Lost Creek State Park

Lost Creek State Park protects a narrow canyon north-west of Anaconda, where grey limestone cliffs and pink-and-white granite formations rise about 1,200 feet above the creek. At the north-west end of the 502-acre park, Lost Creek Falls drops about 50 feet, a short, easy walk from the road. It is a small, simple park, a campground and a creek in a deep canyon, but it is one of the best places in south-west Montana to see bighorn sheep and mountain goats from a car or picnic table.

Bighorn sheep and golden eagles are often seen on the cliffs, mountain goats are regularly reported, and pikas live in the rock piles of the upper park. Visitors come to watch wildlife, picnic, fish the creek, take photographs and camp. The park was established in 1957 and is run by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; it had 12,606 visitors in 2023.

The campground has 25 first-come, first-served sites along the creek, with vault toilets, fire rings, picnic tables and drinking water. RVs and trailers are limited to 23 feet, and the maximum stay is 14 days in any 30. A camp host is on site from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Pets must be leashed, and you pack out your own trash. The park lies at about 6,200 feet, and Visit Montana lists three separate day-use picnic sites.

The park opens in mid to late May and stays open through November 30, weather permitting. FWP warns that the campground may be cut off by snow in October and November, so a late-autumn visit depends on the weather. Montana residents pay no day-use fee if they paid the state parks fee with their vehicle registration; nonresidents pay $8 per vehicle or $4 walking or cycling in. Camping costs $4 to $34 a night depending on season and amenities.

Practical tip: the last 3 miles are gravel and there are no services in the canyon, so bring food and fuel from Anaconda. Wildlife is easiest to spot in the morning and evening; scan the cliff ledges with binoculars rather than looking for movement on the road.