USDA Forest Service · Montana
Initial Creek Campground
USDA Forest Service · Montana, United States
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 6,211 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
- INITIAL CREEK CAMPGROUND (NFSR 2846B) · crushed aggregate or gravel · high clearance vehicles
- Lake
- Custer Gallatin National Forest
- Address
- MT
- Activities
- <p> Horseback riding is a popular way to see the West Fork Stillwater Trail (# 90), especially those wanting a longer trip. There is ample room for horse trailers at the trailhead, however the West Fork Stillwater Rd is bumpy and rocky.</p> , <p> Picnicking is allowed in Initial Creek Campground.</p> , Camping
About
This free campground is located on the West Fork Stillwater Road and is near the West Fork Stillwater Trail (#90). The campground is maintained from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but is opened the rest of the year without services. There is a 16 day stay limit for all Beartooth Ranger District campgrounds.
For a road map of the area, which shows campground locations, please see our Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM)
Camp sites: 6
Host: No
Max Trailer Length: 20 ft
Accessible Facilities: none
Trash Pickup:No
Firewood:No
Reservations
No Reservations. This campground does not use a reservation system, it is managed on a first-come, first-served basis. Be aware the campground may fill up on weekends & holidays during the summer months and you should arrive in the early afternoon 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.
Initial Creek Campground remains open year-round. However, in the off-season, the roads to the campground are not plowed and the campground is not maintained. There is no water and no services. Please pack out all of your trash.
Directions from district office:
Drive north on US Hwy 212 for 2.1 miles. Turn left (west) onto MT-78 and drive 30 miles. Turn left (west) onto MT-419 towards Fishtail. Drive through Nye and for a total of 25.9 miles. Immediately after the Stillwater Mine, turn right (west) onto the West Fork Stillwater Rd (FR 2846). Drive 7.8 miles to the trailhead.
*The West Fork Stillwater Rd is a rough road. High clearance vehicles are advised.
Information:
Beartooth Ranger District Office
6811 US Hwy 212
Red Lodge, MT 59068
(406) 446-2103
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31° | 16° | -19° | 44° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 31° | 16° | -19° | 47° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 39° | 21° | 5° | 57° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 43° | 28° | 1° | 62° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 52° | 35° | 21° | 68° | 9 of 11 |
| June | 65° | 44° | 32° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 78° | 53° | 42° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 76° | 52° | 45° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 67° | 45° | 19° | 80° | 2 of 11 |
| October | 51° | 33° | 15° | 71° | 9 of 10 |
| November | 42° | 25° | -10° | 61° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 32° | 17° | -3° | 46° | 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
- Woodbine Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 44 sites
- Meyers Creek Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 1 sites
- Chippy Park Campground · USDA Forest Service · 12 mi
- Aspen Campground · USDA Forest Service · 12 mi
- Big Beaver Campground · USDA Forest Service · 13 mi
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.