Looking for a place to camp near Big Timber with your horse? Camping with horses is a beautiful way to experience nature. With our help, you'll find the best Montana equestrian campsites from scenic to easily accessible.
A campground in the east crazy mountains on the__Yellowstone District.__Camp sites: 12Maps: Halfmoon Campground Map (527 KB)Accessible Facilities:Toilet6 SitesTrash Pickup: NoFirewood: NoNo 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.Information:Livingston Office5242 Hwy 89.Livingston, MT 59047(406) 222-1892
West Bridger Cabin is open-year round for the enjoyment of outdoor enthusiasts. Guests have access to a variety of recreational activities in a beautiful, peaceful mountain setting. The cabin in generally accessible by car, but spring and winter road conditions may limit access. Snow conditions can preclude wheeled vehicles for up to the last mile to the cabin in the winter. The cabin features an electric cooking stove and lights, but other amenities are limited. Guests will need to bring MOST of their own gear and supplies.
Hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trails and roads heading west from the cabin ascend into the foothills of the Beartooth Mountains and dip into the Deer Creek valley. The 8-mile Derby Mountain Trail starts at the cabin and takes hikers around the east side of Derby Mountain, ending at Arch Rock. Casual anglers may catch a fish in West Bridger Creek. In-season, big game hunting in designated areas is also a popular pastime.
West Bridger Cabin is nestled in a valley along West Bridger Creek. It sits at an altitude of 4,847 feet in a clearing surrounded by the Beartooth Mountains, some of which are densely forested with evergreens, while others have sparse vegetation. This area is home to moose, mule deer, elk and grizzly bear. Birders may spot bald eagles, owls, Stellar's jays, western meadowlarks and mountain bluebirds.
$75 / night
Meyers Creek Cabin is located within the Meyers Creek Work Center in Custer National Forest at an altitude of 5,646 feet. The cabin offers opportunities to enjoy relaxation and recreation in beautiful surroundings. It is reservable from May through November. The cabin is accessible by vehicle. 4-wheel drive is recommended during wet weather.
Trails crisscross the area, including the Meyers Creek and Lodgepole Creek Trails. This area offers recreation for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. Horse facilities are available at the cabin. Anglers can fish for rainbow and brown trout in nearby creeks.
The cabin is situated in the western end of the Beartooth Mountains and surrounded by pastures, which are used for grazing cattle. Roses, irises, rhubarb and lilacs grow around the dwelling. The surrounding slopes are covered in pine, aspen and sagebrush, with wildflowers blooming in the summer. This area supports a large bear population ( bear safety ). Bighorn sheep, elk, deer and a variety of bird species also inhabit the mountainous terrain in the Beartooth Ranger District.
The Stillwater River Trailhead, with access to the Absaroka/Beartooth Wilderness, is 16 miles south of the cabin.
$90 / night
A campground in the west boulder area on the Yellowstone District. Open all year. Access is limited during the fall and winter due to snow. Access road not suitable for vehicles longer than 20'. 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.
$12 / night
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
Welcome to our campground! We have a variety of options that should suit just about anyone. We are near Yellowstone National Park as well as Bozeman, MT which offers all types of recreational opportunities e.g. hiking, fishing, climbing, skiing, cycling and running trails.
VanGoBoon is the perfect "Pull-in for the Night" as well as week-long stays! Most of our sites are SELF-CONTAINED. We have 2 sites that have electric and water hookups. (20,30,50amp)
On site we have horseshoes, frisbee golf, and corn toss. We mostly offer dry campsites for overnight stays for vans. Most sites are on concrete slabs so they are level and the property has grass areas with trees as well.
FYI: Great site if you like trains! An important part of Montana’s commerce is transportation by rail so there will be some highway and train noise.
Private spots between trees but near freeway for easy access. Our 2 horses have been a favorite with young campers along with the open yet private campsites! We look forward to welcoming you!
Showers are for cabin rentals only.
$25 - $195 / night
ScoutBeautiful spot by the Yellowstone River. Train whistles woke us up four times.
ScoutNice and quiet, lots of room
Scout
This place seems to be nicer than nearby campsites, but stinky toilets with no toilet paper, outdoor shower with cold water for $54 for a small camper was quite disappointing. Trains and highway noises are extremely loud as others mentioned
TravelerThere’s a spot down by the water that someone took with a tent who we let by us. We took a spot just above before you drive down to the water. I wasn’t sure if I could turn around my 20’ travel trailer down by the water. Very buggy.
GuideRough camp. No amenities. Not large enough for motor home. But ok for pull camper. First come first serve. Looking for that free spot. Between the hotels and hassle.
Guide
Stayed one night late March. The road in wasn’t terrible, a little rutted past the gate up to the cabin, but easy enough to manage. It was quite cold when we arrived, and we started a fire pretty quickly. The cabin has an electric stove, small fridge and freezer, and a couple small lamps and even a toaster and coffee maker. The cabin is quite drafty and we struggled to keep it warm. We pinned a sheet up in the doorway to keep the heat contained in the sleeping area, and that helped considerably.
Guide
2 different amounts written on the board so I had no idea what the overnight charge was.
GuideClean and flat pull up spots. If you’re ok with road noise and don’t want the “window knock” on your Campervan then this is a option for the night.
TravelerWe came in late and it was already dark. That may have contributed to the confusion in where to go when we first got there, but once we were there it was fine. Not a lot of privacy between spots but to pull in, set up camp and leave the next day it was worth it.
We LOVED visiting with the horses and they were very friendly and did not even mind when our dogs barked at them.
