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What's the most underrated Montana camping? Hiking in! Whether you stay in a tent or sleep outside in a sleeping bag, hiking-in camping is an adventure that everyone should try at some point. Check out some of the best hike-in campgrounds in Montana.

Montana

The Best Hike-In Camping in Montana

Looking for the best hike-in campgrounds near Custer Gallatin National Forest? Pitch your tent and build a campfire after admiring the scenery on your hike for an unforgettable evening under the stars. Find the best information on walk-in camping in Montana, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your camping experience.

Custer Gallatin National Forest

The Best Hike-In Camping Near Custer Gallatin National Forest, Montana

## Overview

The original Big Creek Cabin was built in 1907 and it still stands on this site. The current cabin, a former guard station, was completed in 1925 and sits right next to the original.  
  
Big Creek Cabin is the largest cabin in the Yellowstone District, a 28-by-40 log structure with five rooms and two porches. It offers rustic accommodations with limited amenities. Guests will need to bring much of their own gear and supplies.  
  
The cabin is accessible by vehicle when there's no snow, however, four-wheel drive is strongly recommended. In the winter, skis or snowshoes are required to cover the half-mile to the cabin from the plowed road. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety.

## Recreation

A trailhead is located near the cabin that leads to three different trails for hikers and equestrians. One of these trails heads into the Gallatin Range.  
  
Good trout fishing is available in Big Creek. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are popular winter pastimes.

## Facilities

The cabin is furnished with tables, chairs and enough beds with mattresses to accommodate 11 people (most are bunk beds). A propane lantern, propane two-burner cookstove, wood cook stove and wood   
heat stove are also provided. FIREWOOD IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM JUNE 1ST TO SEPTEMBER 30TH. PLEASE BRING FIREWOOD OR GATHER FROM FOREST DURING SUMMER.  
DO NOT BURN PROVIDED FIREWOOD FOR OUTDOOR FIRES, EVER, AS IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO REPLACE. Firewood is available during winter months as long as supplies last. An axe and a splitting maul should be available. A mop and bucket are provided for cleaning the cabin.   
  
A corral is located across from the cabin, with room for six stock animals. A campfire ring and outhouse with vault toilet are just outside.   
  
Water and electricity are not available. Guests will need to bring their own water supply. Propane fuel for the lantern is not provided, so it may be necessary to   
bring extra propane or battery-operated lanterns or flashlights. Garbage bags are needed to pack out trash.   
  
For a comfortable stay, guests should bring a propane canister for the lantern and stove, flashlight, bedding, cookware, dishes, utensils, newspaper, garbage bags, matches, toilet paper and first aid kit. Guests are expected to pack out all trash and clean the   
cabin and the stock corral (if used) before leaving.

## Natural Features

Big Creek Cabin is located in an area known as Paradise Valley, where the peaks of the Gallatin Range fracture the western sky and the Absarokas rise to the east.  
  
The cabin sits in a flat clearing surrounded by spruce and fir trees at an elevation of 5,800 feet. Big Creek flows about 50 feet from the back porch. Bears, elk, deer and moose are frequently seen in the vicinity.

Big Creek Cabin

Red Cliff Campground is located in the scenic Gallatin Canyon, on the Bozeman Ranger District of the Gallatin National Forest, in Montana. Bozeman is 46 miles north of the campground and West Yellowstone is 45 miles south. The campground is adjacent to the Gallatin River and Highway 191. The surrounding area offers many outdoor recreational opportunities, including fishing, rafting, hiking and viewing local wildlife. Recreation Great opportunities for hiking, fishing, scenic driving and wildlife viewing are available around the campground. Anglers cast for rainbow, brown, brook and cutthroat trout, whitefish and Arctic grayling on the Gallatin River. Rafting and kayaking are popular activities as well. The Elkhorn Creek Trail, for hiking and horseback riding, begins at the south end of the campground. Facilities The campground offers single-family campsites, with and without electric hookups. Several sites are also accessible. A day-use group picnic area is available on-site as well, and can accommodate up to 60 people. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Roads and parking spurs within the campground are gravel. Natural Features The campground sits next to the Gallatin River, at an elevation of 6,200 feet. Most campsites are situated among scattered pine and fir trees. Some sites are located in open meadows further from the river. A variety of wildlife makes its home in this scenic canyon. Visitors can often glimpse bald eagles, bighorn sheep, moose, elk, mountain goats, deer and coyotes. Black and grizzly bears also live in the canyon. Nearby Attractions The west entrance to Yellowstone National Park is located 45 miles south of the campground, in the town of West Yellowstone. Visitors enjoy day trips to the park for unparalleled wildlife viewing, beautiful scenery and unique geologic features. The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in the town of West Yellowstone is a popular attraction. It showcases live grizzly bears, gray wolves and various birds of prey, and has a variety of exhibits and educational programs. ADA Access: N

