Camping Near Red Lodge - The Lost Longboarder

As we began making our way west through Montana, we decided to wander away from the I-80. So we headed towards the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness near the town of Red Lodge. This area had promising opportunities for both hiking and free camping near Red Lodge. We headed that direction with an open mind and no expectations, ready for adventure.

rugged mountain peaks near red lodge montana

Eventually, we passed through the cute small town of Red Lodge. It definitely had a mountain town feel and seemed like a popular biker stop. In Red Lodge you can find a variety of dining and lodging options, shops, and galleries. There are also gas stations and grocery stores for any supplies you’d need.

We continued through Red Lodge south to Rock Creek Road. This road has a lot of dispersed camp spots to choose from and the amenities, location and the setting made for an awesome experience!

camping near red lodge with rugged mountain view

Camping Info

Directions: From Red Lodge, follow US-212 W for 12 miles. Then turn right onto Rock Creek Road, or Forest Service Route 2412. After about one mile turn left onto Forest Service Route 421. The dispersed camp spots are all along this road.

Cost: Free

Ownership: Forest Service; 14 day limit

Miles From Town: It’s about 14 miles to Red Lodge.

Cell Service: No

Solar: Limited; the solar conditions vary depending on the spot that you choose but Rock Creek runs through a valley so hours of sunlight are limited.

Road Conditions: After passing the pay campground the roads are gravel/dirt. There are a lot of bumps and holes to watch out for but any vehicle should be able to make it.

Where to Get Water: We filled up our drinking water at a water refill station in Red Lodge. There is a hand-pumped drinking water at Greenbough Lake Campground. Otherwise, Rock Creek runs right by the camp spots.

Our Experience Camping Near Red Lodge

On our drive south from Red Lodge we entered a beautiful area of Custer Gallatin National Forest. It was a very scenic drive in to Rock Creek Road, with gorgeous towering mountains on either side as we entered the canyon. We turned onto Rock Creek Road passing a picnic area and several developed forest service campgrounds. The road crossed a bridge over Rock Creek and turned left onto the dirt/gravel forest road where the area of dispersed camp spots began. We slowly followed this road, avoiding the many rough patches and bumps.

Immediately, we began noticing the numerous dispersed spots along this road and continued on until we found the one that looked like home! The spots varied in size, some able to accommodate a car and some large enough for large RV’s and buses. Some of these dispersed spots were more private and near the creek. Some were in a group camp like setting. Many were in the woods and shaded while others were out in the open. Basically, there were so many spots to choose from with varying features to suit your camp style! You really couldn’t go wrong because all of the spots were situated in this beautiful valley surrounded by steep mountain walls that seemed to continue further and further.

While we were camping near Red Lodge, we chose a spot with “full” solar. But the direct sunlight was still limited because of the valley location. Our spot was near Rock Creek which was very pretty and peaceful. One of the highlights of our stay here was when we spotted a moose near the water. It was only the second moose we’d ever seen!

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There were a lot of other campers here taking advantage of this beautiful and free camping near Red Lodge. But there was plenty of room to accommodate everyone and the area was clean and respected. During the day there was some traffic as well as OHV use. If you continue further down this road there is another Forest Service Campground ($) that seemed more geared towards tents and small rigs.

While in the Area

And even further down the road is access to other roads, trails and recreational opportunities. For instance, Rock Creek was beautiful and flowing strong. The Main Fork is popular for fishing. Greenbough Lake is easily accessible and is used for fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Hellroaring Road is open to off road vehicles. Parkside National Recreation Trail is popular for hiking and mountain biking. And there are several nearby trails leading into the Beartooth Wilderness.

Also in the area, and visible from most of the camp spots, is the Beartooth Highway. The Beartooth Highway is a ridiculously beautiful and intensely scenic drive you don’t want to miss! It is the highest elevation highway in the northern Rockies. Along the way there are overlooks, access to hiking trails and amazing views! Take care though, it is very steep and curvy and the view distracting.

Staying near Rock Creek allows for access to an endless number of adventures in the area. The area is stunning and wild, an outdoor playground. A mere 55 miles away is the iconic Yellowstone National Park. And if you’re looking for civilization in the area, there’s the charming town of Red Lodge.

Camping near Red Lodge was another memorable dispersed camping experience. Having a river nearby, woods, tons recreational opportunities, being surrounded by mountain peaks, having access to vault toilets, and the stark beauty and peacefulness made for an overall amazing two week home.

Longboarding the Beartooth Highway

The Beartooth Highway is also an incredible place to ride a longboard! The curves and hills on this road make for an really fun and beautiful longboard run.

This is a very smooth road with little traffic, as well as amazing scenery in every direction. The road and elevation change provides miles and miles of opportunity for longboarding. Click here to read more about Longboarding the Beartooth Highway.

Thank You for Reading the Adventures of The Lost Longboarder!

If you’d like to see more awesome free camping experiences or adventures in the areas, click the links below:

Head over to our Lost Coast Longboarding shop to check out our latest lineup of hand painted boards! And pick up one of our shirts, designed and screen printed by us!