USDA Forest Service · Montana

Basin Montana Campground

USDA Forest Service · Montana, United States

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Sites
30
Hookups
29 no hookups
Season
May 22 to September 30
Max RV length
45 ft
Drinking water
Yes
Restrooms
Yes
Pets
Yes
Elevation
6,906 ft
Dark sky
Bortle class 1
Cell coverage
T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
Access road
BASIN CREEK CAMPGROUND (NFSR 2071C) · bituminous surface treatment · moderate degree of user comfort
Lake
Custer Gallatin National Forest
Nearest town
RED LODGE
Address
FOREST ROAD 2071, RED LODGE, MT, 59068
Phone
406-587-9054
Activities
Biking, Fishing, Hiking

30 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.

About

Overview

Basin Campground is located 7 miles west of Red Lodge, Montana, along Forest Road 2071, which is paved all the way to the campground. The area is a popular location for hiking, backpacking and fishing.

Recreation

Fishing is a popular activity along the West Fork of Rock Creek and at nearby Wild Bill Lake. The small lake is open to kayaking and canoeing, and an accessible fishing dock is located on the shore.

The Basin Lakes Trailhead is just across the road. Silver Run Plateau, West Fork and Timberline Lakes Trails offer access to the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.

Mountain bikers enjoy the Ingles Creek Trail and a variety of loop trails at Silver Run. Biking is also allowed on the Basin Lakes Trail.

Facilities

The campground offers several single-family sites, three of which are accessible. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring with grill. Accessible vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Back-in spurs are medium length.

Natural Features

The campground is situated on the banks of the West Fork of Rock Creek. The campground and the area surrounding the campground were burned by the Cascade Fire in 2008, leaving an open landscape abounding with wildflowers.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (928) 537-8888.

Nearby Attractions

The charming town of Red Lodge, Montana offers a variety of dining and lodging options, galleries, shops and summer events. The Home of Champions Rodeo is held on Fourth of July weekend, Beartooth Bike Rally and Iron Horse Rodeo in mid-July, Mountain Man Rendezvous in late July and the Festival of Nations in early August.

The Beartooth Highway was deemed "the most beautiful drive in America" by the late Charles Kuralt. It snakes across the rugged Beartooth Mountains from Red Lodge to Cooke City, Montana, and is the highest elevation highway in the Northern Rockies. Along the way, visitors are treated to sweeping views and plentiful outdoor recreation opportunities.

Charges & Cancellations

Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This cancellation processing fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation processing fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).

Fees

The first vehicle is included in the basic fee; A second will be charged an extra $10 fee and collected at the campground, if your site will accomodate it.

Firewood bundles can be purchased from the campground host.

Weather, month by month

MonthTypical highTypical lowColdest nightHottest dayYears with a night below 32°F
January28°12°-30°38°11 of 11
February25°8°-25°43°11 of 11
March35°17°0°55°11 of 11
April41°22°-3°57°11 of 11
May50°32°17°64°11 of 11
June62°42°30°86°2 of 11
July73°50°38°89°0 of 11
August72°49°41°83°0 of 11
September63°41°11°76°4 of 11
October49°29°10°67°10 of 10
November37°19°-16°56°10 of 10
December28°12°-9°40°10 of 10

Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.

Nearby campgrounds

All public campgrounds in Montana · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.