Initial Creek Campground

Yellowstone

Yellowstone

About this campsite

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

Location

Initial Creek Campground•MT

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Common questions about Initial Creek Campground

Is Initial Creek Campground free to camp at?

Yes. Initial Creek Campground in MT is a free camp, so there is no nightly fee to stay. There is no booking system for it, so plan on first in, best dressed, especially on long weekends. We hold no facilities list for it, so go in self sufficient with your own water and a way to deal with rubbish.

Can you book Initial Creek Campground online?

We hold no online booking link for Initial Creek Campground, so it is not bookable through this page. For sites like this, turning up early in the day is the surest way to get a spot, particularly in peak season.

Where is Initial Creek Campground?

Initial Creek Campground sits in MT. The map on this page shows the exact spot, and the coordinates travel straight into your navigation app. Check road conditions before you set out if you are towing, since access tracks can change with the weather.

Nearby Campsites

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WOODBINE CAMPGROUND

Overview Woodbine Campground is remotely located adjacent to the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in southwestern Montana, about three hours from Yellowstone National Park via the scenic Beartooth Highway. Red Lodge, Montana is 57 miles east; Nye is 7 miles north. Recreation The Stillwater River and nearby streams and lakes offer great fishing opportunities for rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout. Hiking the Woodbine Falls Trail is a popular activity among campers. The 1.5-mile round-trip trail begins in the campground and follows Woodbine Creek before ending at an impressive cascade. The Stillwater Trail provides access to the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and is open to hiking and horseback riding. The trail reaches beautiful Sioux Charley Lake after 3 miles and continues on another 20+ miles into the wilderness. Facilities The campground offers single and group sites, some of which are accessible. Picnic tables and campfire rings with grills are provided, as are accessible vault toilets and drinking water. Natural Features Woodbine Campground is situated on the banks of the Stillwater River at an elevation of 5,300 feet. The campground is wooded and shady, with views of the surrounding snow-covered, 10,000 foot peaks. A variety of wildlife, including deer, elk and bear, can be found in the surrounding area, creating prime opportunities for wildlife viewing. Nearby Attractions The Absarokee-Beartooth Wilderness Area is adjacent, boasting 700 miles of trails and hundreds of alpine lakes. The wilderness borders Yellowstone National Park and is a part of the 20-million-acre Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The nearby town of Nye hosts Nye Goes Nuts annually in July. The popular event includes food, drinks, children's games and the chicken chase, a crowd favorite. The small community of Fishtail holds its annual Fishtail Family Fun Day at the end of June, with a pancake breakfast, vendor booths, a parade and live music. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (928) 537-8888.

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MEYERS CREEK CABIN

Overview Meyers Creek Cabin is located within the Meyers Creek Work Center in Custer National Forest at an altitude of 5,646 feet. The cabin offers opportunities to enjoy relaxation and recreation in beautiful surroundings. It is reservable from May through November. The cabin is accessible by vehicle. 4-wheel drive is recommended during wet weather. Recreation Trails crisscross the area, including the Meyers Creek and Lodgepole Creek Trails. This area offers recreation for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. Horse facilities are available at the cabin. Anglers can fish for rainbow and brown trout in nearby creeks. Facilities This cabin sleeps 6 people and comes equipped with 3 single mattresses and one double, an electric refrigerator, cook stove, heat, indoor toilet and shower, cookware, dishes and utensils. A campfire ring and picnic table are located outside. There is one corral, a watering tank and hitching rails for horses. Potable water is available, but guests may wish to bring a water filter or provide their own water if they are concerned about quality or taste. Items such as bedding, towels, washcloths and dish soap are not provided. Natural Features The cabin is situated in the western end of the Beartooth Mountains and surrounded by pastures, which are used for grazing cattle. Roses, irises, rhubarb and lilacs grow around the dwelling. The surrounding slopes are covered in pine, aspen and sagebrush, with wildflowers blooming in the summer. This area supports a large bear population ( bear safety ). Bighorn sheep, elk, deer and a variety of bird species also inhabit the mountainous terrain in the Beartooth Ranger District. Nearby Attractions The Stillwater River Trailhead, with access to the Absaroka/Beartooth Wilderness, is 16 miles south of the cabin.

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DEER CREEK CABIN (MT)

Overview The Todd Family began building Deer Creek Cabin in 1953 and finished it in 1960. They used it as a retreat while they grazed cattle on federal lands in the summer and hunted in the fall. The cabin has survived two forest fires. Gallatin National Forest assumed ownership of the cabin in 1993. The cabin is open year-round, but access is challenging. There are three routes to the cabin that can be used by equestrians, hikers and ATVs in the summer. During the winter, by snowshoes, skis and snowmobiles. Snowmobilers will need to park their trailers down low on the Iron Mountain Road, keeping the road passable for others. These trails will be marked as to uses. These 4- to 5-mile routes may ford creeks, with creek depths varying from 6 inches to several feet, in the spring. Some basic conveniences are provided, but guests will need to bring most of their own amenities to ensure a comfortable stay. Recreation There are numerous trails around the cabin that provide opportunities for exploration. Experienced cross-country skiers and snowshoers will find a challenging winter landscape. Anglers can fish for trout in the nearby creek. The area offers good big game and bird hunting opportunities in the fall. Facilities The single-room cabin has a wood cook stove and a wood heating stove. It can sleep up to four people on a provided double bed and set of bunk beds. There are no mattresses. Please bring your own sleeping pads. Other amenities include basic cooking supplies, a table with chairs, some cleaning gear, propane-fueled lantern,propane-fueled cookstove, axe, maul, bucket and shovel. Bring propane canisters for the lantern and stove. A campfire ring and outhouse with pit toilet are located outside the cabin. Livestock may be kept at the available adjacent corral and in partially fenced pasture. No water or electricity is provided. Guests must bring their own drinking water or treat water taken from the creek. Items such as battery-powered flashlights or lanterns, bedding, matches, extra toilet paper and dish soap are not provided. Natural Features This remote location provides habitat for a variety of wildlife, including bear, moose, antelope, elk and deer. Many species of birds also inhabit the area. Blackened trees from a 2006 forest fire still line the nearby hillsides.