Gipsy Lake Campground

About

Gipsy Lake Campground occupies a serene setting adjacent to a small mountain lake on the east side of the Big Belt Mountains in Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. The 5 primitive campsites provide a quiet base camp for exploring the surrounding backcountry, with each site equipped with a fire ring and picnic table. The campground serves as the trailhead for the Gipsy/Birch Creek Trail, a 7.5-mile non-motorized route that climbs through the Big Belt Mountains past several spectacular alpine lakes including Hidden, Edith, Grace, and Upper Baldy lakes. The trail continues to an area called the Needles, named for its distinctive rock formations. Fishing opportunities abound both at Gipsy Lake and the lakes along the trail. This is a primitive facility with vault toilets but no potable water. Campers must bring all drinking water and pack out all trash. Access requires navigating approximately 15 miles of increasingly primitive gravel roads from White Sulphur Springs, with the final stretch on Forest Road 8961. Maximum trailer length is 15 feet, making this campground unsuitable for large RVs.

Directions

From White Sulphur Springs, travel west on Highway 360. About 1.6 miles from town where the highway curves sharply right, continue straight onto gravel road. After 6.5 miles at a ranch entrance, stay right at the fork. Continue 7.5 miles to the Helena National Forest boundary as the road becomes more primitive. Within 1 mile of the boundary, turn south onto Forest Road 8961 and follow it 2 miles to the campground.