Butte--All Bureau of Land Management recreation sites near Helena officially open on May 8 when services will be provided and recreation fees collected.
Holter Lake, Log Gulch and Departure Point Campgrounds on Holter Lake are popular with anglers and outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy water-based recreation. Amenities at these campgrounds include camping spots, boat docks, fish-cleaning stations, fishing access, toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, potable water, and swimming areas. Group shelters at Log Gulch and Holter Lake are available for group reservations.
At Hauser Lake, Devil’s Elbow Campground provides docks, a fish-cleaning station, toilets, tables, fire rings, potable water, a boat launch, fishing access, walking trails and a swimming area. At nearby Clark’s Bay day-use area, visitors will find a boat launch, a swimming area and shaded picnic tables. Group shelters at Devil’s Elbow and Clark’s Bay are available for group reservations. In addition, an interpretive site known as Two Camps Vista is open to the public at no charge. Two Camps is located north of Lakeside just off York Road and above Devil’s Elbow Campground.
Clark’s Bay will be closed June 4-22 for paving of the boat ramp parking lots and swim beach trails. Devil’s Elbow, Clark’s Bay day-use and Two Camps Vista will be periodically closed Aug. 6-17 for chip sealing of all existing asphalt surfaces.
The Spokane Bay Site on Hauser Lake, about one mile upstream from Lakeside, is also now open for public use. Facilities available at this boat-in site include docks, toilets, tables and fire grilles. There are no fees at this site.
Fees at the above sites are:
- Camping: $10 per night
- Day Use: $2 per vehicle
- Seasonal Day Use Pass: $25 per vehicle
- Group Picnic Reservations: $50, plus $2 per vehicle (Holter Lake, Log Gulch and Clark’s Bay)
- Group Camping Reservations: $50, plus $10 per night (Devil’s Elbow, White Sandy and Log Gulch)
The Holter Dam Site located on the Missouri River immediately below the lake along Holter Dam Road also opens May 8 with camping at $6 per night.
The boat ramp at the Holter Lake site will be closed to the public for the season beginning Aug. 3 in order to perform needed upgrades. Improvements include new and expanded overnight docks, a boat ramp, day-use docks and access trails.
The Beartooth Landing boat-in site located upriver from Holter Lake and across from Ming Bar is now open. No fees are charged at this site.
All fees are half price for those who have an interagency Senior Pass or Access Pass (formerly the Golden Age or Golden Access Passport). To qualify, you must be 62 years of age or permanently disabled. For passport information or more information about any of the Bureau of Land Management recreation sites in the Hauser or Holter Lakes area, call one of the following BLM numbers:
- Butte Field Office, 533-7600
- Devil’s Elbow, 227-3570
- Holter Lake, 235-4314
- Log Gulch, 235-4480
- White Sandy, 458-4744
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