Wade Lake Campground
Wade Lake
Wade Lake CG

About Wade Lake (MT)

Wade Lake Campground is located in southwestern Montana on the shore of it’s scenic namesake lake. It is approximately 43 mi south of Ennis and 35 mi west of Yellowstone National Park. The 25 site campground, including two group sites, is situated in a dense Douglas Fir forest on the hillside above the lake. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and fire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water taps are provided in each of the two camping loops. The campground is situated on a steep hillside. For many of the sites, particularly in the upper loop, the only flat space for a tent may be in the parking driveway. There is an undeveloped natural-surface boat launch and the lake has a no-wake speed limit. Visitors enjoy fishing, small craft boating, and nearby hiking and ATV trails in the Gravelly Range. Trailers longer than 24 ft are not recommended due to small campsites, narrow roads and tight curves within the campground. Check the driveway length and width before booking to make sure the entirety of your equipment will fit the site. Snow may hinder access in early or late seasons. Cellular service may be available at the top of the hill near the Forest boundary, about 1.5 mi away.  All sites are only available through reservations. To provide reservation opportunities for those who are unable to plan six months in advance, site numbers 6, 13, 17, 20 and 25 may only be reserved two weeks prior to arrival date. Sites 2, 9, 14 and 22 may only be reserved four days prior to arrival. All other sites can be booked 6 months in advance. Each new day becomes available at 8 A.M. Mountain time.

Available sites

25 total sites

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - Sep 16 to Nov 30

Campground Amenities

Water Access

Water Access

  • Lake Access
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

25 Sites Available

Site
Price
⛺ 1, Loop: Lower Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 10, Loop: Main Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 11, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 12, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 13, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 14, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 15, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 16, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 17, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 18, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 19, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 2, Loop: Lower Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 20, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 21, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 22, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 23, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 24, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 25, Loop: Upper Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 3, Loop: Lower Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 4, Loop: Lower Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 5, Loop: Lower Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 6, Loop: Main Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 7, Loop: Main Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 8, Loop: Main Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺ 9, Loop: Main Loop Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire

Reviews

113 reviews

Summary

AI generated

Wade Lake is a beautiful and well-maintained campground with stunning scenery, clear water, and a family-friendly atmosphere. While the sites can be crowded and small, many visitors appreciate the cleanliness of the facilities and the recreational opportunities available, such as paddleboarding. Some campers noted issues with noise from construction and nearby sites, yet overall, it remains a popular destination for nature lovers seeking a pleasant getaway.

Based on guest feedback

4.2

Overall rating

Based on 113 reviews

Write a review
5 stars 53.1% (60)
4 stars 26.5% (30)
3 stars 8.0% (9)
2 stars 7.1% (8)
1 star 5.3% (6)

Showing 108 reviews

Howard H

Verified

August 23, 2025 Stayed at: 20, Loop: Upper Loop

We reserved site #20 which was beautiful, private & very serene. However, trying to get this reservation was dam near impossible! If you want to spend every morning ready to click "Add to Cart", then rec.gov is your place to go!! I spent countless days trying to get ANY site reservation. When I did get one for 7 days, I tried to reserve a site for my daughter & family for 2 nights. The website would not le me reserve another one in my name because I already had one!! BS!!! there were many campsites reserved campsite reserved with no one in them!! This reservation system does not work & shoud definitely be revamped to work for the people, not against them!!! And most of the reservations are taken by out of staters! What about Montana residents?! We shoud always have first picks at our campsites!

Helpful

Elizabeth T

Verified

August 19, 2025 Stayed at: 25, Loop: Upper Loop

Lovely place. We stayed at site 25 which was super close to another campsite, but everyone was respectful and it was totally fine. We could walk down to the lake easily from there. I can’t get over what a beautiful place this is. We rented a canoe from Wade Lake resort for the day and had a blast. Couldn’t have been better weather and no bugs.

Helpful

Kim H

Verified

August 13, 2025 Stayed at: 1, Loop: Lower Loop

Beautiful clear lake in which swimming trout are visible.

Helpful

Marlin M

Verified

August 6, 2025 Stayed at: 7, Loop: Main Loop

As always I had a wonderful experience in my spot close to the lake, I'll come back again next year!

