Closed
— Closed for the season. The campground operates from approximately Memorial Day through Labor Day with full services. Outside the maintained season, the campground remains ungated and free for dispersed use, but no services are provided and roads are not plowed.
About
Located at 6,400 feet elevation in the West Rosebud drainage of Montana's Beartooth Mountains, Emerald Lake Campground offers 32 first-come, first-served campsites nestled in the trees between Emerald Lake and West Rosebud Lake. The 15-acre campground serves as a base for exploring the surrounding Custer Gallatin National Forest, with nearby access to West Rosebud Trail and multiple fishing access sites on both Emerald Lake and West Rosebud Lake.
The campground operates seasonally from Memorial Day through Labor Day with full services including hand-pumped drinking water, vault toilets, and trash pickup at a centrally located bear-resistant dumpster. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring, and some sites are equipped with bear-resistant food storage lockers. The facility can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 30 feet in length. Accessible facilities include an ADA-compliant vault toilet.
Outside the maintained season, the campground remains ungated and available for dispersed use at no charge, though no services are provided and roads are not plowed. The campground is located approximately 34 miles west of Red Lodge via Highways 78 and 419, or 19 miles south of Fishtail on West Rosebud Road. Due to its popularity, the campground often fills on summer weekends and holidays, so early arrival is recommended. A 16-day stay limit applies to all Beartooth Ranger District campgrounds.
Directions
From Red Lodge, drive north on US Highway 212 for 2.1 miles and turn left onto MT-78. Drive 30 miles and turn left onto MT-419 towards Fishtail. Drive 4.4 miles through Fishtail and turn left onto West Rosebud Road. Drive 6.5 miles and turn left to continue on West Rosebud Road. Drive 12.4 miles to the campground on the left.
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