Gallatin National Forest Snowbank Group Campground

Crowds chased us out of Yellowstone. Stopped at Chico Springs (which is great), and we found spot 10 as first come, first served. Creek was the perfect backdrop to a quite night.

Snowbank is an excellent off-the-grid semi-developed and hosted FS campground.  Spacious and private sites better for small RVs, trailers, and all tents.  Clean vault toilets, bear-proof storage boxes, and plenty of community water spigots.  Decent picnic tables and fire rings at each site.  No hookups to my knowledge.  The campground is on recreation.gov and sites are reservable.  Access to a great trail and FS road from campground, other hiking nearby.  Also, a 20 minute drive to Chico Hot Springs Resort and Day Spa (food, bar, soaking).  Expect to see wildlife, and this is grizzly country so proper food storage and best practices are required by law.  No cell service.  Excellent spot before or after visiting Yellowstone.

We loved it here. Not too far away from Yellowstone Park. This campground has a rocky creek running along side of it which is crystal clear and has a small waterfall created by a down tree. The sounds of the creek are great. We stayed in site #8 which had room for two vehicles a large area AND another very private area surrounded by trees with a path to get to the creek. The creek has a “beach” area made of rocks and was cold and relaxing. The road getting in here was mostly paved with about 3-4 miles of a well kept dirt road. RVs will make it here easily. Bathrooms, running water, trash/recycling, and bear bins. I highly recommend this place.

10 miles up Mill Creek Rd., well maintained, book in advance because it fills up. A creek runs through the grounds. Stars are amazing at night!

Drive towards Yellowstone and the head east. The road is nice and meanders through ranches and homes, even after turning to dirt. We saw deer as well as an eagle taking flight next to us. Way at the end of the road is Snowbank. The road through camp is narrow and two-way so exercise caution. We were lucky to find a site unreserved for one night. 

Sites have different feels to them. Ours stretches- car then teardrop then picnic table then fire pit and finally extra space for tents. We’re right by the creek and it’s loud enough so we don’t hear that generator down the way. Water is available and there are a number of vault toilets throughout. We got set up just before the thunderstorms. It rained hard and then the hail started. 

A trailhead is just outside the entrance. Tall grass was everywhere and we never saw anyone parked there. We’re assuming that it doesn’t get used as much. 

This is active bear territory and there are ample warnings. This is a beautiful, remote campground that we are enjoying.

nice road getting to, once there the road at campground in a tad uneven and skinny but doable , wouldn’t take a big motorhome, but good for under 30 ft. has 1 vault potty. no showers, elec. water or sewer, it’s a pack in, pack out! very beautiful, right on a creek!