Jimmy Joe Campground

Pros:

• No fee!
• Sites are well spaced, so you aren't right on top of your neighbors. We were at the end of the line, so we were well secluded from the rest.
• Vault toilets were as clean as can be expected for as late in the season as it was when we camped. Either was a reasonable walking distance from any site.
• Our spot was one of the bigger ones, with fire pit, (2) picnic tables, (2) tent pads and plenty of parking for an RV and vehicles.
• Short walk through the trees to the river. Can hear the water from the campsite!

Con:

• Traffic noise from the East Rosebud Road was noticeable, but not terrible.

We tried out this campground so we could check out East Rosebud Lake. The campground was great. Large sites, spaced out, right on the creek. We only ended up staying one night though because East Rosebud Lake is pretty much a private lake to the people leasing land from the Forest Service. There is only one public boat launch and no shore access. It’s a 3.5 mile hike to a different lake that you park near East Rosebud Lake to access the trail. It’s a waste to go to East Rosebud Lake unless you are going to hike to the other lake. We wanted to paddle board so we left and went to Emerald Lake instead. Jimmy Joe Campground is a great campground though and it’s Free which is really nice and surprising.

This campground is so clean!!! The sites are spaced apart very nicely, they’re all along a beautiful river with views of the incredible nearby mountains, near the unbelievable East Rosebud Lake with its hiking trails, and has clean, clean vault toilets. I highly recommend it to others. It’s a slow gravel road getting there, but we’ll worth it.