USDA Forest Service · Montana
Palisades Campground
USDA Forest Service · Montana, United States
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 6,339 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T weak · Verizon weak (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- PALISADES CAMPGROUND (NFSR 2010) · improved native material · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Custer Gallatin National Forest
- Address
- MT
- Activities
- <p> Mountain biking is allowed on the Willow Creek Trail and nearby Palisades Trail.</p> , <p> Picnicking is allowed in vacant campsites.</p> , Camping, Hiking
Season dates aren't confirmed for this campground yet - opening and closing dates haven't been verified. Check the operator's page or call ahead before you plan a trip.
Site map
The imagery of the campground. Press and hold the map to drop your own pins and notes; the operator publishes no site points here. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.
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About
Palisades Campground is a free campground, located at the end of Palisades Road #2010 near Red Lodge, just below Red Lodge Mountain Ski Resort and the palisades geological formation. The Willow Creek Trail (# 105) and the Palisades Trail (# 109) both leave from the western end of the campground.
Camp sites: 6
Max Trailer Length: 16ft
Host: No
Accessible Facilities:Vault toilets
Trash Pickup: No
Firewood: 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 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. There is a 16 day stay limit. Some sites equipped with bar resistant food storage lockers.
Directions from Beartooth Ranger District office:
Drive north on US Hwy 212 towards Red Lodge for 0.3 miles. Turn left (west) onto the West Fork Rd and drive 1.1 miles. Turn right onto Palisades Campground Rd (unpaved). Drive 1.5 miles to Palisades Campground.
*Please be advised that dogs are allowed on Willow Creek year-round, but the Palisades Trail (#109), which intersects with the Willow Creek Trail a short distance up the trail, has restrictions on dogs. Due to wintering moose habitat, dogs are not allowed on the Palisades Trail between Dec. 1- July 1, except for dogs used for legal hunting purposes.
Information:
Beartooth Ranger District
6811 US Hwy 212
Red Lodge, MT 59068
(406) 446-2103
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28° | 9° | -31° | 40° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 26° | 6° | -26° | 45° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 37° | 18° | 1° | 60° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 43° | 22° | -3° | 60° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 53° | 34° | 18° | 69° | 11 of 11 |
| June | 64° | 43° | 31° | 89° | 1 of 11 |
| July | 75° | 51° | 39° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 74° | 50° | 42° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 65° | 42° | 12° | 79° | 3 of 11 |
| October | 51° | 30° | 10° | 69° | 10 of 10 |
| November | 39° | 19° | -16° | 57° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 29° | 12° | -7° | 43° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Trails nearby
All 817 trails in Custer Gallatin National Forest
Trailheads the Park Service and the Forest Service map; each trail's page has its length, climbing and the Service's description.
Nearby campgrounds
- Basin Montana Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 30 sites
- Sheridan · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 9 sites
- Rattin Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 7 sites
- Cascade · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi · 30 sites
- Parkside · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi · 28 sites
All public campgrounds in Montana · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.