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.
Flash Flood Warning issued July 1 at 2:51PM MDT until July 1 at 5:45PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
FFWTFX The National Weather Service in Great Falls has issued a * Flash Flood Warning for... Northwestern Broadwater County in southwestern Montana... North Central Jefferson County in southwestern Montana... Southeastern Lewis and Clark County in west central Montana... * Until 545 PM MDT. * At 251 PM MDT, trained weather spotters reported thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. The expected rainfall rate is 0.5 to 1.5 inches in 1 hour. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is already occurring. HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms. SOURCE...Trained spotters reported. IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas. * Some locations that will experience flash flooding include... Helena, Townsend, East Helena, Winston, Goose Bay, Silos, York and Spring Meadow Lake State Park.
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 |
Community Posts
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