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A gravel road curving into a high mountain valley at first light, the peaks catching the sun.

Bureau of Reclamation campground

Chinamen's Campground

Bureau of Reclamation campground in Canyon Ferry Lake, Lewis and Clark County, Montana. 3,921 feet. 11.3 miles from East Helena.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Bureau of Reclamation Canyon Ferry Lake
Elevation
3,921 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
37 37 standard non-electric
Longest rig
47 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Lewis and Clark County

Overview

Review campsite details, RV's larger than 20 feet long maybe be to large for many of the campsites.

This Campground is located at the very northern end of Canyon Ferry Reservoir, 30 miles east of Helena, Montana, along Montana Highway 284 and offers year-round access to a wide range of recreational opportunities. The Canyon Ferry area has a rich mining history. In the 1850’s the gold rush hit the Canyon Ferry area attracting miners from all over the United States in the hopes of striking it rich.

Recreation

Canyon Ferry Reservoir offers a wide range of year-round recreational opportunities. Water related activities include everything from swimming and fishing to sailing and motor-boating. Canoeists and kayakers explore the many quiet backwater bays. Jet skiers, windsurfers and water skiers skim the summer waves, while winter draws ice fishermen, ice boaters and ice skaters.

Facilities

This Campground has 38 campsites many of the campsites are too small for RVs larger than 20 feet long. The campground has gravel roads with campsites containing a picnic table and a fire ring. During the summer months services include vault toilets, potable water, trash, and a campground host.

Natural Features

This Campground sits at the north end of Canyon Ferry Reservoir between the Big Belt and Elkhorn’s mountain ranges.

Nearby Attractions

Canyon Ferry Reservoir is located halfway between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park along with the capital city of Helena, Montana. For up to date events visit, www.helenamt.com.

The description, directions and fees are the Bureau of Reclamation’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • boating
  • camping
  • water activities

The land around Chinamen's Campground

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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