Downstream (MT)
Fort Peck Project
Downstream Campground is located just below Fort Peck Dam on the Missouri River in northeastern Montana. Recreation enthusiasts and sportsmen enjoy the beauty of Fort Peck Lake's 1,500 miles of shoreline. A variety of high quality outdoor activities are available, including camping, boating, fishing, hunting, sightseeing and wildlife viewing.
Fort Peck Dam, which impounds Fort Peck Lake is the first dam built in the upper Missouri River Basin. The area surrounding Fort Peck was first charted by Lewis and Clark in 1804, and the pristine natural condition of the river and surrounding area awed the renowned explorers. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the Fort Peck project in 1933, thousands of people from all over the country migrated to Montana during the midst of the Great Depression in hopes of earning a living. Today, Fort Peck Lake is a sportsman's paradise with excellent fishing, wildlife viewing and other countless outdoor recreation opportunities.
For more information, visit the Fort Peck Project Website or call 406-526-3411.
Downstream Campground offers 86 family campsites, 71 of which have electrical hookups; 16 sites are tent-only. One large group campsite is available with electrical hookups. Five day-use picnic shelters are available for reservations, all with electrical hookups as well as two overnight group use areas with shelters.
The campground offers flush and vault toilets, showers, playgrounds, a basketball court and horseshoe pits. A dump station and fish cleaning station are located on-site.
Need to Know
Reservations that have not arrived will be no-showed at checkout time of their first night of stay. This will cancel your entire reservation.
All public-use of Ft. Peck Project lands and waters is governed by Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) .
Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.
STOP THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES. Remove plants, seeds, animals, and mud from boots, gear, pets, and vehicles. Clean your gear before entering and leaving the recreation site. Stay on designated roads and trails, and follow local guidelines for firewood. CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY boats and any other recreational equipment that contacts water. Dispose of unwanted bait, worms, fish parts, or other organisms into the trash and not into the environment. For more information visit invasivespeciesinfo.gov/rec
Natural Features
A shady grove of cottonwoods covers the grassy campground, making Downstream a pleasant place during the heat of the summer. In autumn, the leaves turn a beautiful golden yellow. Three fishing ponds, including scenic Winter Harbor, dot the landscape below the dam.
Nearby Attractions
- Fort Peck Lake is a Montana treasure for its vast size and outdoor recreation opportunities. Six recreation areas within a few miles of the dam provide access for water sports, fishing and hunting.
- The Fort Peck Interpretive Center and Museum, is located just downstream of Fort Peck Dam. For more information, call 406-526-3493.
- The Leo B. Coleman Wildlife Pasture, located just outside the Town of Fort Peck and Downstream Campground is home to Fort Peck's Bison Herd and provides an excellent wildlife viewing auto route.
- The Historic Fort Peck Theater is located in the town of Ft. Peck is a popular historic destination in summer months.
- The 1.1 million acre Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge surrounds Fort Peck Lake and helps preserve the natural habitat for numerous wildlife species.
Recreation
The vast size of Fort Peck Lake and its remoteness from major population centers provide a variety of high quality outdoor experiences. Popular recreation activities include camping, boating, fishing, hunting, sight-seeing, picnicking, biking, hiking, photography, watching wildlife and just relaxing.
Fort Peck Lake: Fifteen hundred miles of pristine shoreline serve as a haven for those wishing to get away from the stresses of modern life. There are 27 recreation areas located around the reservoir. The areas near and around the dam offer paved roads, electricity, showers and playgrounds while facilities around the rest of the lake are more primitive with gravel roads, picnic tables and vault toilets. Access roads to many of the remote areas may be impassable in inclement weather.
Fishing: Fort Peck Lake enjoys nationwide recognition as a hot spot for walleye fishing. Fort Peck Lake provides excellent boating and fishing opportunities. The lake also offers excellent fishing for sauger, smallmouth bass, lake trout, chinook salmon and northern pike. The introduction of cisco as a forage fish in 1983 proved successful and has increased both the size and number of game fish.
Wildlife Viewing/Hunting: The Fort Peck Lake Area and the Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge provide superb hunting of deer, elk, big horn sheep, and prong horn. The Missouri River Breaks are known for producing large elk and other game animals.
