Dry Wolf Campground Trailhead — Little Belt Mountains Gateway
Dry Wolf sits at the end of a gravel road in the Little Belt Mountains, tucked into a ponderosa and Douglas-fir canyon about 20 miles south of Stanford off US-87. The trailhead accesses the Dry Wolf Trail system, one of the few maintained hiking and horseback corridors in this underused corner of Lewis and Clark National Forest. It’s quiet, legitimately remote, and the kind of place you share with maybe one other rig on a summer weekend — if that. The canyon creek runs most of the season and the forest canopy keeps it cool even in August.
Access is via Dry Wolf Road (FR 251) off US-87 near Stanford — gravel the whole way, passable for stock high-clearance rigs in dry conditions. Spring runoff can rough up the road surface. No drinking water, no services — come self-contained. Cell signal is nonexistent. Best run May through October; snow closes access in winter without notice.
Little Belt solitude — real trail, zero crowds.
Place Details
| Type | Point of Interest |
|---|---|
| Nearest town | Stanford, MT |
| Miles from pavement | 20 mi |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 2WD |
| Access road surface | Gravel |
| Cell service | None |
| Cost (USD/night, 0 = free) | Free |
| Reservation required | No |
| Best season | May-October |
| Land manager | USFS |
| Permit required | No |
| Amenities | Picnic table, Toilets |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Approximate Location
Exact location unavailable. This map shows the nearest town (Stanford, MT) as an approximation. For exact directions, photos, and current details, use the "Search on Google" link in the place details above.