Red Cliff Campground

## Overview

Wapiti Cabin is a primitive, rustic, log structure open year-round for recreational enjoyment. It provides access to several trails for summer hiking and biking, and winter skiing and snowmobiling. The cabin can be accessed by vehicle in warmer weather, but snow conditions may require a six mile trek on skis, snowshoes, or by snowmobile.   
  
Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and they must bring several of their own amenities.

## Recreation

The junction of Taylor Fork Road and Wapiti Creek offers several trailheads leading into the Cabin Creek Wildlife Management Area.   
Mountain bikers will find several route options in the Wapiti Loops in Taylor Fork, including a 14-mile route that begins at the cabin.   
  
For winter sports enthusiasts, the Big Sky Snowmobile Trail is within 2 miles of the cabin, and it offers some of Montana's best backcountry snowmobiling. The area around Wapiti Creek also offers good terrain for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.   
The cabin is open to stock, and there is a corral available for horses. A hitching rail surrounds the cabin for stock use.   
  
Please keep in mind that fall hunting season brings big game hunters to this area.

## Facilities

This is a primitive cabin. It can sleep up to four people, with a maximum group size of six people for overnight use. There is a seven night maximum stay per group. A wood stove is available for heat, and an old-fashioned wood cook stove is also available. Basic ammeneties such as an axe, shovel, bucket and table with chairs are also provided. Four cots are available.  
  
An outhouse is located outside and adjacent to the cabin. Firewood is supplied for **indoor use only**. Renters must gather their own wood for outdoor campfires. A corral is available for stock. Limited cookware, dishware, and utensils are provided. It is recommended that campers bring their own for use.  
  
No electricity or water is available. Guests must bring their own drinking water, flashlights and lanterns, bedding, matches, extra toilet paper, garbage bags, dish soap, and other necessities. The cabin will need to be cleaned and all trash removed prior to departure.

## Natural Features

Wapiti Cabin is situated inbetween the Madison Mountain Range and the Gallatin Mountain Range at an elevation of 7,000 feet. Beyond the meadow, guests at the cabin can see dense stands of evergreens and rugged mountain ridges. Wapiti Creek flows nearby.   
  
The area around Wapiti Cabin is grizzly bear habitat, but it's also home to deer, elk, moose, and other wildlife. 

## Nearby Attractions

Wapitit Cabin is within the vacinity of West Yellowstone, MT, home of the West Gate to Yellowstone National Park. 

It is also close to Hebgen and Earthquake lakes as well as the Earthquake Lake Visitor Center.

Wapiti Cabin

## Overview

Windy Pass Cabin was built in 1934. It provides a rustic mountain retreat with few amenities, so guests need to bring most of their own supplies and gear to make their experience comfortable and enjoyable. The cabin is available from June 16th through October 14th each year. It is accessible via a 2.5-mile hike or horseback ride up the Windy Pass Trail with an elevation gain of 1,300 feet.

## Recreation

The Windy Pass Trail passes by the cabin and takes hikers and equestrians along the ridge and down through the Gallatin Range. Several other trails crisscross the area, including the Gallatin Crest Trail. Hunting in designated areas is also a popular activity.

