination in summer months.  
• The 1.1 million acre Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge surrounds Fort Peck Lake and helps preserve the natural habitat for numerous wildlife species.

contact_info

For facility specific information, please call (406) 526-3224.

Charges & Cancellations

Reservation changes and cancellations can be made on Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.  

For more information on rules and policies regarding reservation cancellations and changes, please visit: https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies.   

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Hell Creek State Park Facility

This recreation area is part of Fort Peck Project

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Rock Creek Marina Facility

This recreation area is part of Fort Peck Project

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James Kipp Park Facility

This recreation area is part of Fort Peck Project

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The Pines Facility

This recreation area is part of Fort Peck Project

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Nelson Creek Facility

This recreation area is part of Fort Peck Project

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Duck Creek Facility

This recreation area is part of Fort Peck Project

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Fourchette Bay Facility

This recreation area is part of Fort Peck Project

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West End Campground Campground

List of Campsites

This recreation area is part of Fort Peck Project

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Crooked Creek Marina Facility

This recreation area is part of Fort Peck Project

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Fort Peck Marina Facility

This recreation area is part of Fort Peck Project

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Crooked Creek Campground Campground

List of Campsites

This recreation area is part of Fort Peck Project

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Fort Peck Interpretive Center and Museum Facility

This recreation area is part of Fort Peck Project

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