Black Canyon Campground

About

Black Canyon Campground is the most popular boat-in campsite at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, situated amid crystal-clear water and pine trees along Bighorn Lake. Accessible only by boat from the Ok-A-Beh boat ramp, the campground lies about five lake miles into the canyon. The 17 primitive tent sites are free and operate on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations accepted. Each site includes a fire ring, picnic table, and access to bear boxes for mandatory food storage. A floating vault toilet is operational from approximately mid-May through mid-September, and dock facilities are installed seasonally from Memorial Day through Labor Day. There is no potable water, so campers must bring their own supply. Trash collection is available seasonally. The campground occasionally closes due to aggressive bear activity when bears become habituated to human food. Visitors should check the park alerts page before planning a trip. Firewood collection is prohibited within the park, and the area is known for poison ivy. Sites may reach capacity on summer weekends.

Directions

Access is by boat only from the Ok-A-Beh boat ramp, located approximately five lake miles from the campground. The boat ramp is accessible via Highway 313 near Fort Smith, Montana.