Biggest negative is that you can hear all the highway noise and trucks like to jake-break in this area. On the other side of the highway there were railroad tracks. The train blew its horn through this area ‘frequently and when it stopped you could hear all the train cars smashing together. This woke me up a couple times throughout the night but otherwise fine.
There is a pit toilet, with hand sanitizer.
We camped in a tent with our 2 dogs and young toddler.
TravelerThe hosts were very friendly and passionate about the up keep of their land. They were very flexible with check in and check out times and are pet friendly. Would definitely consider staying here again next time we visit the Bozeman area.
TravelerEnded up here on a winter site that had electric but no water or bathroom facilities (I knew this). Site was plowed and I had plenty of room for my pickup with GFC camper to fit. Site was easy to find and despite all the snow was plowed for me. There are only two site that are available before April 1 so this was a convenient place to stay right near Bozeman for a night. Cost about $50. Could have stayed in a Walmart, but prefer to only put the rooftop tent up in proper campsites so this worked out well for me.
TravelerThis is a 4wd road so don’t try to drag a trailer in here but it is a lovely campground with abundant hiking.
Legend
Pack it in Pack it out
FCFS
Open all year
Sites: 10 Fees: $12.00 $5.00 for additional vehicle LIMIT: 16 day One bear box, picnic table on some sites, fire ring. The gravel road in is very long and the last several miles the road narrows and it is rather bumpy. Nice size trailhead just as you turn into the campground. The pit toilet is right at the entrance and the toilet was very clean. The campground has been bush hogged and the sites are mowed so to speak. Some sites had amenities and some didn't. I would not make the trip unless I am bringing my horses for the trail. Some sites had full sun, and some sites shade. The backdrop of the mountains is just beautiful.
Directions: 16 miles south of Big Timber, MT on US 298, 6.5 miles SW on County Road 30, 8 miles SW on West Boulder Road. Access is limited due to snow. Bring your supplies with you since it is so far back into the camp.
Pack it in, Pack it out,
LNT BTYFI
Travel safe
GuideWe actually didn’t get to stay here because it was closed due to fires but got to drive all the way to the gate. The drive in is amazing up a valley into a beautiful valley. I’m sure it would be a cool place to stay
GuideBeautiful area with amazing views. The camp sites looked well kept and the bathrooms were decent. We were just passing through so only stayed one night but we will definitely be back. The road to get to the campground was slick with snow and we needed to put Chains on our promaster van. A little bumpy bit nothing too crazy! You have to go through one gate that has a private property sign next to it, but that property is off the main road. Keep going up the road and you will find the loop of campsites.
Guide
The cabin was great. Beds were comfortable, had all dishware needed plus cleaning supplies. If you have horses bring long hose. The hydrant is located about 115 away, no water tanks. It is located at the start of a trail. You will have a small amount of traffic
Ranger
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.
RangerDecent location at the start of the trailhead right next to a creek but the sites aren’t close enough to see the water, just hear it. Showed up at about 4pm on a Friday with more than half of the sites still open but they did fill up by around 7pm. Road in is gravel for about 16 miles with the last 4 having vehicle crawl. If you go more than 10 miles an hour in this section you will probably pop a tire and should definitely have 4x4 and high clearance.
ScoutWell separated, timbered sites with miles of hiking available. Don't miss Big Timber falls! Black bear and Moose are frequent visitors.
GuideWe 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.
Scouti go here every year so beautiful
GuideThis is one of the best camping cabins for equestrians that I found so far in Montana. Getting from the main road into the cabin can be a bit tricky for vehicles over 30 feet. This cabin has plenty of room to sleep 6. There are Corrals for horses and pasture. And the trails into the forest service are endless in a couple different directions. There is also a vault toilet for day travelers. The cabin has electricity and running water a fire ring and it's also close to a creek. The only down holes are mosquitoes and you cannot overnight camp only rent the cabin so if you're planning a trip you need to plan and Reserve this cabin in advance as it goes really fast every year.
GuideThis is one of my favorite places to camp with horses. There is a 40 acre pasture fenced to turn horses in with a creek running through it. There is also a nice little Corral if you have any horse that doesn't get along with other animals or one that you can't catch very easily. There are several places to ride. It's a bit of a tight squeeze to get a big horse trailer in there I would not recommend anything much over 30 feet. If you go a few miles up the road you can go to the trailhead that allows you to go on up to Deer Creek cabin. We rent the two cabins often park at the lower cabin and ride our horses up to the Deer Creek cabin and stay . you cannot drive to the Deer Creek cabin itself only to the trailhead
GuideAbsolutely breathtaking views with a long, beautiful dirt road in to the campsite. The campground is rural but perfectly well equipped with vault toilets (which needed tending to when we were there TBH), rock fire rings and picnic tables. We were looking forward to exploring this gorgeous area, but Mother Nature had other plans for us. We were able to easily find a private site and set up camp and have a peaceful evening under the stars, looking forward to our hike in the morning. We went to sleep all happy and cozy. We woke up to the craziest wind storm around 1am!!! Our tent took quite a beating, we are estimating that winds were above 50mph!!! Needless to say, we were exhausted in the morning and packed up promptly and promised ourselves we would return!
ScoutThere is a bathroom, no water. Lots of space between campsites. $5 per campsite. Fire pit area. A pretty swampy area but so beautiful at the base of the mountain with the Twin Lakes trailhead right across from the campground.
Scoutwe 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.
TravelerI 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.
Horse camping in Montana offers a unique opportunity to explore the stunning landscapes while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and hit the trails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Big Timber, MT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Big Timber, MT is Halfmoon Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Big Timber, MT?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Big Timber, MT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
