USDA Forest Service · Montana

Parkside

USDA Forest Service · Montana, United States

Open on the map Drive there Reserve Official page Directions
Sites
28
Hookups
28 no hookups
Season
May 21 to September 30
Max RV length
50 ft
Group sites
Yes
Drinking water
Yes
Restrooms
Yes
Pets
Yes
Elevation
7,244 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
HELLROARING CREEK (NFSR 2004) · native material · high clearance vehicles
Lake
Custer Gallatin National Forest
Nearest town
RED LODGE
Address
FOREST ROAD 2421A, RED LODGE, MT, 59068
Phone
406-587-9054
Activities
Biking, Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking

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

About

Overview

Parkside Campground is located 12 miles south of Red Lodge, Montana, just off the scenic Beartooth Highway.
The area is a popular location for fishing, hiking and scenic driving. Greenough Lake less than a mile away. Glacier Lake, Hellroaring and Lake Fork Trailheads are nearby.

Recreation

The Main Fork of Rock Creek and nearby 5-acre Greenough Lake offer rainbow trout fishing. The lake is also open to canoeing and kayaking.

The Beartooth Wilderness can be accessed via the Hellroaring and Lake Fork Trailheads, both nearby. Visitors also enjoy mountain biking and hiking on the Parkside National Recreation Trail. Hellroaring Road is open to off-road vehicles.

Facilities

The campground offers two group sites and several single-family sites, three of which are accessible. Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided, as are accessible vault toilets and drinking water. Trash can be deposited at the Greenough Lake Campground.

Natural Features

The campground sits in the shadow of the Beartooth Range on the banks of Rock Creek. A forest of aspen and pine covers the area. A variety of wildlife, including grizzly bear, deer and elk, make their home in the surrounding area.

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 the 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.

Yellowstone National Park's Northeast Entrance is 55 miles from the campground via the Beartooth Highway. The park offers unparalleled wildlife viewing opportunities, as well as breathtaking scenery and unique geological features.

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.

Two group sites are available:
Parkside A: maximum 50 people
Parkside B: maximum 25 people

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°-24°41°11 of 11
February27°10°-20°46°11 of 11
March35°18°2°54°11 of 11
April39°22°-2°55°11 of 11
May48°33°14°61°11 of 11
June60°42°30°83°3 of 11
July73°50°38°88°0 of 11
August71°49°41°82°0 of 11
September63°42°14°75°2 of 11
October49°29°9°65°9 of 10
November38°19°-14°56°10 of 10
December28°13°-5°42°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.