Cow Dog Camp

Hosted by Crystal · Boulder, Montana

99%

·

103 reviews

Best in Montana: Finalist

Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2023.

Cow Dog Camp is in the heart of the Montana Rocky Mountains, just 35 miles from the continental divide, almost exactly half way between Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, giving it beauty and extremes that can only be compared to itself. Day trip accessible to Butte, Bozeman, Helena, Missoula, Ennis, Virginia City, Deer Lodge, Great Falls and everything in-between, Cow Dog Camp makes a great landing pad for exploration or the perfect spot to relax on a night over before the next adventure. Butted up against active ranch land, the Elkhorn Mountains that surround the land are sure to speak to the heart and soul. Come share our slice of Rocky Mountain Heaven with family and friends: A perfect place to relax, cut loose, and unwind. Learn more about this land: Pitch a tent or pull your smaller camper to a valley with views of the Elkhorn Mountains. Cow Dog Camp is almost exactly half way between Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, located at the cross roads of Hwy 69 and I15 . Picnic tables are at each site, Porta potty, water, and trash bins are also on site. Your pets are welcome! Depending on time of year/fire danger, the use of a fire pit is available at individual sites and the Communal Fire Pit may be used. You are always welcome to sit at the communal pit in the shade with the Adirondack chairs and enjoy the views! Cow Dog Camp can be described as more of a "primitive camping experience". Sites are first come, first served, self serve. (Season is May to end of September. Message me for availability outside of those dates, sometimes Mother Nature accommodates & I can open a site for you.) Stroll to a small Aspen thicket with seasonally active stream through the prairie on a level path, sit on the park bench and enjoy the mountain view in the shade. Sites are in the prairie, thus, not shaded, (baby trees are growing!). Please remember that because we are in the Heart of the Rocky Mountains, inclement weather/high winds can happen at anytime and certain times of the year, mosquitos are abundant. We have found that white clothing, along with other deterrents to be effective against mosquitoes, you can also rent citronella table torches as an add on. The night sky at Cow Dog Camp is uninterrupted to the east and perfect for star gazing at the Milky Way. Enjoy prominent views of Crow peak, Bull Mountain, and Sugarloaf Mountain. Active ranch land borders the north, east, and south sides of the property with views of cattle year round. Cow Dog Camp is a hobby ranch with chickens, turkeys, and yes, a rooster who likes his voice from time to time. Farm fresh eggs are for sale when available, just ask us via text, messenger, or when you arrive to check availability and to purchase, (there is an intermittently active gravel pit bordering the north end of property, it is supposed to be fully reclamated & decommissioned within 2 years. Most of time it has been of little bother to campers, but I will give status upon booking, it is very intermittent, but when in use does produce some daytime noise, and definitely not a worry if you are using us as a landing point for day adventures elsewhere in the vicinity or as a quiet, safe night layover & early on to the next adventure, activity during the day generally ends by 6pm and starts at 7am when active). Being we are at the cross roads of I15 and Hwy 69, some low level noise from the interstate can be heard from time to time, especially dependent on the direction of the wind. An irrigation canal borders the east side of the property encouraging local animals, especially birds of all sort. Bald & Golden Eagles, Sandhill cranes, Magpies, Ravens, Snipes, and other variety of birds are often seen. Meadowlarks sing songs all day long. In the late Summer/early Fall expect to hear elk bugling. Year round you may see owls, fox, deer, and prairie dogs. Our land is situated at the edge of town. Within walking/biking distance to all your needs: L&P grocery store, two bars, (Nothing beats the locally raised steak at the Windsor Bar), Montana Cash liquor store, Beer/Wines available at The Town Pump gas station, bowling alley, three restaurants, laundry mat, gift shop, library, post office, gas station. To the west you will see the town of Boulder, but turn any other direction and it feels like open land! Day trips from Cow Dog Camp include Ghost towns: Virginia City, Bannack & Elkhorn, (great photographic opportunities), Ringing Rocks, Old Prison Museum and car museum in Deer lodge, Lewis and Clark Caverns, and Gates of The Mountains for a great ferry ride. Several Hot Springs are within a days trip: Boulder Hot Springs, (must make reservations prior, 5 minutes away), Fairmont outside of Butte, Broadwater in Helena, and Jackson Hot Springs. There are many trailheads, old railroads/tunnels, and boundless opportunities in the national forests surrounding Boulder, MT. Fishing opportunities also are abundant in Boulder River & Basin Creek, and let's not forget the breweries! Several breweries make for different day trip loops one can make going in any different, stopping every 1-2 hours at a new brewhouse. Boulder is also home to the Free Enterprise Radon Health mine and several more just 8 miles down the road in Basin. Basin is another interesting town with The Silver Saddle: local bar/restaurant, and health opportunities. Cow Dog Camp is situated between Butte, Helena and Whitehall with lots of opportunity to drive to the "city" and explore the rich historical heritages of each, enjoy food, and shopping then come back for the night at camp and feel like your are getting a little Montana outdoors. Day trips to Bozeman, Missoula, and Great Falls are also very doable from camp. We frequent Bozeman, Butte, & Helena for lunch/shopping as day trips often. Ennis is also a great little Montana town to explore only 75 miles away. Architecture in "uptown" Butte is particularly interesting. Plenty of birding opportunities in the lower valley. Maximum stay is 7 consecutive days. Visit us on our Facebook page. Think of any thing else we can do for you? Just ask! Safe Travel, Happy Journey!

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Reviews

99%· 121 reviews

Molly G.
Tent camped with pets, Sept 2022.
Recommends
Lovely view from the middle of a ranch prairie lot. Quiet, nice sleep. Not super super private but totally great for me
Kerry K.
Camped in a 30 ft travel trailer, Sept 2022.
Recommends
We stayed in site 2 in a travel trailer for 3 nights. It’s on the edge of town so it’s convenient and easy to get to but is also quiet and has great views. The site is level making setup easy. Recommended and we plan on staying here if we get back in the Boulder area.
Ashley F.
Tent camped with pets, Sept 2022.
Recommends
We had a great experience at Cow Dog Camp! Crystal was very friendly and organized :) The kids loved being able to play by the stream, run around the site, and hang out with the chickens! They loved feeding them food scraps too :) The portapotty was clean and in a convenient spot by the camp site. Having the little charcoal grill available was also great! It’s in a nice little town too! Overall a very good experience and we highly recommend!

Location

Boulder, Jefferson, Montana, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Your Host

Crystal B.Joined July 2018