Trails: Three miles of paved nature trails wind along the Missouri River and through the surrounding wooded area. This trail area is a popular birding and wildlife viewing area.
Disc Golf Course: A disc golf course "The Fortress" was installed in summer of 2021. Discs are available to check out at the gate house.
Interpretive Center & Museum: The Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum offers displays of wildlife dioramas, aquariums, dinosaur fossils and dam construction history. Open Friday through Monday 9am to 4pm.
Changes & Cancellations
Reservation changes and cancellations can be made on Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
For more information on rules and policies regarding reservation cancellations and changes, please visit: https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FORT PECK PROJECT OFFICE P.O. BOX 208 FORT PECK MT 59223
Physical Address
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS DOWNSTREAM CAMPGROUND 123 YELLOWSTONE RD FORT PECK MT 59223
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 406-526-3224
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
- From Nashua, MT, travel on Highway 117 south for 10.5 miles continue straight onto Yellowstone Rd for 1 mile and the campground will be on the left.
- From Glasgow, MT, travel on Highway 24 south for 18 miles to Fort Peck Dam. Turn Left onto Highway 117 travel 2.5 miles. Turn right at intersection onto Yellowstone Rd continue 1 mile and the campground will be on the left.
- From Interstate 94, Glendive/Circle exit, take MT highway 200 west to MT highway 24 north 55 miles; turn right onto Yellowstone Rd drive 1.5 miles and campground will be on the right.
Available Campsites
- Site 20, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 83, Loop Faranuf, Type Rv Electric
- Site 03, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 16, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 45, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site 02, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 77, Loop Faranuf, Type Rv Electric
- Site West End Shelter 1 - Day Use, Loop West End Shelters, Type Group Shelter Electric
- Site 76, Loop Wheeler, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Kiwanis Park Shelter 2 - Day Use, Loop Kiwanis Park Day Use Shelters, Type Group Shelter Electric
- Site 78, Loop Faranuf, Type Rv Electric
- Site 24, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 50, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site 55, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site 51, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site 73, Loop Wheeler, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 71, Loop Wheeler, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 28, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 53, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site 85, Loop Faranuf, Type Rv Electric
- Site 15, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 44, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site 64, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site 56, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site 01, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 48, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site 58, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site 33, Loop Lismas, Type Walk To
- Site 36, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 47, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site 54, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site 13, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 43, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 19, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site West End Shelter 3 - Overnight Use, Loop West End Shelters, Type Group Standard Nonelectric
- Site Kiwanis Park Shelter 4 - Day Use, Loop Kiwanis Park Day Use Shelters, Type Group Shelter Electric
- Site 66, Loop Wheeler, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 10, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 80, Loop Faranuf, Type Rv Electric
- Site 14, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 32, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site Kiwanis Park Shelter 1 - Day Use, Loop Kiwanis Park Day Use Shelters, Type Group Shelter Electric
- Site 75, Loop Wheeler, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 86, Loop Faranuf, Type Rv Electric
- Site 31, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 59, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site 27, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 21, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 46, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site 70, Loop Wheeler, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 38, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 35, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 30, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 41, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 06, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 42, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 82, Loop Faranuf, Type Rv Electric
- Site 72, Loop Wheeler, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 40, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 63, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site Kiwanis Park Shelter 3 - Day Use, Loop Kiwanis Park Day Use Shelters, Type Group Shelter Electric
- Site 68, Loop Wheeler, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site GS1, Loop Group, Type Group Standard Electric
- Site 11, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 07, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site West End Shelter 2 - Overnight Use, Loop West End Shelters, Type Group Standard Nonelectric
- Site 17, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 84, Loop Faranuf, Type Rv Electric
- Site 09, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 81, Loop Faranuf, Type Rv Electric
- Site 26, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 69, Loop Wheeler, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 34, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 25, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 62, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site 08, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 29, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 04, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 61, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site 79, Loop Faranuf, Type Rv Electric
- Site 12, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 05, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 74, Loop Wheeler, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 60, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site 65, Loop Wheeler, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 39, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 67, Loop Wheeler, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 23, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 57, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site 22, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 18, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 52, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
- Site 37, Loop Lismas, Type Rv Electric
- Site 49, Loop New Deal, Type Rv Electric
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