Rattlesnake Bend is a pair of primitive boat-in campsites located near the downstream end of the permitted Smith River corridor, roughly 47 miles below the Camp Baker launch. The upper site sits on a rocky bench with limited tree cover but features a dramatic limestone cliff face across the river. The lower site occupies a broad, open grassy flat adjacent to the Smith River's most significant rapid. Both sites are accessible exclusively by non-motorized watercraft (raft, canoe, kayak, or drift boat) as part of a permitted multi-day float through Smith River State Park. An annual lottery permit from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is required to access this section of river. No running water or toilet facilities are on-site — as of 2024, all pit toilets along the corridor were removed and floaters must pack out all human waste using an agency-approved portable toilet system.
Open Apr through Jul
Smith River State Park official page managed by Montana FWP, covering the permitted 59-mile float corridor that includes all boat-in camps including Rattlesnake Bend.
Upper Rattlesnake is just around the bend from Lower Givens Gulch and has very limited tree coverage but a cliff wall just across the water. The lower campground is on the river bend flat after one of the Smith's rapids.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks official website at fwp.mt.gov.
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