## Facilities

The cabin sleeps four people with a set of bunk beds with mattresses downstairs and two beds in the loft. A wood-burning stove provides heat. A table with chairs, cookware and utensils are available. A horse corral and outhouse with vault toilet are located outside. Drinking water, electricity and firewood are not provided. Guests needs to bring their own water supply. Trash bags are needed for packing out garbage, and guests are expected to clean the cabin before leaving. A cook stove is not provided. Visitors should bring items such as bedding, flashlights or lanterns, matches and extra toilet paper.

## Natural Features

Windy Pass Cabin is located near the Gallatin Crest at approximately 8,900 feet in the Gallatin Mountains. A small stream flows just below it. High alpine meadows dotted with evergreens surround the cabin and fill with colorful wildflowers in July. A short walk to the top of the Gallatin Crest offers views of the distant snow-dusted peaks of the Absarokas and the Yellowstone River to the east and the Madison Range to the west. Grizzly bear, gray wolf, mountain lion, deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep and the Canada lynx are some of the wildlife that inhabit this area. Birders may see a wide variety of bird species.

Windy Pass Cabin

Cinnamon Lodge & Adventures

## Overview

Swan Creek Campground is located in the scenic Gallatin Canyon, on the Bozeman Ranger District of the Gallatin National Forest, in southwestern Montana. It is 31 miles south of Bozeman.   
  
The surrounding area offers many outdoor recreational opportunities, including fishing, rafting, hiking and viewing local wildlife.

## Recreation

Great opportunities for hiking, fishing, scenic driving and wildlife viewing are available in the area surrounding the campground. Anglers cast for rainbow, brown, brook and cutthroat trout, whitefish and Arctic grayling on the Gallatin River. Rafting and kayaking are popular activities as well.  
  
Many trails can be found in Gallatin Canyon. The Swan Creek Trail begins within the campground. Golden Trout Lakes Trail begins up nearby Portal Creek Road, five miles south of the campground.

## Facilities

The campground offers single-family campsites. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided. Roads within the campground are paved, but parking spurs are gravel. Firewood is available at Greek Creek Campground for $6.00 per bundle.

## Natural Features

The campground sits next to scenic Swan Creek, a tributary of the Gallatin River. It is just off Highway 191, at an elevation of 5,800 feet. A beautiful, dense forest of spruce and fir trees covers the campground.  
  
A variety of wildlife makes its home in this scenic canyon. Visitors can often glimpse bald eagles, bighorn sheep, moose, elk, mountain goats, deer and coyotes. Black bears and grizzly bears also live in the canyon.

Swan Creek Campground

WF1 - Yellowstone NP back country campsite 

## Overview

Moose Creek Flat Campground is located in scenic Gallatin Canyon on the Bozeman Ranger District of the Gallatin National Forest, in Montana. It is 32 miles south of Bozeman.   
  
The surrounding area offers many outdoor recreational opportunities, including fishing, rafting, hiking and viewing local wildlife.

## Recreation

The surrounding area provides great opportunities for hiking, fishing, scenic driving and wildlife viewing. Anglers cast for rainbow, brown, brook and cutthroat trout, whitefish and Arctic grayling on the Gallatin River. An accessible fishing dock is located at the river's edge. Rafting and kayaking are popular activities as well.  
  
Many trails can be found in Gallatin Canyon. The Swan Creek Trail begins at nearby Swan Creek Campground. Golden Trout Lakes Trail begins about 15 minutes away up Portal Creek Road, three miles south of the campground.

## Facilities

This fully accessible campground offers several single-family campsites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. A **GROUP PICNIC AREA (SITE 14)** for **DAY USE ONLY** equipped with 3 standard size picnic tables is also available and can accommodate up to 50 people.   
  
Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided. Roads within the campground are paved, but the parking spurs are gravel.

## Natural Features

The campground sits next to the Gallatin River near Moose Creek, just off Highway 191, at an elevation of 5,700 feet. A forest of pine and fir trees covers the surrounding mountainsides, but the campground itself lies in an open meadow.  
  
A variety of wildlife makes its home in this scenic canyon. Visitors can often catch a glimpse of bald eagles, bighorn sheep, moose, elk, mountain goats, deer and coyotes. Black and grizzly bears also live in the canyon.

