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Cave Mountain Campground
Enjoy spectacular vistas of the Rocky Mountains as you drive along the Teton River.
Beauty: 5 stars; Privacy: 5 stars; Quiet: 5 stars; Spaciousness: 5 stars; Security: 3 stars; Cleanliness: 5 stars
Key Information
- Address: Canyon Road (County Road 144), Choteau, MT 59422
- Contact: 406-466-5341, www.fs.usda.gov/helena
- Operated by: Helena–Lewis and Clark National Forest, Rocky Mountain Ranger District
- Open: Memorial Day weekend–October
- Sites: 18
- Each site: Picnic table, fire grate
- Assignment: First come, first served; no reservations
- Registration: On-site self-registration
- Facilities: Hand-pump well, vault toilets
- Parking: At campsites
- Fee: $6
- Elevation: 5,200'
- Restrictions
- Pets: On leash only
- Fires: In fire rings only
- Alcohol: Permitted
- Vehicles: 35-foot length limit
- Other: 16-day stay limit; pack in, pack out; bear-country food storage restrictions
Views of the Rocky Mountain front are spectacular as you drive along the Teton River to Cave Mountain. Ahead of you are Wind Mountain and flat-topped Ear Mountain. This is actually part of the original Old North Trail, used for centuries as a travel corridor between Canada and points south. Limestone cliffs rise 500 feet on either side of you, and viewpoints provide panoramic 360-degree vistas.
The road enters a gap in the cliffs, and not far beyond, a sign points the way to Cave Mountain. Two bridge crossings, one over the North Fork Teton River and one over the Middle Fork, lead to the campground entrance. Set under a beautiful mix of birch, aspen, and pine, the campground’s 18 sites are perfect for tenters looking for quiet and solitude. Sites here are spacious, and sites 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 back up to and are only a short walk from the North Fork of the Teton. You won’t go wrong picking any one of these pine needle–covered sites. Site 14, on the back end of the loop at the end of the road, is nicely secluded. Sites 5 and 7 are also well separated, with plenty of space to spread out for a few days.
This campground makes a great base camp for fishing, hiking, or mountain biking. The trailhead for Middle Fork Teton River Trail #108 is at Cave Mountain. It’s actually more of a stroll than a hike, as it follows the river bottoms: no mountain vistas, no dramatic canyons, just a walk in the woods along a stream where you can relax, watch industrious beavers, or fish for mountain whitefish or trout. From this trail you can also access the Bob Marshall Wilderness.
A mile east of the campground is the trailhead for Clary Coulee Trail #177. This 12-mile out-and-back trail follows an open bench with views of vast plains to the east and Rocky Mountain peaks to the west. Small stream crossings necessitate some short, steep up-and- down climbs, but overall this is a moderate trail that isn’t heavily used.
Another hiking option is North Fork Teton Trail #107, which winds along the river through narrow Box Canyon. During summer, the many river crossings on this trail are pretty simple, but during spring runoff, it’s quite possible that the depth and speed of the water will make them impassable. The trailhead for this 8-mile out-and-back trip is 4 miles west of the campground.
You can climb to the peak of Mount Wright on a day hike from the trailhead 10 miles west of the campground. The trail follows West Fork Trail #144 for the first quarter mile, and from there it’s a steep 4-mile climb through prime habitat for mountain goats and bighorn sheep. The descent can be challenging as well, but if you’re in good shape, the view from the 8,875-foot summit is spectacular and worth the effort. On a clear day you’ll see peaks at Glacier National Park and part of the Chinese Wall running through the Bob Marshall Wilderness.
About 5 miles east of the campground is a turnoff for Our Lake Trail and the Pine Butte Preserve, a 15,000-acre wetland owned by The Nature Conservancy that provides significant grizzly bear habitat. In order to preserve undisturbed habitat for the grizzlies, the 0.25-mile A. B. Guthrie Memorial Trail is the only hiking access provided. The 300-foot elevation gain allows views of a portion of the fen wetland complex and of limber pine savanna. You may not see any bears while you’re here, but dozens of other mammals like elk, deer, and coyote may draw your attention. More than 100 bird species have been sighted here, from songbirds to sandhill cranes.
If you’re heading for the trails instead of the preserve, take a right after you cross the river and follow South Fork Road (Forest Road 109) for 9 miles to the trailhead. Our Lake Trail #184 is a 5-mile out-and-back that climbs steeply in places and can be slippery before the snow melts in late June. Bears are seen often in this area, and many people see mountain goats clinging to the slopes on the other side of the lake. A waterfall about halfway to the lake is usually less crowded than the lake itself. If you are thinking about making this an overnight hike, camping is allowed near the waterfall, but not near the lake.
The Choteau area is famous for more than ranching and spectacular scenery. Nearby Egg Mountain is where paleontologist Jack Horner discovered fossilized dinosaur eggs and embryos, establishing the Willow Creek Anticline as an active site where finds are still being made. If you want to take part in a dig, stop at the Two Medicine Dinosaur Center in Bynum for information.
GETTING THERE
From Choteau, take US 89 north for 4 miles to the Teton Pass Winter Sports Area and Eureka Reservoir signs. Turn left at the signs, onto FR 144, and go 23 miles to the campground. The last 5 miles are gravel and dirt.
GPS COORDINATES: N47° 53.483' W112° 43.617'
