Cliff Point (MT)

Cliff Point Campground is a small, six-site campground on the shoreline of Cliff Lake in southwestern Montana, within the Madison Ranger District of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. It sits about 43 miles south of Ennis and 35 miles west of Yellowstone National Park, making it an easy base for exploring the area around the lake and the national park. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, and the campground has a centrally located vault toilet and drinking water tap. Some sites offer partial shade. A natural-surface boat launch at the north end of Cliff Lake is undeveloped, and a no-wake speed limit applies. Fishing and boating are the main draws, along with nearby hiking trails. The most comfortable stretch for a visit runs from June through September, when typical July highs reach about 79°F and lows sit near 45°F, based on averages from the nearby Hebgen Dam weather station. Snow can make access difficult in early and late seasons. Reservations are required from May 15 through September 15, and all campsites are reservation only during that window. Site 6 can be booked two weeks in advance, while the rest are available six months out. The maximum recommended trailer length is 16 feet. Hilltop Campground is just 0.3 miles away, and Wade Lake and the Cliff Lake Bench hike are each about a mile off. Lost Mine Canyon is roughly 2.2 miles away.