Custer Gallatin National Forest — Rock Creek Road Upper Corridor Dispersed Camp
Rock Creek Road (FR 71) runs south out of Red Lodge into the Custer Gallatin National Forest, following the creek up toward the base of the Beartooth Highway. Pull-offs and flat spots line the drainage for several miles — timbered sites under lodgepole and spruce with the creek running close enough to hear all night. It’s the logical camp if you’re staging a Beartooth run from the Red Lodge side, and it fills up on summer weekends with a mix of campers, anglers, and climbers headed to the East Rosebud area.
Access is easy on a gravel forest road, passable for most rigs with clearance. No facilities, no fee, no reservation — classic USFS dispersed. Fires follow Custer Gallatin restrictions, which tighten fast by August. Check current fire conditions at the Red Lodge Ranger District before you go. Snow can close upper sections before Memorial Day and after mid-October.
Stage your Beartooth run in the Rock Creek canyon.
Place Details
| Type | Dispersed Camping |
|---|---|
| Elevation (ft) | 6200 ft |
| Nearest town | Red Lodge, MT |
| Miles from pavement | 4.5 mi |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 2WD |
| Access road surface | Gravel |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Cost (USD/night, 0 = free) | Free |
| Reservation required | No |
| Stay limit (nights) | 16 nights |
| Best season | May-October |
| Land manager | USFS |
| Permit required | No |
| Coordinates | Open directions |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |