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Best Tent Camping near Cooke City, MT

804 Reviews

Primitive tent camping opportunities surround Cooke City, Montana, with dispersed sites available in Custer-Gallatin National Forest and designated backcountry areas in nearby Yellowstone National Park. Lady of the Lake Trail on Lulu Pass offers isolated tent sites scattered throughout hiking trails, while Pilot Creek Dispersed Camping provides multiple tent sites that back up to the Pilot Creek Trail with access to vault toilets.

Road conditions vary significantly at higher elevations, with several tent campgrounds accessible only via rough, rocky terrain requiring high-clearance vehicles. Many primitive tent setups have no drinking water, requiring campers to filter water from nearby creeks or bring their own supply. Bear activity is common throughout the region, with some sites featuring bear-proof food storage boxes while others require food hanging. Most dispersed tent campsites follow pack-in, pack-out principles with no trash service available. Fire restrictions may apply seasonally, especially during dry summer months.

The tent camping experience near Cooke City offers exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities, with visitors frequently spotting moose, bears, bison, and various bird species. Sites at Lady of the Lake provide notable isolation, with one camper describing how "camp sites are scattered throughout the trails and are not close to each other." Higher elevation tent sites can become extremely cold even in summer months, requiring proper gear regardless of season. Tent campers at Yellowstone backcountry sites benefit from designated cooking areas separate from sleeping zones for bear safety. Many locations offer creek or river access for water filtering and fishing opportunities. A visitor noted that "we were only planning to stay 1 night and ended up staying 3 nights. We couldn't get enough."

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Best Tent Sites Near Cooke City, Montana (55)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Cooke City, MT

48 Photos of 55 Cooke City Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Cooke City, MT

804 Reviews of 55 Cooke City Campgrounds

  • V
    Aug. 23, 2021

    Bridge Bay Campground — Yellowstone National Park

    Great Campsite On Lake Yellowstone

    Pretty much what you’d expect for a primitive drive-up tent only campsite. Fire ring and picnic table. There’s well maintained restrooms with household AC outlet, water fountain with faucets and dishwashing area. The only issue I saw was that my site and a few others had no bear box. I stored my food and cooking gear in my car, but if you’re backpacking or on a motorcycle or bike, you will definitely want to ask the rangers for a site with a bear box

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2021

    4D2 Yellowstone National Park Backcountry — Yellowstone National Park

    Relax at a Yellowstone Back Country Lake

    Back Country campsite 4D2 - Ice Lake East is a large flat camping area on the east shore of Ice Lake.  Only 1.5 miles from the Ice Lake trailhead makes this a great campsite for those just getting in to backpacking.  The hike to this campsite is flat the entire way.  Site has plenty of room for tents.  Site is limited to 8 individuals with a max stay of 3 nights.  Bear food storage is by using the provided food pole.  Cooking area has a large rock fire ring with large logs to sit on.  Nice views of the lake from camp.

  • N
    Aug. 1, 2021

    Pine Creek Campground

    Great access to pine creek falls and pine lake

    Quiet secluded sites near pine creek. Picnic tables, fire rings, and bear boxes at every site. Most sites have a level-ish spot to park. Multiple vault toilets, drinking water faucets, and garbage containers. No hookups and no dump station. Access road is narrow and winding but paved right up to the gate. Can walk to the pine creek trailhead. Sites in the 20’s back right up to pine creek as well.

  • E
    Jun. 26, 2021

    Bridge Bay Campground — Yellowstone National Park

    Beautiful

    Campground is in middle of park so it’s not a quick drive in but the drive is beautiful! The campground is easily laid out and clean and fire rings at each spot. Bear boxes located throughout campsite area you may have to share with your neighbor. Wake up and go for a walk and you will see a lot of wildlife in campgrounds. The staff at checkin is friendly. There is a marina if you want to rent a boat or look to launch your own. RV dump station and water refill are conventionally located at exit. The park has a 8pm-8am quiet hours (no generators) which is fine as it dropped to 40 at night so perfect for RV and camping.

  • TMB
    Oct. 13, 2020

    Gallatin National Forest Snowbank Group Campground

    Dry Camping in a Wilderness Setting

    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.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 25, 2021

    Eagle Creek Campground

    Remote camping feel just outside Gardiner and Yellowstone NP

    Eagle Creek campground is a nice small 16 site campground a few miles above Gardiner Montana and only a few minutes from the Yellowstone entrance.  Getting to the campground requires a steep 2 mile drive which the road recommends 4 wheel drive for to help with the incline and to prevent washboard.  Sites sit in a grassy open area with willows and other small trees and bushes around the edge.  Small creek runs along the campground.  Site #1 would the site to get it you can, out of view from the rest of camp and has two picnic tables.  The site has a vault toilet.  All sites have a metal fire ring and picnic table. Bear proof food lockers for food storage at most sites.  No water or trash service.  I filtered water from the creek.  Their is a horse Corral adjacent to campground.  Campground was nice and quiet at night with great view of the night sky.  No cell service.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 27, 2017

    Beartooth Lake

    Aptly named campground

    A well named campground as the grizzly bear activities in the campground precluded us actually spending the night in the campground in July of 2015. The ranger actually closed the campground down as we were pulling up, saying poor camper habits with food storage had attracted a sow and cub to the campground. He was going to set up a live trap and hopefully move them to a new home territory. That said, we were able to take a quick look at the campground before being shooed out. Nice, clean, about 20 sites not too close to each other with picnic tables, fire rings, food storage boxes, and vault toilets. We were able to hike around the outside edge of the campground (note the picture of the fresh bear print in the mud) to get to the Claw Lake Trail, an 8 miler that winds up over 9,000 feet past several beautiful named and unnamed lakes, including Claw Lake and Beauty Lake. Carry bear spray and mosquito spray!!

