Initial Creek Campground
- Jul–Sep
- best months
Caution today
Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 9 h ago
Is Initial Creek Campground open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Beartooth Ranger District. It doesn't name Initial Creek Campground, so check the source for the area it covers (14 listed).
Krueger Pond Wild Horse and Burro Gather Closure Area
Agency closure covering Beartooth Ranger District · Order 01-11-82-27-01 · USFS · Beartooth Ranger District
NFSR #1700 South Plateau Road Closure
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
Pine Grove Campground Closure
Agency closure covering Beartooth Ranger District · Order 01-11-82-26-04 · USFS · Beartooth Ranger District
Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Summer Interim Travel Order and Map and Order # 01-11-00-26-02
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · Order 01-11-00-26-02 · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Winter Interim Travel Order and Map Order Number: #01-11-00-26-01
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Beartooth Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
- At 6,199 ft
- Beartooth Ranger DistrictCuster Gallatin National Forest
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
Local outfitters
- Spring Creek Campground28 mi away
- Tiny Town Campground38 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- West Fork StillwaterHiking0.8 mi
Initial CreekHikingPhoto: Jstuby at en.wikipedia, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)1.6 mi- Rabbit GulchHiking2.3 mi
Rabbit Gulch Trailhead SpurHikingPhoto: Jstuby at en.wikipedia, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)2.3 mi- Castle CreekHiking2.7 mi
Gorge BypassHikingPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)4.5 mi
Woodbine CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain4.6 mi- Meyers Creek CabinCamping6.1 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Woodbine CampgroundCamping · ~8 min drive
- Brd2846-005Camping · Next door
- Brd2846-006Camping · Next door
- Brd2846-007Camping · Next door
- Brd2846-008Camping · Next door
- Brd2846-009Camping · Next door
- Brd2846-010Camping · Next door
- Brd2846-003Camping · ~1 min drive
- Brd2846-001Camping · ~1 min drive
- Brd2846-002Camping · ~1 min drive
Best time to visit Initial Creek Campground
Best months: July–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
34° / 18°
8 wet
Feb
34° / 17°
9 wet
Mar
41° / 22°
11 wet
Apr
48° / 27°
12 wet
May
57° / 35°
14 wet
Jun
66° / 43°
14 wet
Jul
75° / 50°
12 wet
Aug
74° / 50°
11 wet
Sep
65° / 42°
10 wet
Oct
52° / 32°
10 wet
Nov
40° / 24°
9 wet
Dec
33° / 18°
9 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mystic Lake, MT, 15.5 mi away at 6,544 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Initial Creek Campground
Book on Recreation.gov