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Established Camping

Emerald Lake Campground

6 Reviews

Emerald Lake Campground, near Custer Gallatin National Forest, is a fantastic destination for those looking to immerse themselves in nature. With its stunning lakes and surrounding wilderness, it’s a prime spot for fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

The campground offers a variety of sites, many nestled among the trees and close to a creek, providing a serene backdrop for your stay. Visitors have noted that the area is popular, especially on weekends, so arriving early is a smart move. As one camper shared, “We got to the campground on a Thursday, by Friday evening all the RV spots seemed to be taken.”

Facilities include basic toilets and hand pump water, keeping things simple and rustic. Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the area, and the lack of distractions like electric hookups or showers means you can truly disconnect and enjoy the great outdoors.

For those eager to explore, the nearby Mystic Lake trailhead offers excellent hiking opportunities, while the calm waters of Emerald Lake are perfect for a relaxing day on the water. Whether you’re fishing for trout or just soaking in the views, Emerald Lake Campground is a great choice for a memorable outdoor experience.

Description

US Forest Service

Custer National Forest

Emerald Lake is in the West Rosebud drainage and is nestled in the trees between Emerald Lake and West Rosebud Lake. West Rosebud Trail (#19), Pine Grove Campground, Emerald Lake Fishing Access and West Rosebud Lake Fishing Access are also located in the West Rosebud drainage.There is a 16 day maximum stay in all Beartooth Ranger District campgrounds. For a road map of the area, with locations of campgrounds, please see our Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM).Camp sites: 32Host: NoMax trailer length: 30ftAccessible Facilities: ToiletTrash Pickup: Centrally located Bear resistant dumpsterFirewood: No. Don't move firewood to other areas or bring in outside firewood. Prevent the spread of tree-killing insects by obtaining firewood near your destination and burning it there.Reservations:No Reservations: This campground does not use a reservation system; it is managed on a first-come, first-served basis. Be aware that the campground is very popular and may fill up on weekends & holidays during the summer months. You should arrive early to ensure there is a space available for the night. There is a 16 day stay limit. Some sites are equipped with bear resistant food storage lockers.This campground is maintained from approximately Memorial Day to Labor Day (call district office for exact season dates). During these dates there is a fee to stay in the campground (listed below).Outside of the peak summer dates (Memorial Day- Labor Day), the campground remains ungated, free, and available for use (no services, not maintained, roads are not plowed). If you visit outside the peak fee season, please bring your own water, toilet paper (outhouse will remain open), and please pack out your trash.Directions from district office:Drive north on US Hwy 212 for 2.1 miles and turn left (west) onto MT-78. Drive 30.0 miles and turn left (west) onto MT-419 towards Fishtail. Drive 4.4 miles (through Fishtail) and turn left (south) onto West Rosebud Rd. Drive 6.5 miles and turn left (south) to continue on West Rosebud Rd. Drive 12.4 miles to the campground, on the left.Information:Beartooth Ranger District6811 US Hwy 212Red Lodge, MT 59068(406) 446-2103

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Location

Emerald Lake Campground is located in Montana

Coordinates

45.253398 N
109.700292 W

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Detours Nearby

Limber Pine

1 hr 52 min away

Beartooth Scenic Byway Camping

3 hrs away

Drive Time

2 hrs 17 min from Billings
2 hrs 56 min from Bozeman
4 hrs 20 min from Helena
6 hrs 11 min from Idaho Falls

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Connectivity

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Verizon
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AT&T
No Coverage

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Tent Cabin
Equestrian

Features

For Campers

Trash
Drinking Water
Toilets

For Vehicles

Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

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Brodie B.

Guide

Reviewed Sep. 1, 2025

Nifty Campground

Spent 3 nights at spot #12 over Labor Day weekend. Sites were tidy and bathrooms were very clean with no flies or stench. I walked around looking at the various sites and only thought 2 or 3 spots might be worthy of a 5 star. If I return I will try to snag #20 or #13. There is no camp host so nefarious folks stroll through at off hours of the night or others feel entitled to run a generator all night. This is a Forest Service campground so it is definitely a government run joint that very little funds get earmarked for upgrades and signage. It’s not directly on the lake but about 300yds away and no views from majority of the sites of the lake. The Majestic Lake trailhead is about a mile further south and that was a fun excursion for the day. I accidentally left a new hammock at the spot so if you score this enjoy!

Site13

Month of VisitAugust

(4) View All

Callie B.

Ranger

Reviewed Jul. 31, 2021

Busy Site on the way to Mystic Lake

Lots of campsites most in the woods with only a few next to the creek between the two lakes. I got there on Saturday at 3 pm and there were only 2 spots open. With the final gone within 30 minutes. Bathroom are a little far from the sites and don’t smell great but most of the sites have campers or RVs with many people spending the night to hike up to mystic or kayak in emerald lake.

Site13

Month of VisitJuly

(6) View All

Danae P.

Guide

Reviewed Jun. 29, 2021

So Beautiful!!

We loved it here. It rained a few of the days, but it was nice to get out of the heat in town. We still got to try out our new paddle boards on the lake and it was such a nice place to try them out for the first time. The lake isn’t very deep so it’s great for paddle boards, kayaks and fishing. The campground was clean. The spots were really nice, not a lot of spots for RVs our size 28ft, but we found one. We got to the campground on a Thursday, by Friday evening all the RV spots seemed to be taken. It cleared out almost completely by Sunday.

Site2

Month of VisitJune

(19) View All

Mia

Scout

Reviewed Mar. 13, 2021

words dont describe the beauty

i go here every year so beautiful

Steven K.

Scout

Reviewed Aug. 1, 2018

lots of spots close to creek

we had a great time. situated between emerald lake and west rosebud lake with a creek going next to half the camp spots. toilets and hand pump water.

Rayne M.

Traveler

Reviewed Mar. 12, 2018

My Favorite campground by far.

I have visited this campground many times. The lakes around the campground are amazing for fishing and any other light water sports. I mostly fly fish and the streams feeding the lakes are great to fish. Fish of all types from whitefish to brown and rainbow trout. The campground is great and easy to camp in. I mostly tent camo and have yet to find a camp spot I didn't like. Great place for family camping and anyone else looking for great views and awesome fishing. Also an easy drive to the mystic lake trailhead.

Site#8

Month of VisitJuly