Montana is a land of mystery, treasures, and hidden worlds. Someone said to me once, "it looks so flat!" I had to chuckle to myself. Every new horizon has secrets. That is something you learn if you spend much time here. What looks like vast great plains often is something quite different; and that is the case here.
Today I am writing about a much ignored hidden treasure called North Bootlegger Campground on Lake Elwell in Central Montana. Being a family of adventurers often means seeking out the gems that the crowds always seem to miss; and with Glacier National Park so close that is certainly the case here.
To find this campground turn south at the first dirt road east of Galata, MT. Drive approx 9 miles and you have reached your destination. At first one might look around and see miles of prairie on all sides, and wonder if this is a wild goose chase. The road will pass a farm house and begin to twist just a little. Deeper hillsides and runoff crevasses will begin to appear. You might see a family of deer or antelope like I did. They seem to look at you curiously, as if they do not often see humans around these parts. Your phone will have little to no signal. Then the road will begin a descent, and a vast body of water will appear. It is so large it disappears in the distance in both directions, East and West. Bling! A quick little moment of phone signal a half mile from the T in the road down by the water. If you turn left you have a few hundred feet before a grassy oasis with a boat launch, fire circles, and a camp toilet (non-flush). If you turn right you will find more places to camp that feel more out in the open and rustic. I chose the turn left. There is a deep inlet that looks to promise great fishing right by the camp sites.
On this glorious day we were steps from the water. The air was still. The water was like glass and the sun was hot. We fished, cooked, and camped. In the afternoon the wind picked up like it does in these parts and the water got choppy. Also a beautiful storm blew through, complete with thunder and lightening. We stood under the cover by the restrooms after zipping the tents up. It passed as quickly as it came and a rainbow stretched across the sky. The entire time we were there we did not see another living soul. It was an intimate interlude with Mother Nature.
Since that day I have gone back a few times and encountered campers once, caught another storm, and after a hard rain I learned the road can get a little muddy and rough. I suggest bringing lots of bait and extra ice because you wont want to leave once you get there. Also there is only a small General Store in Galata at which I have never found an attendant or the door unlocked. Just a sign that says they are cleaning the rooms of a small motel next door. You are in a different kind of wilds here, isolated and surrounded by a big sky and sparkling water. If you have a boat bring it, or you will wish you did (make sure it has been inspected before putting it in the water! invasive species prevention is important). And last but not least, always bring your bug spray and bear spray.
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