Camping Near Cooke City Mt

Colter Campground Near Cooke City Mt

Named for the famous mountain man John Colter, this campground is right on the Beartooth Scenic Byway and is just a few miles from Cooke City, MT and Yellowstone National Park. This is prime grizzly bear country so the Colter Campground only allows camping in hard-sided campers No Tents Allowed! The campground is in the Gardiner District of the Custer Gallatin National Forest.

What Was Colters Run

John Colter became famous for his legendary escape from the Blackfeet Indians in 1809. This escape took place near the location of the current Missouri Headwaters State Park. The sign below is erected at the state park and tells the remarkable story of Colters Run.

Colter stayed in the west and in 1812 he joined with the Volunteer Mounted Rangers to fight in the War of 1812. John Colter died of illness later that year and has left behind a remarkable legacy.

For more information about the Colter Campground, including specific opening and closing dates contact:Custer Gallatin National ForestP.O. Box 5 805 Scott St.Gardiner, MT 59030

Protect The Dispersed Sites

You should know and always follow the principles of Leave No Trace when you are camping. This is especially true when using an undeveloped dispersed site.

Whenever possible camp in dispersed sites that show obvious signs of previous use. Use existing fire rings and dont create any new disturbances to the natural environment. There is no trash removal from dispersed sites so always pack out your trash.

Its important to remember that this is prime grizzly bear habitat and take precautions to properly store your food. The developed campgrounds all have bear proof food storage lockers but there are none in these undeveloped areas. Keep your food inside a vehicle unless you are cooking or eating.

Many of these sites are used nightly throughout the summer. Take special care to manage your human waste. Its always best to pack it out. If this is not possible always bury your poop and pack out the toilet paper. Never leave toilet paper exposed on the ground. Learn more from the folks at REI. There are vault toilets at the main camping area south of the highway.

You May Like: Al’s Hideaway Primitive Camping

We Rent Fun How May We Help You Enjoy Your Vacation

Get off the highway and into the woods, leaving the crowds behind.

This is an awesome fishermans hide out. We have several camp travel trailers that are available for rent. This unit can be rented at the camp site of your choice in the National Forest or Yellowstone National Park. Camp site arrangements and delivery are the responsibility of the renter. These trailers cannot be rented in its storage location in Cooke City.

These units are located 5 miles from the YNP North East entrance and 15 miles to the Lamar Valley and stationed in Cooke City, MT, inside of the Gallatin National Forest.

These are a bunk house travel trailers that will sleep up to 4 people. AC, floor heat, 50 gallons of fresh water, surround sound, dvd and shiny new. These are a four season camper so no worries about freezing in the fall months.

We can deliver and set up this camper for your convenience, we charge according to location. We do allow it to be rented out of our facility in Cooke City Montana, with your tow vehicle. If you want to tow this unit you will need a late model 3/4 ton, power unit with on board trailer brake controller. You will need to call and voice verify your power unit and insurance information. 406-838-2231

Dry camping is available at no cost to the renter in the Custer Gallatin National Forest, improved camp sites in the Custer Gallatin National Forest and the Yellowstone Park must be reserved by the renter call the store for suggested sites, details and availability.

Pilot Creek Dispersed Camping

The Shoshone National Forest allows dispersed camping along a mile or so of the Beartooth Highway in the Pilot Creek area. There is one large area on the south side of US 212 about 9 miles east of Cooke City which has multiple undeveloped campsites as well as a vault toilet. There are a number of additional potential campsites on both sides of the road for a mile or so. While most of these sites have user-built fire rings, there are no other amenities.

Don’t Miss: Banff National Park Rv Camping

Camping Near You Find A Free Campsite

Whether you just need to know where to camp nearby or you want to plan a free camping road trip, we’ve got you covered. You can simply use your smart phone’s GPS to find camping near you or even use our trip planner to plan your route from coast to coast.

Our community provides the best free camping information available. Free campgrounds can be hard to find. Freecampsites.net makes it easy. We give you a simple, map based search engine to find free and cheap camping areas. Community reviews and ratings provide you with up to date information and help you select the best camp site for your next camping trip.

This is a platform for sharing campgrounds and camp sites you have discovered. We are community driven, and while we will be adding many free camping spots, we hope that you will add some of your favorite camping places as well. By sharing camping information freely, we can all spend less time researching campgrounds, spend less money, and more time camping. If everyone contributes a few campsites, we’ll all have more places to go camping.

Please come back and let us know what you find!

We are not actively seeking Wal-Marts, truckstops or other parking lots and will not be adding very many of these. There are enough Wal-Mart and truck stop directories out there already. However, if a member of the community finds one of these locations to be useful for overnight RV parking and creates an entry, we may approve the listing.

Please come back and let us know what you find!

Places To Stay In Montana: Cooke City Getaways

Cooke City, Montana is a quiet destination in Park County, with a lot to offer. Firstly, it borders magnificent Yellowstone National Park, which has some of the most dramatic landscapes and stunning wilderness in the world. Secondly, it is located along Beartooth Highway, which is a scenic route that is often considered one of the most beautiful drives in the U.S. Thirdly, it has unparalleled opportunities for snowmobiling, skiing, ice fishing, and more, which makes it a fantastic area for snow-lovers looking for places to stay in Montana. Outdoor activities here are not just limited to the winter, howeverthose who book Cooke City getaways during the summer and fall can try their hand at boating, hiking, horseback riding, and off-roading.

