USDA Forest Service · Montana
East Rosebud Campground
USDA Forest Service · Montana, United States
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 6,319 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
- EAST ROSEBUD CAMPGROUND (NFSR 2177B) · crushed aggregate or gravel · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Custer Gallatin National Forest
- Nearest town
- Alpine
- Address
- MT
- Activities
- <p> Horseback riding is allowed on the three trails in the East Rosebud drainage. The is limited parking for horse trailers at the Phantom Creek trailhead. There is no horse trailer parking at Spread Creek trailhead, but it is very close to the East Rosebud trailhead, which has ample parking. </p> <p> Because East Rosebud is a very popular trail for hikers in the summer. The terrain and the amount of hikers makes this drainage less horse-friendly than others, however, horses are allowed. Please be aware of our wilderness stock regulations (no grazing in this area, set-backs from water, size limits, etc).</p> , <p> Picnicking is allowed in vacant campsites. If visitors stay 30 minutes or less, the site is free. For longer day-use stays, the fee is half price the overnight fee. The overnight fee for East Rosebud Campground is $9 per site.</p> , <p> There are serveral options for day hiking near East Rosebud Campground. <a href="http://prdp2fs.ess.usda.gov/recarea/gallatin/recarea/?recid=61369">Spread Creek Trail</a> (# 13) leaves from the back of the campground and climbs to the East Rosebud and Red Lodge Creek Plateaus. <a href="http://prdp2fs.ess.usda.gov/recarea/gallatin/recarea/?recid=61377">East Rosebud Trail</a> (# 15), which is a short walk from the campground, is the most popular trail in the drainage and offers a beautiful hike. <a href="http://prdp2fs.ess.usda.gov/recarea/gallatin/recarea/?recid=61379">Phantom Creek Trail</a> (# 17) is a short distance from the campground and climbs to the Froze to Death Plateau.</p> , <p>East Rosebud Lake is surrounded on several sides by private property. While Montana law allows fishermen to be below the high water line, access to East Rosebud Lake isn't easy. There is no public access on the easily accessible portions of the lake. It is reccommended that fishermen consult a detailed map of the area or call the district office for information (406-446-2103).</p> <p>Information on East Rosebud Lake can be found in Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks' <a href="http://fwp.mt.gov/regions/r5/mountainlakes.html">Mountain Lakes Guide</a>, page 52.</p> , Camping
About
East Rosebud Campground is nestled in the trees, not far from East Rosebud Lake. East Rosebud is considered one of the more scenic drainages in the Beartooths and the campground is a short distance from the East Rosebud Trail (#15), Spread Creek Trail (#13), and Phantom Creek Trail (#17). Jimmy Joe Campground and Sand Dunes Picnic Ground also located in the East Rosebud drainage.
*Please be advised that much of the area directly around East Rosebud Lake is private property. Fishing or boat access to the lake is limited. Please call the district office for more information.
Camp sites: 14
Host: No
Max Trailer Length: 20ft
Accessible Facilities: None
Trash Pickup: Bear resistant trash container centrally located on site during peak season only.
Firewood: No
Reservations:
There are no reservations for this campground. This campground does not use a reservation system; it is managed on a first-come, first-served basis. Be aware that the campground is very popular and may fill up on weekends & holidays during the summer months. You should arrive early to ensure there is a space available for the night. There is a 16 day stay limit. Some sites in campground have bear resistant food storage lockers. Individual camp sites vary in size, but the max trailer length is 20ft.
This campground is maintained from approximately Memorial Day to Labor Day (call district office for exact season dates). During these dates there is a fee to stay in the campground (listed below).
Outside of the peak summer dates (Memorial Day- Labor Day), the campground is ungated, free, and available for use (no services, not maintained, roads are not plowed). If you visit outside the peak fee season, please bring your own water, toilet paper (outhouse will remain open), and please pack out your trash.
Directions from district office to East Rosebud Campground:
Drive north on US Hwy 212 for 2.1 miles. Turn left (west) onto MT-78 and drive 19.7 miles. Turn left (south) onto Roscoe Rd. Drive 2.3 miles, cross the bridge and turn right (south) onto East Rosebud Rd. Drive 10.5 miles to the campground, on your left.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31° | 17° | -19° | 44° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 31° | 15° | -16° | 49° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 39° | 22° | 5° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 44° | 27° | 3° | 59° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 53° | 36° | 20° | 65° | 5 of 11 |
| June | 64° | 45° | 34° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 77° | 55° | 42° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 75° | 54° | 46° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 67° | 45° | 18° | 80° | 2 of 11 |
| October | 52° | 33° | 15° | 71° | 9 of 10 |
| November | 41° | 24° | -9° | 61° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 33° | 18° | 0° | 47° | 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
- Jimmy Joe Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
- Emerald Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi
- Pine Grove Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi
- Cascade · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi · 30 sites
- Basin Montana Campground · USDA Forest Service · 12 mi · 30 sites
All public campgrounds in Montana · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.