No detected openings were recorded in the last 90 days. Campsite Sniper monitors 1st Dredge Shelters continuously and will alert you if that changes.
Of the 366 tracked reservation dates (Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027): 366 open for online reservation.
Where the open windows are
Load status
Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 208 fall on weekdays and 158 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Mar 2027October holds the most room. 62 of 62 reservation dates are still open there.
Holiday windows — day use
Units open per date · of 2 shelters| Window | Date | Units open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 2 | Open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 2 | Open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 2 | Open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 2 | Open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 2 | Open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 2 | Open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 2 | Open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked date. Thanksgiving: 2 shelters are available for all three dates. Christmas: 2 shelters are available for both dates. New Year: 2 shelters are available for both dates.
Availability by shelter
Most open reservation dates · tracked window| Shelter | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| 1st Dredge Shelter #1 | 183 |
| 1st Dredge Shelter #2 | 183 |
The 2 shelters with the most open reservation dates in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotThe next bookable date is Sep 18; the first open weekend starts Sep 18. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Reservation dates
All 2 shelters with current availability
| Shelter | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Dredge Shelter #1 | 183 | 183 dates | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +171 more |
| 1st Dredge Shelter #2 | 183 | 183 dates | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +171 more |
About 1st Dredge Shelters
Overview
First Dredge Recration Area is located just below Fort Peck Dam on the Missouri River in northeastern Montana. Recreation enthusiasts and sportsmen enjoy the beauty of Fort Peck Lake's 1,500 miles of shoreline. A variety of high quality outdoor activities are available, including camping, boating, fishing, hunting, sightseeing and wildlife viewing.
Fort Peck Dam , which impounds Fort Peck Lake is the first dam built in the upper Missouri River Basin. The area surrounding Fort Peck was first charted by Lewis and Clark in 1804, and the pristine natural condition of the river and surrounding area awed the renowned explorers. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the Fort Peck project in 1933, thousands of people from all over the country migrated to Montana during the midst of the Great Depression in hopes of earning a living. Today, Fort Peck Lake is a sportsman's paradise with excellent fishing, wildlife viewing and other countless outdoor recreation opportunities.
For more information, visit the Fort Peck Project Website or call 406-526-3411.
Recreation
The vast size of Fort Peck Lake and its remoteness from major population centers provide a variety of high quality outdoor experiences. Popular recreation activities include camping, boating, fishing, hunting, sight-seeing, picnicking, biking, hiking, photography, watching wildlife and just relaxing.
Fort Peck Lake : Fifteen hundred miles of pristine shoreline serve as a haven for those wishing to get away from the stresses of modern life. There are 27 recreation areas located around the reservoir. The areas near and around the dam offer paved roads, electricity, showers and playgrounds while facilities around the rest of the lake are more primitive with gravel roads, picnic tables and vault toilets. Access roads to many of the remote areas may be impassable in inclement weather.
Fishing: Fort Peck Lake enjoys nationwide recognition as a hot spot for walleye fishing. Fort Peck Lake provides excellent boating and fishing opportunities. The lake also offers excellent fishing for sauger, smallmouth bass, lake trout, chinook salmon and northern pike. The introduction of cisco as a forage fish in 1983 proved successful and has increased both the size and number of game fish.
Wildlife Viewing/Hunting: The Fort Peck Lake Area and the Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge provide superb hunting of deer, elk, big horn sheep, and prong horn. The Missouri River Breaks are known for producing large elk and other game animals.
Trails : Three miles of paved nature trails wind along the Missouri River and through the surrounding wooded area. This trail area is a popular birding and wildlife viewing area.
Disc Golf Course: A disc golf course "The Fortress" was installed in summer of 2021. Discs are available to check out at the Downstream Campground gate house.
Interpretive Center & Museum : The Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum offers displays of wildlife dioramas, aquariums, dinosaur fossils and dam construction history. Open Friday through Monday 9am to 4pm.
Facilities
First Dredge Recreation area has two reservable open picnic shelters with grills, two vault toilets, several open picnic tables and benches, a playground, swim beaches and a large paved parking lot for visitor use.
Natural Features
Visitors to the Dredge Cuts area can expect abundant sunshine and warm sand along with plenty of large trees providing areas of shade. Playgrounds, picnics and swimming beaches provide a great atmosphere along this historic stretch of the Missouri River.
Nearby Attractions
• Fort Peck Lake is a Montana treasure for its vast size and outdoor recreation opportunities. Six recreation areas within a few miles of the dam provide access for water sports, fishing and hunting.
• The Fort Peck Interpretive Center and Museum, is located just downstream of Fort Peck Dam. For more information, call 406-526-3493.
• The Leo B. Coleman Wildlife Pasture, located just outside the Town of Fort Peck and Downstream Campground is home to Fort Peck's Bison Herd and provides an excellent wildlife viewing auto route.
• The Historic Fort Peck Theater is located in the town of Ft. Peck is a popular historic destination in summer months.
• The Fort Peck State Fish Hatchery is located on Yellowstone Drive and is responsible for stocking Fort Peck Lake and other waterways with walleye, northern pike, chinook salmon and rainbow trout.
• The 1.1 million acre Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge surrounds Fort Peck Lake and helps preserve the natural habitat for numerous wildlife species.
Getting there
From Nashua, MT, travel on Highway 117 south for 10 miles, turn right at the entrance parking lot. From Glasgow, MT, travel on Highway 24 south for 18 miles to Fort Peck Dam. Turn Left onto Highway 117 travel 2.5 miles. Turn left at intersection onto Yellowstone Rd continue a half mile and the recreation area will be on the left. From Interstate 94, Glendive/Circle exit, take MT highway 200 west to MT highway 24 north 55 miles; turn right onto Yellowstone Rd drive 2.5 miles and campground will be on the left.
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
Photo gallery
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at 1st Dredge Shelters?
Reservations for 1st Dredge Shelters are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 366 of 366 tracked reservation dates are open (100%), though availability can change. Pick the shelter on the map to see its reservation calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this facility for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 17:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
Which month has the most availability at 1st Dredge Shelters?
October 2026, with 62 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 62.
When is the next open date at 1st Dredge Shelters?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Fri, Sep 18 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 18. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
Let the app watch this shelter
Choose the reservation dates you want at 1st Dredge Shelters.
Campsite Sniper can monitor this facility and notify you if a selected date becomes available.
When a selected date becomes available, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.