Can you reserve West Fork Madison Campground near Yellowstone?

West Fork Madison Campground, in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in Montana, cannot be reserved in advance. According to its official Recreation.gov listing, "This is a First Come - First Served campground. Reservations are not available." (Source: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10169448)

The campground is a small seven-unit site along the banks of the West Fork of the Madison River, with an access road that splits it into two sites north of the road and a five-site loop to the south. Trailers are not permitted in the campground "due to the tight, narrow turns and small camp spaces," so it is best suited to tent camping or small vehicles. Source: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10169448

Each site has a fire ring and picnic table, and bear-proof food storage lockers are located on each side of the campground, along with a water spigot and two outhouses in the loop. A food storage order is in effect, meaning all food and attractants must be kept in a bear-proof manner when unattended, and campsites must be attended the first night and cannot be left unattended for more than 24 hours during the stay. Source: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10169448

The campground sits near the confluence of the West Fork and the Madison River in a grove of old-growth spruce and Douglas fir, and it provides access to fishing on both rivers, OHV trails and scenic drives in the Gravelly Mountains, and hiking trails in the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. Yellowstone National Park's west entrance is listed as less than 40 miles away, making this a convenient first-come, first-served option for travelers heading into the park who do not have a reservation elsewhere. Source: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10169448

Because no reservation system applies here, arriving early in the day, especially on weekends and in peak summer months when nearby Yellowstone-area camping fills quickly, is the only way to secure one of the seven sites. Anyone wanting a guaranteed spot through an online booking system will need to look at other campgrounds in the area that do participate in the Recreation.gov reservation system, since this one is explicitly excluded from that option.