Helpful

Youngsun R

Verified

August 2, 2025 Stayed at: 3, Loop: Lower Loop

It was fun having our own lake access and a place for kids to explore. We were also close to the bathroom which kids accessed it easily.

Helpful

Robert S

Verified

July 21, 2025 Stayed at: 25, Loop: Upper Loop

Great spot, camp ground showed booked but there were empty spots. The sound of generators all night makes it less than appealing. We will be back, just at a less busy time

Helpful

Lois M

Verified

July 12, 2025 Stayed at: 20, Loop: Upper Loop

Wade Lake has a special place in my heart because over 60 years ago my family camped there often. The road was rough and unpaved all the way from the highway to the lake. We waterskied in that cold water and fished, trolling the deepest portions of the lake and catching many good sized trout, but never a lunker like the 29 lb brown trout that held the state record until recently. Being older, I appreciate the serenity that comes with limiting the motor boats on the lake. My recent visit, the first in 43 years, was better than I expected. It was quiet, I hiked a little, watched the kayakers and paddleboarders, wishing I had my own so I could fly fish in the early morning when the fish were rising. A thunder and lightning storm came through one night along with a good rain, that dampened the potential fire danger. The storm ended in a magnificent sunset. Bug repellent is essential. Bear spray is recommended if you plan on getting away from the campsite on the hiking trails. There are bears that frequent the area all summer. I definitely plan on going back later in the summer, more prepared to enjoy this nostalgic area that holds so many memories.

Helpful

Parker M

Verified

July 9, 2025 Stayed at: 19, Loop: Upper Loop

The upper sites especially were extremely disappointing
Specifically site 19 shared with the one above. The tent spots were 6’ apart and the tables were next to each other. If we had tents, there would have not been a spot for them unless it was 5x5 max. I am not okay with literally sharing a spot with random strangers. Around the fire pits also wasnt leveled and so you couldn’t really sit around the fire. The flies were also terrible but i understand that isnt controllable

Helpful

Scott C

Verified

July 8, 2025 Stayed at: 1, Loop: Lower Loop

Wade Lake is beautiful and the campground is well maintained. It is an excellent place for family recreation.

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Morris C

Verified

June 26, 2025 Stayed at: 19, Loop: Upper Loop

The signage to the campground was very helpful before arriving knowing that we had to make a reservation. The app made it very easy to pay by card and showed us the available campgrounds. The campground was very well kept including bathrooms. The lake is amazing! We will be back. Thank you for a lovely stay.

Helpful

Location & Directions for Wade Lake (MT)

Madison Ranger District, 5 Forest Service Road, Ennis, MT 59729 United States

Elevation: 2,043 ft

Nearest town

Ennis, MT - 50 mi

About over 1 hr (87 min) to downtown

Highway access

Wade Lake is accessible via Montana State Highway 287, which is approximately 15 miles to the east.

Near Yellowstone National Park

The closest entrance is: West Entrance

Approximate drive: 31.5 mi · 54 min

Policies & Rules

Arrival & departure

Check out time

2PM

General

  • Cellular service is not available at the campground but may be available at the top of the hill, about one and one half miles away.
  • There is a food storage order in place. All food and attractants must be stored in a bear-proof manner when unattended.
  • There is a 16 consecutive day camping limit at a single site and 32 day cumulative limit, at multiple sites, within a calendar year.  
  • Garbage service is available from May 15 - September 15. Otherwise, it is Pack It In, Pack It Out.
  • For “First Come First Served” campsites - Pay by cash or check. Change is not available.
  • Unless designated as a group site, campsites are for a single camping unit only. No double camping is permitted. 
  • Please cancel your reservation if you do not plan to use the campsite. Reservations may be forfeited, without refund, for failure to occupy campsite on first night and for absences exceeding 24 hours thereafter. Campsite will be made available to other campers for the remainder of the reservation.
  • Campsites must be occupied the first night and may not be unattended for more than 24 hours

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 23, 2026

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Explore Ennis, MT

Population: 777

Nearby city: Bozeman, MT

Approx. 66 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 4,941 ft

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Managed by the USDA Forest Service