Hilltop Campground (Mt)

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest — lakeside

Location: Ennis, MT, MT

Price: From $15 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)

Season: May through October

Hilltop Campground is located on top of the hill mid-way between Cliff and Wade Lakes. It’s about a 3/4 mile steep, winding drive from the Cliff Lake road. There are 18 sites which are all shaded and quiet, away from the crowds at the lakes.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/hilltop-campground-mt to be notified when sites open up.

Hilltop Campground offers a quiet, spacious alternative to busier lakeside camping, with shaded sites away from crowds. Campers praise the peaceful atmosphere and kind camp hosts.

Wildlife alert: Pronghorn, Uinta Ground Squirrel, Red-tailed Hawk, American White Pelican, Common Merganser, Cliff Swallow, and Wandering Garter Snake present in the area.

Insider tips for Hilltop Campground (Mt): Book early — this is a popular federal campground with only 1 site available per the data discrepancy. Hike to Wade Lake campground from the campground to access additional trails. Visit Cliff Lake (1.25 miles) or Wade Lake (1.75 miles) for fishing, swimming, and small craft boating.

Skip Hilltop Campground (Mt) if: You have a travel trailer — the unpaved access road is rough and can damage RV equipment.. You need RV hookups — no hookups available.. You want to camp directly on a lake — campground is located on a hilltop away from the lakes..

Best time to visit Hilltop Campground (Mt): May-October — Official operating season for the campground..

Nearby campgrounds: Cliff Point (Mt) (Ennis, MT), Wade Lake (Mt) (Ennis, MT), Madison River (Mt) (Ennis, MT), Beaver Creek Campground (West Yellowstone, MT).

Cell Phone Coverage at Hilltop Campground (Mt)

Cell signal at Hilltop Campground (Mt) (Ennis, MT): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

CamperWatch
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Hilltop Campground (Mt) — photo 1
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Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest — lakesideLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Hilltop Campground (Mt)

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Ennis, MT, MT★ 4 (0 reviews)From $15/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Hilltop Campground is located on top of the hill mid-way between Cliff and Wade Lakes. It’s about a 3/4 mile steep, winding drive from the Cliff Lake road. There are 18 sites which are all shaded and quiet, away from the crowds at the lakes.

Best for:CampersNature loversFamiliesSites:Tent
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
HookupsNo hookups.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire Rings
Recreation
Picnic Tables

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You have a travel trailer — the unpaved access road is rough and can damage RV equipment.✕ You need RV hookups — no hookups available.✕ You want to camp directly on a lake — campground is located on a hilltop away from the lakes.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a popular federal campground with only 1 site available per the data discrepancy.

Hike to Wade Lake campground from the campground to access additional trails.

Visit Cliff Lake (1.25 miles) or Wade Lake (1.75 miles) for fishing, swimming, and small craft boating.

Best: May-October

Official operating season for the campground.

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Pronghorn, Uinta Ground Squirrel, Red-tailed Hawk, American White Pelican, Common Merganser, Cliff Swallow, and Wandering Garter Snake present in the area.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
1111111111· Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Hilltop Campground (Mt) cost per night?+
Hilltop Campground (Mt) costs $15 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Hilltop Campground (Mt) open?+
Hilltop Campground (Mt) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Hilltop Campground (Mt) have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Hilltop Campground (Mt)?+
Hilltop Campground (Mt) is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Hilltop Campground (Mt)?+
Hilltop Campground (Mt) is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Hilltop Campground (Mt)?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Hilltop Campground (Mt) is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Hilltop Campground (Mt) open, and what are check-in times?+
Hilltop Campground (Mt) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$15 /night★ 4 (0)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Hilltop Campground (Mt) cost per night?+
What season is Hilltop Campground (Mt) open?+
Does Hilltop Campground (Mt) have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Cliff Point (Mt)

Ennis, MT

From $15/night

Wade Lake (Mt)

Ennis, MT

From $15/night

Madison River (Mt)

Ennis, MT

From $15/night

Beaver Creek Campground

West Yellowstone, MT

From $26/night

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