Moose Creek Flat Campground

Located about eight miles south of Mammoth Hot Springs on the road to Norris, Indian Creek Campground—elevation 7,300 feet (2225 m)—sits near the base of the Gallatin Mountains and offers breathtaking views of Electric Peak. The campground is away from the main road and provides a quieter experience than many other locations. ADA Access: One accessible campsite; accessible vault toilet.

Indian Creek Campground (yellowstone)

## Overview

Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout sits on the apex of Garnet Mountain, at an elevation of 8,245 feet. The lookout provides a panoramic view of the surrounding peaks and valleys. Highlights include the Spanish Peaks to the west, the Gallatin Range to the south, the Hyalite Ridge to the east and the Gallatin River Valley to the north.  
  
The structure can be accessed by hiking, horseback or mountain bike on the Garnet Mountain Lookout Trail in the summer. The 4.5-mile trail gains 2,800 feet along its path. Motorcycles and ATVs can access the lookout via the Rat Lake Trail from June 16 through December 1. During winter months, guests must plan on skiing, snowmobiling or snowshoeing up to 10 miles.  
  
Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

## Recreation

Hikers, mountain bikers and off-road vehicle riders can access the same trail used to get to the lookout. Snowy conditions offer abundant opportunities for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Big game hunting for bear, elk or moose is a popular autumn pastime around Garnet Mountain.

## Facilities

The lookout can sleep up to four people on provided bunk beds with mattresses. There is a wood stove for heat and propane stove for cooking. Other amenities include a table with chairs, basic cookware, dishes and utensils. A vault toilet is located outside the facility. Firewood is provided for the wood stove, and there is a campfire ring outside as well. Water and electricity are not available. Guests must bring their own water supply, as well as garbage bags for packing out trash. Items such as bedding, flashlights or lanterns, dish soap, extra toilet paper and first aid supplies are also not provided. 

## Natural Features

A fire lookout has existed on Garnet Mountain since 1930. The current structure was built in 1962. The lookout is available for reservation year-round. It is an excellent vantage point for watching sunrises and sunsets, or for gazing at the stars on a clear night. Grizzly bears are extremely common in this area, and gray wolves, mountain lions, deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep and the Canada lynx also make their home here. A wide variety of bird species can also be seen.

Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout

Billings is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Billings is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Discover great camping spots near Billings, reviewed by campers like you.

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Great Falls

The Best Camping Near Great Falls, Montana

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The best camping near Bozeman is located just 30 minutes away near Livingston, MT in the Absaroka Beartooth wilderness area. This USFS land has ample free campsites and is in the backyard of Yellowstone National Park. Of course, Yellowstone itself is one of the best places for hiking and camping. However, if you plan to visit the park, you’ll likely want to stay in one of the park’s campgrounds, not Bozeman. Bozeman, on its own, has much to offer with an abundance of places to park an RV or set up a tent. Bozeman is a can't-miss stop if you’re going to or from Yellowstone.

Bozeman

Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Bozeman, MT is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Bozeman, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.

The Best Camping in Bozeman, MT | Montana Campgrounds

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Butte-Silver Bow

The Best Camping Near Butte-Silver Bow, Montana

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The Best Camping in Helena, MT | Montana Campgrounds

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The Best Camping Near Kalispell, Montana

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Anaconda

The Best Camping Near Anaconda, Montana

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Havre

The Best Camping Near Havre, Montana

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The Best Camping Near Miles City, Montana

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The Best Camping Near Bitterroot National Forest, Montana

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Glacier National Park

The Best Camping Near Glacier National Park, Montana

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The Best Camping Near Flathead National Forest, Montana

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The Best Camping Near Lewis and Clark National Forest, Montana

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Gallatin National Forest

The Best Camping Near Gallatin National Forest, Montana

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Helena National Forest

The Best Camping Near Helena National Forest, Montana

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Lolo National Forest

The Best Camping Near Lolo National Forest, Montana

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THE BEST Hike-In CAMPING NEARCuster Gallatin National Forest, Montana

About Custer Gallatin National Forest Hike-In Camping

Top Custer Gallatin National Forest Hike-In Campgrounds