Bighorn Campground
Once work begins, the campground will be closed. Upgrades will include vault toilets, new campsites, fire rings, and picnic tables. Reconstruction work is funded by the Great American Outdoors Act. Located in the Rock Creek drainage, this campground is situated right on Rock Creek in an old growth Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir forest. This area is known for its blue ribbon trout stream and rugged canyon environment. The campground is open year-round, weather dependent. There are no amenities from October through April.
More like this: first-come in Montana · free in Montana · tent only in Montana
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | No fee. Limit 2 vehicles per site. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | May 9 |
| Forest | Lolo National Forest |
| Booking | No reservations are taken. |
| Fees | No fee. Limit 2 vehicles per site. |
| Rules | Bear Safety and Food Storage Requirements Information |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 46.3849° N, 113.6589° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx D1 3-Mile Bravo
18 mi from the campground · 400 acres
- PrescribedRx D3 Johnson Wildfire Landing
32 mi from the campground · 30 acres
- PrescribedRx D3 Tepee
32 mi from the campground · 50 acres
- PrescribedRx D2 Little Jumper 7
35 mi from the campground · 28 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | Hamilton RV Sales Of Montana ↗ | 25 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Cabela's ↗ | 36 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Bighorn Campground, New Mexico
Worth a stop
- 11.4 miPalisade Mountain Nrt Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 1.6 miSandstone Ridge ↗14.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.6 miWyman Gulch ↗7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.8 miBig Spring Creek ↗7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.7 miHogback Ridge ↗11 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.7 miWyman-Williams Ridge ↗5.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.9 miDome Shaped Mountain ↗6.1 mi trail
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Welcome Creek Wilderness begins about 11.7 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 11.7 miWelcome Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 28,248 acres
- 15 miBitterroot National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,664,512 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Rock Creek Guard Station (24Gn165)Building · Philipsburg · 3.8 mi
Guidebooks for Montana
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Bighorn Campground?
No. Bighorn Campground is first-come, first-served. No reservations are taken. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Bighorn Campground?
Nothing. Bighorn Campground is listed as free. No fee.
Source: Forest Service
Is Bighorn Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season May 9.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Bighorn Campground?
Bighorn Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Bighorn Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Stony Creek Campground (3.5 mi, first-come), Siria Campground (3.9 mi, first-come), and Bitterroot Flat Campground (8.1 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby