About this campground
The most popular place to start a backcountry South Fork float trip is at the confluence of the Young’s and Danaher rivers. The best way to access the confluence is from the Owl Creek trailhead in the Swan Valley or the Lodgepole trailhead out of Ovando, Mt. The Owl Creek trailhead is located on Hwy 83 approximately 15 miles south of the town of Condon, it is a 29 mile trip on foot or horseback to reach the confluence. The Lodgepole trailhead is approximately 12 miles north of the town of Ovando, Mt. off of Hwy 200, it is a 22 mile trip on foot or horseback. The takeout for float trips on the Upper South Fork is the Mid Creek takeout about 38 miles from the confluence. The entirety of this section of river is within the wilderness boundary so wilderness rules apply, please consult the South Fork section of the Three Forks of the Flathead River Guide in the quick links section.
Nearby federal campgrounds
- KENCK CABINHelena-Lewis and Clark National Forest14 mi
- Benchmark Airstrip Site Observation SiteUS Forest Service15 mi
- Ron Janikula TrailheadUS Forest Service15 mi
- South Fork Sun TrailheadUS Forest Service15 mi
- Van Deriet CampgroundHelena-Lewis and Clark National Forest15 mi
- River Point Picnic AreaMontana16 mi
Explore more Montana camping
Youngs Danaher Backcountry Access doesn't take campsite reservations — but plenty of nearby Montana campgrounds do, and we'll alert you the moment a sold-out site opens up.
Browse Montana camping →Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.