Last minute booking. The accommodations indicated with the icononly allow same-day reservations within strict time limits. Please bear this in mind to guarantee your reservation.

There are no more accommodations that exactly fit your criteria. You can try broadening your search by changing some of the filters or move and zoom-out into the map to show more results.

You May Like: Tent Camping Near Estes Park

Gardiner Montana Offers Some Wonderful Campsites And At Soda Butte Campground The Visitor Will Find All The Amenities Desired As Well As Easy Access To Yellowstone National Park

• Soda Butte Campground is open July 1 through September 7, depending on the weather.
• This campground is managed on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Fee is $9.00 per day per site with $3.00 charge for each additional vehicle per site.
• Soda Butte Campground is close to Yellowstone National Park and the Beartooth Highway.

Overview Soda Butte Campground is located in the Gallatin National Forest in southwest Montana just outside Yellowstone National Park. The campground encompasses an area of 10 acres.Location Soda Butte Campground is located 1 mile east of Cooke City on US Highway 212. Reservations This campground does not use a reservation system, it is managed on a first-come, first-served basis. Come early to be sure that you will have a spot, especially in the summer. Specifics

• Season or Open Dates July 1 – September 7 – weather dependant
• Elevation 7500 feet
• Fee – $9.00/daily
• Number and Type of Sites 21 camping sites

Amenities

Who Was John Colter

John Colter was a famous mountain man who is believed to be the first white person to pass through Yellowstone Park and the surrounding area. In fact, Colters accounts of the boiling hot springs and descriptions of water shooting high into the sky were considered tall tales at the time.

Colter first came to Montana as a member of the Lewis & Clark expedition in 1805. After reaching the Pacific Ocean the expedition returned to report on their findings. However, Colter had fallen in love with the wild country and he stayed behind as a beaver trapper.

You May Like: Kw1 Water Filter Camping World

Camping Part Three: Cooke City Montana

Here at the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce, were frequently asked for information about the Beartooth Highway–a National Scenic Byways All-American Road located on the Montana/Wyoming border near Cooke City, Montana.

And its no wonder – the Beartooth Highway is one of the most achingly scenic mountain passes in the country. Its also home to an array of recreational opportunities including hiking, horse pack trips, backcountry skiing, and of course, camping.

If youre among those adventurous campers seeking information on planning a camping trip along the Beartooth Highway, youve come to the right place. Part 3 of our Camping Series is all about camping near Cooke City, Chief Joseph Highway, and the Beartooth Pass.

Shoshone National Forest Campgrounds on the Beartooth PassThese campgrounds are perched amidst the rugged terrain, alpine lakes, and craggy rocks that characterize the stunning Beartooth Pass. Elevation: 9,000 feet.

Beartooth Lake Campground is located on Highway 212, about 20 miles east of Cooke City. Island Lake Campground is located five miles further east. Both hosted campgrounds offer 21 units, access to water, and are open July 1 to September 14. The site fee for both campgrounds is $15.00

For more information on these sites, call 527-6921.

Chief Joseph Highway Campgrounds

For more information on these sites, call 527-6921.

These campgrounds require hard-sided camp equipment due to bear activity.For more information on these campgrounds, call 848-7375.

What Is Dispersed Camping

Dispersed camping is the use of federal lands for camping where there are no developed campsites. Dispersed camping sites have no water, tables, toilets, food storage boxes or fire rings. With a few exceptions all national forest lands along the Beartooth Highway are open to dispersed camping. However, in most places there are no suitable sites along the road.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this site are affiliate links which means that, if you choose to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I greatly appreciate your support!

In the Pilot Creek area there are a number of short side roads that lead to suitable dispersed camping sites. These are all available on a first-come first-served basis and are free of charge. Most suitable sites have evidence of previous use and there is usually a user built fire ring. Some well-used sites have further improvements like log stumps to sit on. Any improvements are camper created and the Forest Service doesnt maintain these sites in any way.

Also Check: Rv Leaders And Camping Outlet

Cooke City Montana Snowmobiling Fly Fishing Yellowstone Park

• Near the Beartooth Mountains, Cooke City offers prime recreational activities
• In the summer, visitors can fish, hike, and camp in a National Forest or Yellowstone Park
• Go on one of the various scenic drives in the area, or view wildlife in the Lamar Valley
• Guided horseback riding trips are available
• Cooke City snowmobiling is world-renowned
• Guides offer hunt trips for elk, deer, bears, moose and sheep

Located in the heart of the Beartooth Mountains, Cooke City is a recreationalists paradise. Here and the surrounding area offer amazing fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. Cooke City is also famous for its closeness to amazing scenic drives in the summer and world-class snowmobiling in the winter.

Summer

FishingWith its abundance of sparkling mountain lakes and streams, Cooke City and the surrounding area offer some of the most amazing trout fishing in the state. Trout in this area range from brookies and rainbow to native cutthroat. Possible fishing areas include Beartooth Lake, Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone River, Soda Butte Creek, Slough Creek, the Lamar River, and various alpine lakes. Pay special attention to carrying the appropriate fishing licenseCooke City is near the boarders of Montana, Wyoming, and Yellowstone National Park, all of which require a separate license.

Winter