A nice, roomy campsite at the Valley of the Flies.
Over the past several weeks we have been exploring the history of the East Pioneer Mountains of Montana while camped in or near Melrose. This week we will move to a new base camp near Dewey, MT., allowing us to explore the old mining camp of Quartz Creek, nearby mines, an old cemetery and the upper reaches of Vipond Park. Our access road to these places will be Quartz Hill Road, which leaves Montana Hwy 43 on the west outskirts of Dewey. Therefore, you will want to choose a campsite along Quartz Hill Road or close by.
RV Parks: The Wise River Club is the nearest RV park to Dewey. It is located in the neighboring town of Wise River about six miles west of Dewey on Hwy 43. The park offers 14 RV spaces along with cabin rentals. Those navigating by GPS will find Wise River Club at: N45° 47.525 W112° 57.276 More campgrounds can be found by visiting www.campgroundreviews.com
Public Campgrounds: Divide Bridge Campground operated by the BLM is the nearest public campground to Dewey. It is located about 4.5 miles east of Dewey off a short spur road south of Hwy 43. The campground offers 24 sites with no hook ups. There is no potable water or dump station. Fees are $10 per night. You will find the campground at: N45° 45.229 W112° 46.558
Boondocking: Several options for boondocking (dispersed camping) exist. For those that don’t care to camp far off the beaten path, there are several camping spots right off Hwy 43 along the river immediately west of Dewey. Turn north off the highway: N45° 46.650 W112°51.610 and take your choice of sites.
A couple of boondocking sites exist along Quartz Hill Road, which is the most convenient place to start your adventure. Turn south off Hwy 43 onto Quartz Hill Road at: N45° 46.600 W112° 51.781
For those that aren’t easily spooked, there is a nice space with a fire ring and picnic table just to the south of the Dewey Cemetery at N45° 46.176 W112° 51.785
You are invited to stay awhile.
A large, level grassy space that will hold numerous RVs can be found at N45° 45.796 W112°51.690. This site is under the jurisdiction of the Butte BLM field office with camping limited to 16 consecutive days. We camped here while exploring the area and dubbed the camp the Valley of the Flies due to an excessive population of flies in the area. I expect we arrived just at the peak of their hatch and this was atypical of the area. Now, that you know where to find a campsite that fits your needs, we will take a journey up Quartz Hill Road in the next installment.
Camping at the Valley of the Flies, just another adventure in RVing!
To find campgrounds in this area to suit your preferences visit www.campgroundreviews.com
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
Are the pictures really from February in Montana? I would have expected more snow this time of year.
We visited the area last August. Like you, I expect there is a good layer of snow this time of year. I bet the flies aren’t an issue though!