  • Dawn G.
    Feb. 1, 2020

    Pebble Creek Campground — Yellowstone National Park - CLOSED IN 2024

    Quiet & Peaceful!

    Pebble Creek was our favorite campground in Yellowstone National Park. A less crowded area of the park, probably why we loved it! 27 sites and all are available first come first serve- no reservations! The location and lack of reservations make this a quiet, peaceful campground. It sits at 6900 feet elevation. All sites have a table, fire ring, and food storage locker- it is bear country! There are vault toilets and seasonally there is potable drinking water. Our first night there we stayed in one of the"pull out sites" on the west side of the campground. It was ok, however they are not true pull outs, you just park on the side of the park road.... not bad considering the low use of this campground. On our second night we scored a spot on the east side right across from Pebble Creek.... it was perfect! We enjoyed drinks in our chairs at the creekside and a beautiful night listening to the peaceful sounds of the creek. It appears they have changed the site numbers since we visited to add some tent sites, so do not pay attention to the site markers in our old nostalgic photos!

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2021

    2S2 Yellowstone National Park Backcountry — Yellowstone National Park

    Wooded back country site in the beutiful Slough Creek Valley

    Back country site 2S2 sits on the southern edge of the Slough creek valley just south of the main trail.  A brief hike along the access trail gets you to the site.  This site sits in a group of trees which makes for a nice location out of the sun and with some wind protection, but the trade off is limited views of the valley, and the view of the valley are the best part about hiking this part of the park.  Site has an excellent water source right next to the tent and cooking areas.  The site has several good flat locations for your tents.  While the cook/food area has a bear pole for hanging your food you will not need to use it as the camp has a bear locker for food/gear storage.  The bear locker also gives you a great flat cooking area that doesn't require bending over your campstove.  Fires are allowed when not restricted.  Site is limited to 6 people for a max stay of 3 nights.  Don't be surprised to find bison very near your camp as they rang through the valley.

Guide to Cooke City

Tent camping near Cooke City, Montana offers a serene escape into nature, surrounded by stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife. With a variety of campgrounds to choose from, outdoor enthusiasts can find the perfect spot to pitch their tents.

Tips for tent camping near Cooke City

  • The M-K Campground provides a peaceful atmosphere with gravel sites nestled among pines and aspens, perfect for those looking to unwind.
  • At the 2S3 Slough Creek - Yellowstone NP back country campsite, be prepared for a hike-in experience that rewards you with soothing creek sounds and limited sites for a more secluded stay.
  • The Crazy Creek Campground is a great choice for those needing quick access to amenities, featuring clean restrooms and a nearby waterfall hike.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at Cooke City campgrounds for tent campers?

Amenities at Cooke City area campgrounds vary widely depending on the type of camping experience you seek. North Fork Campground in nearby Buffalo Bill State Park offers tent campers flush toilets and paid showers, with accessible vault toilets within walking distance. It's situated right on the Shoshone River with stunning mountain views. West Boulder Trailhead and Campground provides more basic amenities with picnic tables, fire rings, and a bear box for food storage at $12 per night. Most dispersed camping areas around Cooke City are primitive with no facilities, so campers need to be prepared to pack in all supplies and pack out all waste.

Where are the best tent camping sites near Cooke City, Montana?

Cooke City offers excellent tent camping options within a short drive. Pilot Creek Dispersed Camping provides free, primitive sites with the Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone River nearby. For a more developed experience, East Boulder Campground offers free tent sites with basic amenities like picnic tables and fire rings, including a prime spot alongside a creek. For backpackers, Yellowstone National Park's backcountry sites are accessible from Cooke City, with several sites along Ice Lake providing flat terrain ideal for tents. The Lady of the Lake Trail on Lulu Pass also offers beautiful walk-in tent camping opportunities with scenic mountain views.

When is the best season for tent camping in Cooke City?

The prime tent camping season near Cooke City runs from late June through early September. This mountain region experiences a short but beautiful summer season when snow has melted and temperatures are comfortable for tent camping. Travertine Road Dispersed camping areas offer stunning mountain views, especially at sunrise, during these peak months. While some campgrounds like 2S1 Yellowstone National Park Backcountry showcase lush meadows and abundant wildlife during summer, be aware that weather can change rapidly in this high-elevation area. Early season camping may encounter lingering snow, and by late September, temperatures often drop below freezing at night, making tent camping challenging without proper cold-weather gear.

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