Located 7 miles south of Red Lodge, Montana, just off the scenic Beartooth Highway. The campground sits in the shadow of the Beartooth Range on the banks of Rock Creek, covered by a forest of aspen and pine.
Trailers prohibited past Site #3 due to no turnaround. Standard Single Family sites allow ONE camping unit ONLY. FIRST COME FIRST SERVE sites must be booked in person. Bears frequent the area; obey all food storage rules. Don't Move Firewood. Opening and closing dates are weather permitting. The south bridge is out.
This is a Custer Gallatin NF campground—one of the Forest Service camps that define Montana camping for travelers who want a fire ring, a picnic table, and quiet timber rather than full-hookup convenience. Amenities are modest by design. Confirm water, trash, and fire restrictions with the local ranger district before you drive in.
Nearest town: Red Lodge. Elevation about 7000 feet.
Campground snapshot
- Agency / unit: USFS — Custer Gallatin NF
- Sites: 6
- Type: Tent/RV
- Fee range: $18
- Season: Jun-Sep
- Reservations: Recreation.gov, FCFS
- Access road: Access from paved highway, specific road type for Forest Road 379 not listed
- Max RV length: Trailers prohibited past Site #3, max length for other sites not listed
- Best for: Rock Creek
Amenities
Picnic tables, campfire rings with grills, accessible vault toilets, drinking water
How to book
Reservations and site details typically run through Recreation.gov, FCFS. Many Forest Service camps keep first-come, first-served loops; remote camps may be entirely FCFS. Confirm current fees, water status, and fire restrictions before arrival. Official listing: www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232774.
Bear country & campcraft
This stop sits in classic Montana bear country. Store all attractants—food, trash, toiletries, cookware, and pet food—in a hard-sided vehicle, an IGBC-approved container, a provided bear box, or a proper hang. Never bring food or cooking clothes into the tent.
Campfires belong only in provided metal rings when restrictions allow. Drown, stir, and feel the ashes with the back of your hand before leaving or sleeping. In Stage II restrictions, open fires are banned even in developed sites—use a shut-off stove only.
Follow Leave No Trace: camp on durable surfaces, pack out everything you pack in, and leave the site cleaner than you found it.
Plan the rest of the trip
- Camping reference: reservations, bears, and fire rules
- Open this stop on the Backroads Guided Trails map
- Campgrounds directory
Visitor Access
- Nearest town: Red Lodge
- Focus: National Forest
- Coordinates: 45.0636, -109.3033
- Road note: Access from paved highway, specific road type for Forest Road 379 not listed
- Access note: Confirm road conditions, water availability, and fire restrictions before arrival. Mountain weather can drop below freezing even in midsummer.
- Legal reminder: Follow agency food-storage orders, stay within designated sites in developed camps, and respect private land and tribal boundaries.