Devil's Elbow Campground

5965 York Road, Helena, Montana, United States
Check Availability
Devil's Elbow Campground
BLM Devil's Elbow Campground. View of the campground. Hauser Lake is on the eastern shoreline.
Walking trail overlooking Hauser Lake
Walking path within Devil's Elbow Recreation site that links to Clark's Bay Day-Use Area
Dog off leash area

Featured amenities

Pet Friendly Pet Friendly
River Access River Access
View all amenities

About Devil's Elbow Campground

Devil's Elbow Recreation Area is situated on the picturesque "Devil's Elbow" of Hauser Lake. Just a short drive from Helena, the area offers stunning views of the Big Belt and Elkhorn mountains. The area is overflowing with outdoor adventure opportunities. Whether you're into fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, hiking, mountain biking, boating or all of the above; all of these things are immediately accessed from (the greater) Hauser Lake Recreation Area. There is surely an activity for everyone! While just a short drive from Helena, the state capital; the feeling of seclusion and abundant nature is sure to impress.

Available sites

43 total sites
RV Sites 38 sites Check Availability Tent Sites 5 sites Check Availability

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Boating

Boating

Spring Summer Fall
Fishing

Fishing

Year-round
Hiking

Hiking

Year-round
Hunting

Hunting

Year-round
Mountain Biking

Mountain Biking

Year-round

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 - Oct 1 to Nov 30

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Pet friendly Pet friendly
River Access River Access
Water Access

Water Access

  • Beach Access
  • Lake Access
  • River Access
Pets and Policies

Pets and Policies

  • Pet friendly
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

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

43 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 01, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 02, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 03, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 04, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 05, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 06, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 07, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 08, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 09, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 10, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 11, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 12, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 13, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 14, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 15, Loop: A RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 16, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 60 × 60 ft · Gravel
🚐 17, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 18, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 12 ft long · Gravel
🚐 19, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 12 ft long · Gravel
🚐 20, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 12 ft long · Gravel
🚐 21, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 12 ft long · Gravel
🚐 22, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 12 ft long · Gravel
🚐 23, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 12 ft long · Gravel
🚐 24, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 25, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 12 ft long · Gravel
🚐 26, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 27, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 28, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 29, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 30, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 31, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 32, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 33, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 34, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 35, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Gravel
🚐 36, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Paved
⛺ 43, Loop: TENT Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 44, Loop: TENT Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 45, Loop: TENT Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 46, Loop: TENT Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
⛺ 47, Loop: TENT Tent
Pet Friendly · Campfire · Yes shade
🚐 48, Loop: B RV
Pet Friendly · 45 ft long · Gravel
🚐 LOOP C CAMPSITES WITH RAMADA/PAVILION, Loop: C RV
Pet Friendly · 60 ft long · Paved

Reviews

444 reviews

Summary

AI generated

Devil's Elbow Campground offers a quiet and comfortable primitive camping experience with well-maintained facilities, beautiful views, and excellent water access, making it ideal for boaters and outdoor enthusiasts. Campers frequently praise the cleanliness of the restrooms and the helpfulness of the camp host, Shelly, enhancing the overall enjoyment of their stay. While some guests noted issues with noise from generators and curfew violations, many expressed a desire to return and highly recommend the campground for its scenic beauty and pleasant atmosphere.

Based on guest feedback

3.9

Overall rating

Based on 444 reviews

Write a review
5 stars 46.8% (208)
4 stars 24.1% (107)
3 stars 13.1% (58)
2 stars 9.0% (40)
1 star 7.0% (31)

Showing 444 reviews

Verified Only
Sort by: Newest First
Newest First Oldest First

Andrea C

Verified

July 13, 2025 Stayed at: 01, Loop: A

We really enjoy the campground overall and would love to keep coming back, but our recent stay was impacted by the camp host’s approach. We found her interactions with guests to be unnecessarily harsh and at times felt like she was harassing people. While we personally avoided direct conflict, we witnessed and overheard several arguments that made the environment uncomfortable. Unfortunately, our friends have decided not to return because of this issue. We had even been warned about this beforehand, which suggests it may be a recurring problem.

We’re sharing this feedback because this is truly a great place that should offer a welcoming, positive experience for all visitors. We hope management will look into this matter and consider ways to improve communication and hospitality so that everyone can enjoy their stay to the fullest.

