Not many county parks can claim 10,000 acres, but Beaver Creek Park isn’t like most county parks. Stretching 17 miles along the north slopes of the Bears Paw Mountains and running about a mile wide, it rises out of the rolling Hi-Line prairie into pine woods, aspen groves, rocky cliffs, and cold rushing streams.
Located 20 miles south of Havre, come for a weekend of fishing, a gorgeous day hike, or a stargazing session under dark skies. Whatever you choose, plan your next trip with our guide to Beaver Creek Park.
Beaver Creek Park at a Glance: The park offers 100+ campsites, fishing on two lakes and a trout stream, several well-maintained hiking trails, and some of the darkest skies in the region. Wildlife sightings are common year-round, and winter opens up ice fishing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. The park is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and a park permit is required for all use.
Know Before You Go: Permits & Day Use At the Park
Before you head out, there’s one thing to take care of: a current park permit is required for all park use, including hiking, camping, fishing, and picnicking.
Along with self-pay boxes at the RV Dump Sites, permits are available online or through local Havre vendors, including North 40 Outfitters, Bing n Bob’s, Stokes Market, the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce, and more. Here’s what they cost:
- Day Permit: $15 per night, covers all park use for a household through noon the following day. Day permits do cover overnight camping.
- Annual Permit: $95 per year (May 1 to April 30), covers all park use
- Golden Pass Annual Permit: $60 per year (May 1 to April 30), available to visitors 65 and older through the park office or a local vendor
Permits cover households, not individual vehicles, so everyone at the same residence travels under one permit.
Where to Camp at Beaver Creek Park
With over 100 campsites spread across 17 miles of mountain terrain, no two nights at Beaver Creek Park campground feel quite the same. That said, come prepared: this is a rustic experience by design. Individual sites don’t have electrical hookups, running water, or sewer connections, but potable water fill stations are available at the park office. Just pack accordingly, and you’ll be fine.
Every site also comes with a picnic table and fire pit or ring, with trash cans and an outhouse nearby. Most are first-come, first-served, which means arriving early is the move, especially on summer weekends and holidays when the park fills up fast.
Don’t count Beaver Creek out once the snow hits, either. The park stays open year-round, and winter opens up a different side of the place entirely with ice fishing on the lakes, snowshoeing the Bear Paw Nature Trail, and cross-country skiing through the pines. If you want to extend the trip, Bear Paw Ski Bowl is 29 miles south on Highway 234 and makes for a natural add-on to any cold-weather outing.
Can You Fish at Beaver Creek Park?
Fishing at Beaver Creek Park is one of its strongest draws, with options spread across a trout stream and two stocked lakes. Beaver Creek itself runs the full length of the park and holds brook, rainbow, and brown trout throughout. In winter, ice fishing keeps anglers coming back well past the summer season. The two lakes offer different species:
- Beaver Creek: Runs the full length of the park; brook, rainbow, and brown trout; stream fishing throughout
- Beaver Creek Reservoir: Northern entrance to the park; walleye, pike, brown trout, and largemouth bass; boat launch on-site
- Bearpaw Lake: Center of the park, managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks; walleye, brook trout, rainbow trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, and smallmouth bass; boat launch on-site
Note: A Montana fishing license is required in addition to the park permit. Fishing licenses and current regulations are available through Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
Hiking Trails Near Havre: Summits, Loops & Waterfalls
Beaver Creek Park has four maintained trails, from a quick one-mile loop to a full summit hike with panoramic Bears Paw views. Here’s what to know before you lace up.
Mt. Otis Trail
2.06 miles to the summit of Mt. Otis Trail, with 360-degree views of the Bears Paw Mountains and about 1.3 hours round trip. It’s the most direct route to high ground in the park and the go-to for anyone who wants a clear payoff at the top.
Bear Paw Nature Trail
At 5.74 miles, this is the park’s most varied route, moving through open meadow, canyon contours, and aspen groves with interpretive panels and a GPS brochure available along the way. A shorter 3.8-mile out-and-back option starts at Lions Campground, and the trail doubles as a snowshoeing route in winter.
Rotary Canyon Loop Trail
You get two loop options: a 1.08-mile lower loop and a 2.4-mile upper loop. Both offer views of Bearpaw Lake, Beaver Creek, Rotary Canyon, Mt. Otis, and Mt. Baldy. The upper loop includes off-trail access to Rotary Falls, and a dark-sky viewing area sits near the trailhead.
Brough Coulee Trail
The newest addition to the system opened in 2023. At 1.2 miles, it’s the shortest trail in the park and connects to the Bear Paw Nature Trail. The trailhead is located 22 miles south of Havre off Beaver Creek Road.
Wildlife, Stargazing & Seasonal Activities
Beaver Creek Park has plenty going on beyond the trails and campsites. The wildlife is year-round, the dark skies are some of the best in north-central Montana, and the aspen groves light up gold every fall.
Wildlife
Deer and antelope are regular sights along the drive in, and elk, turkey, pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, and beaver are all present throughout the park. Keep your eyes open for unexpected encounters, too; mink, weasel, porcupine, coyote, bobcat, and mountain lion all call the park home.
Stargazing
Low light pollution and wide open skies make for exceptional viewing, with designated dark-sky areas near the lakes and at the Rotary Canyon trailhead. The park also co-hosts stargazing events with Havre Trails and Friends of Beaver Creek Park throughout the year.
Autumn in the Park
The aspen groves turn gold in September and October, and the park becomes a favorite for leaf-peepers and hunters alike. Picnic areas and group shelters are available throughout the park for a fall day out.
Back in Town? Visit Seed of Life in Havre
After a day on the trails or a weekend under the stars, Seed of Life Labs Havre is a natural stop on the way back into town. We carry small-batch, Montana-grown cannabis for both medical and recreational customers, and our team is always happy to point you in the right direction. If you’re exploring more of Havre, head to our local Havre guide for the full picture.
If you’re new to purchasing in Montana, our guide to current cannabis laws is a good place to start. Continuing west? We’ve got locations across Montana along the way.
FAQs: Beaver Creek Park in Havre, MT
Beaver Creek Park is located 20 miles south of central Havre on Highway 234 (Beaver Creek Road). The northern entrance to the park is about 9 miles south of town, and the park extends another 17 miles south from there.
Yes. A park permit is required for all park use, including hiking, camping, fishing, and picnicking. Day permits are $15 and cover all park use through noon the following day. Annual permits are $95, and a Golden Pass Annual Permit is available for $60 for visitors 65 and older. Permits are available online at bcpark.org or at local Havre vendors.
Beaver Creek Park offers 100+ rustic campsites, most of which are first-come, first-served. Sites include a picnic table, fire pit, and nearby outhouse, but no hookups or running water. An RV dump station is available at mile marker 18, and two group sites offer optional electric. The park is open year-round.
Beaver Creek holds brook, rainbow, and brown trout. Beaver Creek Reservoir holds walleye, pike, brown trout, and largemouth bass. Bearpaw Lake holds walleye, brook trout, rainbow trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, and smallmouth bass. Ice fishing is available on both lakes in winter. A Montana fishing license is required in addition to the park permit.
Yes. Beaver Creek Park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. Winter activities include ice fishing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and sledding. The Bear Paw Nature Trail doubles as a snowshoeing route, and the park’s proximity to Bear Paw Ski Bowl makes it a natural base for a full winter day in the mountains.
