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

Forest Service campground

West Fork Madison Campground

Forest Service campground in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Madison County, Montana. 5,956 feet. 27.8 miles from West Yellowstone.

Managed by
Forest Service Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
Elevation
5,956 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Reservations
First come, first served Claim a site when you arrive. Recreation.gov lists it for Scan and Pay, so the fee can be paid from its app at the campground
County
Madison County

Overview

West Fork is a small seven unit campground along the banks of the West Fork of the Madison River. The access road divides the campground with 2 sites north of the road and a 5 site loop on the south. Trailers are not permitted due to the tight, narrow turns and small camp spaces. This is a First Come - First Served campground. Reservations are not available.

Recreation

Fishing is available in both the West Fork and Madison Rivers. The West Fork road provides access to OHV trails and scenic drives in the Gravelly Mountains. There are hiking trails in Lee Metcalf Wilderness.

Facilities

There is a fire ring and picnic table in each campsite. There are bear-proof food storage lockers on each side of the campground. A water spigot and two outhouses are located in the loop.

Natural Features

The campground is located along the West Fork River, near it's confluence with the Madison, in a grove of old growth spruce and Douglas Fir. The vegetation is dense and shaded.

Nearby Attractions

The west entrance to Yellowstone National Park is less than 40 miles away.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

The land around West Fork Madison 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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