Black Sandy State Park in Montana, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-29. Check linked official notices before travel.

Black Sandy State Park is a compact campground and boating base on Hauser Reservoir near Helena, Montana. Year-round access comes with sharply seasonal services: electricity and drinking water follow different calendars.

Highlights

Choose a reservoir day or a camping stay, then plan equipment around the site's size. The campground has closely spaced sites and limited overflow parking. Interpretive displays introduce local history.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Water safety

There is no lifeguard. Wear a life jacket and prepare for cold-water immersion. Children under 12 must wear one on moving boats shorter than 26 feet. The 2026 Montana boating regulations include a no-wake zone within 300 feet of Black Sandy docks, or as buoyed. At Hauser Dam, the restricted zone extends 250 feet upstream and 600 feet downstream. From December 1 to April 1, public access below ordinary high water is also closed from the dam to 100 feet downstream.

Visit responsibly

Keep pets on a leash no longer than eight feet unless signs say otherwise. Pets cannot use swimming beaches. Remove pet waste. Use established fire rings and grills, observe quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and leave fireworks at home.

Reservations and permits

The authorized Black Sandy reservation service accepts campsite bookings one day to three months ahead. For same-day options, contact the park. State camping policy limits stays to seven nights in any 30-day period. Out-of-state watercraft need inspection and a Vessel AIS Prevention Pass before launch. All craft must stop at open inspection stations.

Maps, location, and access

The park address is 6563 Hauser Dam Road, Helena, MT 59602. Published driving directions use I-15 north of Helena, Secondary 453 east, and then the county road north.

Nearby parks

Spring Meadow Lake State Park is a Helena day-use alternative at 2715 Country Club Drive. Elkhorn State Park is farther away at 812 Elkhorn Street, reached on backcountry roads. At Elkhorn, FWP owns only Fraternity and Gilliam halls. Respect surrounding private property.

Things to do

Launch a boat for reservoir recreation, keeping marked no-wake areas separate from open water. Stop at inspection stations even with nonmotorized craft.

Facilities and accessibility

The maximum trailer length is 35 feet. The park has a boat launch, toilets, and an RV dump station, with seasonal availability. Drinking water follows the weather-dependent May 15–October 10 window.

ADA campsite users must provide an eligible placard or disability license plate, and the eligible person must occupy the site throughout the reservation. Campsites check in at 2 p.m. and check out at 1 p.m., local time. Equipment must fit within the parking spur or use an area designated by staff.

About the park

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks manages this 43-acre public site on Hauser Reservoir. The campground's operating year is longer than its full-service season.

Contact

Use the official Black Sandy State Park page for maps and services. The park office number is 406-458-3221. The Helena Area Resource Office handles off-season questions at 406-495-3270.