Helpful

Andrea C

Verified

July 13, 2025 Stayed at: 01, Loop: A

We really enjoy the campground overall and would love to keep coming back, but our recent stay was impacted by the camp host’s approach. We found her interactions with guests to be unnecessarily harsh and at times felt like she was harassing people. While we personally avoided direct conflict, we witnessed and overheard several arguments that made the environment uncomfortable. Unfortunately, our friends have decided not to return because of this issue. We had even been warned about this beforehand, which suggests it may be a recurring problem.

We’re sharing this feedback because this is truly a great place that should offer a welcoming, positive experience for all visitors. We hope management will look into this matter and consider ways to improve communication and hospitality so that everyone can enjoy their stay to the fullest.

Helpful

Chris V

Verified

June 27, 2025 Stayed at: 48, Loop: B

Really enjoyed our stay. But the last day on a Friday, someone STOLE our Water Floating Pad, in the swimming area. We shared it with everyone . It was Blue and Green.

Helpful

Chris V

Verified

June 27, 2025 Stayed at: 48, Loop: B

Really enjoyed our stay. But the last day on a Friday, someone STOLE our Water Floating Pad, in the swimming area. We shared it with everyone . It was Blue and Green.

Helpful

Chris V

Verified

June 27, 2025 Stayed at: 48, Loop: B

Really enjoyed our stay. But the last day on a Friday, someone STOLE our Water Floating Pad, in the swimming area. We shared it with everyone . It was Blue and Green.

Helpful

Sheryl B

Verified

June 26, 2025 Stayed at: 26, Loop: B

Someone locked the men's bathroom, and we had to walk to another bathroom. No campground host was on duty

Helpful

Sheryl B

Verified

June 26, 2025 Stayed at: 26, Loop: B

Someone locked the men's bathroom, and we had to walk to another bathroom. No campground host was on duty

Helpful

Sheryl B

Verified

June 26, 2025 Stayed at: 26, Loop: B

Someone locked the men's bathroom, and we had to walk to another bathroom. No campground host was on duty

Helpful

Suzanne H

Verified

June 24, 2025 Stayed at: 25, Loop: B

Our stay at Devil's Elbow Campground was spectacular. It was quiet and well maintained. The walking path around the campsite was perfect for morning and evening strolls with great views of the lake and local wildlife.

Helpful

Suzanne H

Verified

June 24, 2025 Stayed at: 25, Loop: B

Our stay at Devil's Elbow Campground was spectacular. It was quiet and well maintained. The walking path around the campsite was perfect for morning and evening strolls with great views of the lake and local wildlife.

Helpful

Location & Directions for Devil's Elbow Campground

5965 York Road, Helena, MT 59602 United States

Elevation: 1,131 ft

Getting There

Devil's Elbow Campground is located at 5965 York Road, Helena, Montana 59601. From Interstate 90 driving from Bozeman, exit at Exit: 274 US 287 Helena/Ennis; right turn to continue north on 287 and continue for 57 mi. Turn right onto Lake Helena D...

Nearest town

Helena, MT - 15 mi

About 22 min to downtown

Policies & Rules

Arrival & departure

  • Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Cancellation policy

  • Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
  • Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
  • Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
    • Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
    • Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
    • One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
  • Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
  • Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
  • Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.

Wildlife & food storage

  • Store food in vehicles or bear-proof containers to avoid wildlife encounters.

Safety & rules

  • Watch your step to avoid rattlesnakes and bull snakes in the area.
  • Black widow spiders are common; their bites can be very painful.
  • Beware of Prickly Pear cactus which can cause injury and damage.
  • Ensure your watercraft is clean and inspected for invasive species before arrival.
  • Prepare for sudden weather changes while camping.

Site capacity

  • Campsites allow a maximum of 2 RVs or 2 tents, or 1 RV and 1 tent.
  • Some sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Utilities

  • No power is available; generators can only be used between 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM.
  • There are no facilities for dumping black or gray water.

Local regulations

  • No stock animals or non-road legal vehicles are permitted.

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Nearby destinations

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East Helena

9 mi away

City
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Helena

13 mi away

Helena, Montana sits between mountains and open valleys, making a handy base for camping and outdoor stays. Near Hele...

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18 mi away

City

Last updated: October 23, 2026

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Elevation: 4,049 ft

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