Established Camping
Hood Creek Campground
About
National Forest
Custer Gallatin National Forest
Overview
Hood Creek Campground is located next to scenic Hyalite Reservoir, on the Bozeman Ranger District of the Gallatin National Forest. It is 17 miles south of the city of Bozeman, Mont. The surrounding area offers many outdoor recreational opportunities, including boating, canoeing, fishing, hiking and climbing.
Recreation
Hyalite Reservoir offers many recreational activities, including boating, canoeing and fishing. Anglers fish for Yellowstone cutthroat, Arctic grayling and brook trout. Hyalite Creek offers fishing as well. Many hiking trails are found in Hyalite Canyon, including the popular Hyalite Peak Trail. This 7.5-mile one-way trail gains 3,450 feet in elevation as is climbs past numerous waterfalls to the beautiful Hyalite Lake and Hyalite Peak.
Facilities
The campground offers sites for both overnight camping and day-use picnicking. A GROUP AREA (SITE 28) for overnight camping is also available for reservation, and can accommodate up to 80 people. Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided, as are vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection. A boat ramp is located on-site. Roads and parking spurs within the campground are gravel.__
Natural Features
The campground is situated on the banks of scenic Hyalite Reservoir, at an elevation of 6,700 feet. Some campsites lie in open meadows along the shoreline, while others are located among scattered pine and fir trees.
contact_info
For facility specific information, please call (623) 910-0170.
Fee Info
Location
Hood Creek Campground is located in Montana
Directions
From Main Street in Bozeman, travel south on 19th Avenue for 7 miles, to the paved Hyalite Canyon Road. Turn left and continue 10 miles to the campground.
Coordinates
45.485 N
110.9677778 W
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Tent Cabin
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly
Perfect get away!
This was of first destination in our new vintage camper and it did not disappoint! We were lucky to find a reservation opening last minute over the 4th of July holiday weekend. Our site was right on the water to enjoy paddle boarding on the wake free lake. The water was stunning but don’t let the warm summer temps fool you, this water is ice cold as it is filled from snow melt. Curvy switchbacks to get up the mountain, but fully paved. Site 09 had a flat spot for the camper but included steps going down to picnic table and fire ring (tent pad was down by the fire). The sites and bathrooms were very clean. Highly recommend if you want water and mountain views and don’t need a full hookup.
Hard to beat
Site 3 is right by a water source which is nice. Bathrooms are pretty close as well. The driveway is big enough for 4-5 cars and you could also fit multiple tents on site
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Tent Camp
Perfect get away with so many different things to do. Hikes- mtb- kayaks just a wonderful place to visit
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Near Perfect Campground
This campground is situated almost immediately on the lake and most sites (but not the one we were in unfortunately) have stunning views over the lake. The campground host was very friendly. The bathrooms are the nicest and cleanest pit toilets I've ever seen.
Perfect spot
Nice spot right on the water. My only complaint is the day users are very invasive here - they park in your campsite, walk right through your campsite and take over the beach.
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Beware of the day users
Hike up here all the time, but first time camping and wasn’t disappointed. Spots are great for tents and RVs, but cater more towards tents. Watch out for day users because they try to steal camping spots. It got pretty ridiculous, especially since the only people monitoring it are the campers.
Beautiful but busy
Great little campground on Hyalite Lake. Most sites have lake views and/or access. You are across from a trailhead with more trailheads further up and down the road, so there is lots to do, including boating and OHV in the canyon. The campground has a couple vault toilets and water pumps, and there is another vault toilet in the day use area. Every site has an ADA picnic table, fire pit, and cleared area for a tent or two. Sites are nicely spaced though there seems to be some trails connecting them along the lake. I had a little rocky beach below my site down a steep hill, and it looked like a couple other sites had similar. There is a lot of road noise and dust during the day and evening, and there is some construction going on currently on the access road as well as on the road going further up the canyon.
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Gorgeous!!
Such a beautiful campsite and lake!! Swimming and fishing was so much fun. It was amazing disconnecting and reconnecting here. And the camp host Ron, is awesome!
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So much to explore! Spectacularly scenic!
The adjacent Hyalite Reservoir is spectacularly scenic. Bring your favorite watercraft or floaty, because you'll want to go out onto the water to explore, taking in the fantastic scenery. A number of formal and informal hiking trails- mostly across the reservoir or a short drive to the trailhead, and a surprise glorious mountain-meadow vista. Even without those activities, this is a special place to camp. Dog-friendly. Only downside was the construction (2020), diverting traffic through the campground and kicking up a lot of dust. Small potatoes, but the only thing keeping the campground experience from perfection.
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Great campsite.
The views from this campground are amazing! The host was super friendly & informative. Pets are allowed off leash (if well behaved). Lots of trailheads near the campgrounds.
Amazing Views
Stayed here one night after passing through Bozeman to get my Go Fast Camper. It did not disappoint. We stayed at spot 12 and it had amazing views of the lake/reservoir and mountain. Hiking trails around there are great as well. Camp hosts were super friendly and helpful. Highly recommend. Pet friendly! No AT&T or Sprint cell signal.
Anyone’s dream campsite!
#26! You want site #26! You get an entire point/peninsula to yourself with a perfect view of the mountains! Put your paddle board/kayak or whatever’s in right there. A few great hammock trees. This place is amazing and the best campsite we’ve ever had. The camp hosts were great, the place was pristine!
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Steep walk
We love this area, and this site was fine for us...however, it is a bit of a steep walk down some steps from the parking spot to the picnic area. And again from the picnic area down to the water. This might be difficult for anyone who has trouble with mobility. Always a fun area for kids to play in the water!
Great car camping sites on the water!
My wife and I were traveling from Glacier NP to Yellowstone and needed a break for sleep along the way. We were able to make an online reservation for Hood Creek in advance, and even managed to get site 20 which is right on the water! Beautiful lake. Well maintained sites and roads. Close to shopping centers which was helpful for us in between backcountry hiking trips. There is an REI just up the street. I believe the online reservation was only $14. Far better than a hotel! The site had a parking pad, fire ring and a picnic table. There are bear proof containers and trash cans easily accessible. Overall great place to stay!
Family Friendly, Great Individual and Group Sites
Hood Creek Campground is a great site for a quick weekend getaway from town. It's just a 30-minute drive from the middle of Bozeman. The group camp site sits off to the side of most of the individual sites and it's right on the reservoir. We camped with nine other families and a plethora of kids between us. The site had a lot of room for all of the bikes, kayaks, and other family camping paraphernalia a group our size required. Most of the families brought campers up and there was room for all of them in this area. A handful of us were in tents and we had room to spare. Several great family-friendly hiking options (Grotto Fall, Palasaide Falls, Hyalite Reservoir Loop) are all very close by as well.
We've camped here before as just an individual family as well and had a great experience that time too. This campground books up super fast, so plan out your trip well in advance and book it as soon as you can! You won't be sorry.
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