Van Deriet Campground
Open seasonally, typically late June through early October depending on snow conditions. No fees or reservations required. Mandatory bear-resistant food storage is in effect forest-wide. No vehicle access; fly-in only.
Fire Weather Watch issued July 29 at 10:46AM MDT until August 2 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
The National Weather Service in Great Falls has issued a Fire Weather Watch for hot temperatures, gusty winds, and low relative humidity, which is in effect from Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening. * AFFECTED AREA...Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty, Hill and Blaine Counties, Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District-Rocky Mountain Front, Chouteau and Fergus Counties, Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena National Forest, Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. Along the Rocky Mountain Front, west winds 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 65 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 8 percent. * TEMPERATURES...Up to 105 on Saturday. * COLD FRONT...A strong, dry cold front will arrive Saturday evening. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will spread rapidly. Containment of any ongoing or new fires may be very difficult. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
About
Van Deriet Campground, also known as Vanderiet Memorial Pilots Campground, offers a rare backcountry camping experience exclusively for pilots who can fly into the adjacent airstrip. Located 30 miles west of Augusta amid the Rocky Mountain Front, this primitive 6-site campground provides vault toilets and drinking water from a hand pump. The campground honors Ray Van De Riet, a local cattle rancher instrumental in developing camping facilities at Montana's backcountry airstrips. The site sits near the edge of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, offering access to some of Montana's most pristine backcountry. Bears frequent the area, and mandatory food storage in approved containers is required. Campers must store food out of sight and remove all food from the area after eating. Light usage makes this an uncrowded destination for adventurous aviators seeking solitude on the Rocky Mountain Front.
Directions
No vehicle access. Fly into the adjacent backcountry airstrip approximately 30 miles west of Augusta along the Benchmark Road corridor. The campground is located at the south end of the airstrip.
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | — |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $0 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (406) 562-3247 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
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