Dispersed camping · Montana
What the Bitterroot National Forest actually allows for dispersed camping — how far off a road you may drive, which roads that applies to, and the closure orders that override it. Every figure below is sourced; the primary documents are linked at the bottom.
| Rule | This forest | |
|---|---|---|
| How far off the road you may drive | 300 ft | from the road centerline |
| Where that applies | Along any designated open road | |
| Distance to keep from water | 30 ft | order |
| Stay limit | 16 days | per the forest order |
The corridor applies to the whole designated road system, minus the exceptions the MVUM prints. This is the most permissive pattern.
Blanket rule on all designated open routes: 'Motor vehicle use off of designated roads and trails for the purpose of dispersed camping is permitted on National Forest Lands for up to 300 feet from the centerline of the road or trail' (Darby RD MVUM, April 2026, 'DISPERSED CAMPING AND PARKING' section). Campsite selection must be by non-motorized means, then accessed by most direct route (no more than 300 feet) without resource damage. Motor vehicles may also be parked up to 20 feet from the road edge. Bold on-map statement: 'There is no off-road motorized travel allowed for game retrieval or wood cutting on the Bitterroot National Forest.' Rule dates from the 2016 Bitterroot Travel Management Plan decision.
'Special Vehicle Designation' symbol on Bitterroot MVUMs means the road/trail is open to vehicle classes other than the standard classes (refer to Seasonal and Special Designation Table) - it is NOT a dispersed camping designation.
Forest-wide Bitterroot Food Storage Order 25-BRF-01 (Mar 1, 2025-Dec 31, 2027): all food/refuse/scented items must be attended within 100 ft, hung 10 ft up/4 ft out, in IGBC-certified containers, or in a closed vehicle/hard-sided structure; carcass rules 100 yd/quarter-mile from camps. Lake Como Recreation Area is a day-use-pass fee area Memorial Day-Labor Day with developed campgrounds (Lake Como CG limited to 7 consecutive days); no order prohibiting dispersed camping at Lake Como or Blodgett found on the current alerts page.
Read from Darby RD MVUM dated APRIL 2026 (current edition). Water setback caveat: the 30-ft rule is a restriction on the MOTOR VEHICLE, not the tent - 'Motor vehicle use off a forest road or trail for purposes of dispersed camping shall be at least 30 feet from a stream, wetland or other body of water. Camping adjacent to water sources is permitted; however, access must be by non-motorized means.' It is enforceable as part of the MVUM designation (36 CFR 261.13/261.15), not via a separate numbered 261.58 water-closure order. Stay limit from Regional Order R1-2025-01 (signed Jul 17, 2025, eff. Aug 1, 2025-Jul 31, 2030): 16 consecutive days per site / 32 cumulative days per calendar year in Montana; site = 1/2-mile radius. Bitterroot is NOT covered by the NCDE food order (has its own 25-BRF-01). Stevensville/Sula/West Fork MVUM sheets not individually read; Darby sheet text is forest-wide in wording.
Open the map for Montana — forest roads, boundaries and closures are on the map; scored campsite locations are built for Wyoming and Idaho so far.
Confidence in this summary: high. Forest orders change mid-season and districts differ — this is a research summary, not legal advice. Check the sources above before you drive out.