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Yellow Mule Cabin was built in 1920 and was once used as a ranger station. This cabin is unique because it was constructed according to the builder's preference instead of being built with a standard Forest Service design. It is eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. The cabin provides a rustic, backcountry retreat year-round. A few basic amenities are provided, so guests should be prepared to bring most of the supplies and gear they need for an enjoyable experience. This remote cabin is not accessible by car. Summer access is via off-road vehicle, motorcycle or hiking for 8 miles. Winter access is by snowmobile for 14 miles.
This cabin is popular with snowmobilers because of its proximity to the Buck Creek Ridge Trail, which offers a 1,000 foot elevation gain. Hikers, mountain bikers and off-road vehicle riders enjoy this trail in the summer. Snowmobilers and cross-country skiers can also access McAtee Basin. Hunting in designated areas is another popular pastime.
The cabin sits between a meadow and a stand of mixed evergreens at an elevation of approximately 8,650 feet. Wildflowers bloom across the meadow in the summer and a thick layer of pristine snow blankets the area in winter. The jagged, glaciated peaks of the Madison Mountain Range stretch out into the distance. Wildlife in this area includes grizzly bear, gray wolf, mountain lion, deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep and the Canada lynx. Birders may see a wide variety of bird species.
$55 / night
Traveler
We stayed for one night and camped in a tent. The river access was nice, as were the campsites. However, there were not many marked tent sites and there was dog poop everywhere. Other than that, it was very nice! They have 2 vault toilets.
Scout
Came in late in the rain…they had cabins available for not much more than a tent site. That was a blessing for us since we have been tent camping. Staff is very helpful and friendly!
Guide
Between the free coffee, breakfast, & hot spring access our stay was worth it. Tent sites were small, no privacy. I wish we would have had our RV. Not an ideal place to tent camp in my opinion. Near a busy (noisy) highway. Clean facilities. Staff were all friendly & helpful.
Legend
This review is specific to tent camping which I don’t think is the focus of KOA locations.
For the good, the facilities we super clean and there were personal shower/bathroom rooms for use. The shower was great after a week of car camping.
The camp store had the basic and was convenient.
The location was very close to West Yellowstone and the west part of the park.
However, the tent camping left something to be desired. Our loop was around the back of the campground, with the basics of a fire ring and picnic table, it there was no tent pad and the ground was generally pretty sloped.
The tent sites overall were sort of fit into extra spaces and had little privacy.
Guide
This is your average family campground with RV park and grass closely packed tent campground (like literally right on top of one another split by single pine trees). Very much like a KOA (pool, shop, WiFi, showers, laundry etc.) but half the price ($26/night for basic tent site). No fire pits, there is a picnic table for each site.
Ranger
If your willing to walk 3 mi from Big Sky, you can tent in Beehive Basin and greatly improve your overnight experience. This is back country camping, no reservation or permit required. Be very bear aware, hang all food and toiletries. Use CLEAN camping here. Filter your water, plenty available. We had a crazy 50 mph wind and quick storm blow through, flattening our tent, but then it left and we had a beautiful night. Likely can't stay here until July due to snow pack. Bear prints in mud and snow.
Scout
We just returned from a stay at Madison Arm resort on Hebgen and I was very impressed. They had showers, a small store, fish cleaning station and plenty of bear proof garbages. They offer cabin, RV rentals, Rv and tent sites. We enjoyed our stay and the view from our tent site.
TravelerAs mentioned in other reviews, trains were loud. There was also a child messing with our tent early in the morning and being super noisy. Tent camping is crowded and unorganized, but neighbors were super respectful. Something to mention with tent camping: you will NOT get a view like the plug in sites do. Nice showers and bathrooms. There is a pool that isn’t super crowded. Price was about $40/night which was high for a site with no view, and no privacy, but I understand the appeal of the pool and showers!
Guide
$14/night tent camping. Spent two nights. Thursday night was great. Plenty of site for everybody to spread out. Friday night was much more crowded. Sites are all nice and flat and level for tent camping. Vault toilets are very clean. There is a playground if you have kids. Decent hiking, unfortunately the caves themselves were closed during our stay. Easy access from I-90. Would stay again mid-week or off season, but during prime time I'd prefer a bit more seclusion.
Guide
I don’t like to leave bad reviews where I have not stayed. But, any review of a place should start with customer service.
I emailed this KOA requesting a tent say. I half-hour later I received an email back saying there were two sites but that I needed to call to reserve. I called promptly spoke to a person named Judy, her demeanor was less than encouraging. I relayed to her what the email had said and she barked at me and said we don’t send emails concerning availability. I said but I have one right here saying that you do have two tent sites. She said maybe we do have two tent sites but we don’t take emails, then she promptly slam the phone down and hung up on me. I emailed back and explain the situation at which point I was told sorry all tent sites are now unavailable.
Times like this I wonder, was it me? But I also realize that the year 2020, social distancing, pandemic, is also causing a rush on outdoor tent sites. There is stress all around. But, common courtesy should always prevail when you are customer facing.
