Clark Canyon Reservoir – Dillon, Montana

We continued our journey south through Montana and continued to see the smokey skies from the British Columbia fires. We were passed by a caravan of fire crews from Nevada and Arizona that must have been further north helping others. Thank you.

Along the Missouri River near Cascade

Yankee Doodle Tailing Impoundment in Butte, Montana

Berkeley Open Pit Copper Mine in Butte

Clark canyon Reservoir Recreation Area, which sits just west of I-15 south of Dillon, Montana, has 8 campgrounds of which only one, Lewis and Clark Campground, has hookups and a fee. We usually stay at Beaverhead Campground since it is the closest to the interstate and provides easy access. This time we thought we would check out some of the other campgrounds on the west side of the reservoir.

After you exit I-15 you can either head directly into Beaverhead Campground or turn west and drive over the Clark Canyon Dam of the Beaverhead River to access all the other campgrounds along Clark Canyon Reservoir. You pass 2 more campgrounds, a boondocking area, and Camp Fotunate Overlook (Lewis and Clark Trail food supply area) before the turnoff to Horse Prairie Campground.

Entrance to Clark Canyon Reservoir – your tax dollars at work

Beaverhead Campground – our usual stopping place

Armstead Island in ClarkCanyon Reservoir

Lewis and Clark Campground and Day Use – a fee area

Horse Prairie Campground has 2 areas. The western most area has about 8 campsites all with picnic shelters and fire rings. All sites have views of the surrounding mountains and the water.

Clark Canyon Reservoir Horse Prairie Campground Montana — West area of Horse Prairie Campground as viewed from the east area

Campground: Horse Prairie Campground
Location: south of Dillon, Montana on the west side of Clark Canyon Reservoir
Site: 2 (pull thru)
Cost: $0
Services: dry camping
Comments: A nice quiet location with beautiful views. We selected a pull thru so we would not have to unhook our toad. The site was a bit unlevel but there was zero noise from the interstate since we were on the other side of the reservoir from I-15. Horse Prairie is a small campground but when we arrived the day before Labor Day weekend there was only 1 other vehicle parked there. Most of the other campgrounds were similar. By Friday a few more campers arrived.

Site 2

Site 2 – pull thru

Our Picnic Shelter – Site 2

Site 2 – our fire ring and view

Site 2 view

Site 2 – a bit unlevel – check out our rear tires

Road to the lakeside sites – loop at end

Our view

There were a few other sites in our area which were closer to the water, more level, and all back-ins.

Site 1

Back in site

Site 4

Site 5

Site 6

Site 7

Water front sites – 8 on left and 7 on right

The eastern camping area is more of an open field with areas you can park on the grass without picnic shelters. There are a few sites right along the water with shelters. All sites have terrific views of the water.

Road from west area to east area – a bit of a dip

Loop in east area – camping is in field in the center

Center area for camping – level and any size rig can fit

East area camping area – shelters for sites along reservoir

We walked around the campground and explored and almost stepped on a Prairie Rattlesnake because he blended into the gravel of the road. We were even were lucky enough to get a short rain storm which brought out a beautiful rainbow or two and cleared some of the smoke out of the sky.