Traveler
Plenty of space here with a beautiful lake view. Mountains on all sides of you. Very little tree coverage. Some rodent holes surrounding the tent site. Tent faired well and wind was not a serious issue by any means. There was fire ring already made at the tent site we chose. Few others camping in RVs but plenty of space/privacy between them. 45 minutes from Old Faithful and Yellowstone
Guide
A private campground just north of Yellowstone national park which offers for hook ups for larger rakes as well as tent sites along the Yellowstone River. A little pricey but very convenient. We took a tent site for $30 a night for our VW van. I can’t post was nice enough to allow us to recharge our house battery in the morning while we took showers.
Scout
Tent sites quiet, large, grassy, good views
Scout$60 for a late check in tent site. Pass
Guide
Nice roads and huge beautiful sites. Being a small female solo tent camping I felt safe. There are lots of elk and rabbits.
RangerThis was a safe easy stop along the way from Yellowstone to Glacier National Park. $35. for a tent site with water hookup. Nothing fancy — a wooded parking lot with fire rings and picnic tables. Better than most RV lots. All spaces are pull through (huge relief traveling with a tiny cargo trailer that’s impossible to back up. No privacy. Hookups, laundry, bathrooms. The tent sites without hookups were cuter. The gate closes at 10. Check-in ends at 9p.m. Surrounded by farmland.
GuideNice camping close to Bozeman - which is home to Montana State and a couple good microbreweries. Really liked this campground - but didn’t get enough sleep. Tent camping is nice here, some trees for wind cover and flat ground with picnic benches. But the trains roll through the entire evening, with horns sounding their arrival. Made it pretty tough to sleep. Nice amenities with a pool, showers, water, etc.
GuideGreat little KOA. Awesome views of the Absaroka range. Book early. Tent sites were great. Nice dog park, small though.
Scout
Lots of available sites. Not far from Yellowstone. Room for large tents. We had an 8 x 15 tent. Camp host was extremely helpful. You can buy wood from host. No showers. Toilets are vault toilets but extremely clean. Nice place to stay for $15 a night.
RangerOK this place is awesome. Great hotsprings. Greatly needed after hiking in the area. Clean rv and tent camping. Supurb staff. Lots of things to do for the kids. Free breakfast. Lots and lots to do in the town.
Guide
Madison is a nice campground. Our tent site was kind of on an incline. Only downside is its fairly busy, however I don’t think there is really anyway around this in Yellowstone.
RangerTenting inside Yellowstone was a real treat. Facilities all top notch. Wished our tent site had more tree coverage with the heat, hopefully the conservation efforts including keeping hammock ropes off direct contact help to keep the trees healthy. Hope to return again in the future!
Traveler
The location and views were great and it’s hard to beat free. That said, this is not an ideal place for tent camping. The wind was brutal all night, one of the RVs ran their generator constantly so it was loud, and there were a lot of large rocks in the ground. It’s a great location in general, but just not ideal for a tent.
TravelerJust outside the west entrance of Yellowstone, the campsite was pretty awesome with the walk in reservation we made. We wanted to snag a campsite inside the park but it was full. We came across a few tent sites just around West Yellowstone, with rain in the forecast and a long tiring drive, we drove past KOA and made a quick u-turn. They had tent availability, free showers and laundry facilities that we desperately needed.
The site itself was close to restrooms and was a small but cute layout, however, the dirt was too soft for gusty winds, we were right under a street lamp and we were so close to the entrance that we could hear all conversations and cars that drove in and out of the park.
The showers and restrooms were nice and clean. A little pricy for what we would usually pay for a no hookup tent site but at the end it gave us exactly what we needed.
Scout
Spent 3 nights on 2 separate occasions here. Booked 2 nights at a tent site on the front end of the trip. Plenty of space in the tent area, nice grassy space and some trees for shade. Had a picnic table which was really nice to have a place to get up off the ground. Couldn't drink the tap water due to E. Coli issues. The bathrooms were decent but the showers could have been better. Kind of pricey and didn't realize it when I booked it. $82 for 2 nights at a camp site for 2 people. There was a grocery store across the way which was nice. On the back end of the trip we had to book an RV site since there were no tent sites. It was nice having access to power close by. The women's bathroom was out of toilet paper while I was there. Kind of a bummer.
TravelerThis campground has a boat dock, cabins, boats for rent, paddle boards for rent, kayaks for rent, water/power sites, full hook up sites, rv and tent sites, bathrooms, showers, store, firepits, firewood for sale, friendly people, boat trailer parking, sells fishing licenses, atv trails nearby.
TravelerVery clean campground, lots of amenities. Showers were very clean. Tent sites are a little bit cramped but it was okay. Felt safe from both people and animals.
I think the other KOA close by has more food options, but i liked this one just fine.
Nestled in the stunning landscapes of Montana, tent camping near Big Sky offers a perfect blend of adventure and tranquility, with a variety of campgrounds that cater to outdoor enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Big Sky, MT is Travertine Road Dispersed - Yellowstone with a 4.5-star rating from 31 reviews.
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