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Emerald Lake Campground
FSU.S. Forest Service — Montana · Custer Gallatin National Forest
| Agency | FSU.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Area | Custer Gallatin National Forest |
| Location | Montana · Custer Gallatin National Forest · 45.25340, -109.70029 · Map |
| Sites | Not reported — the federal listing names no individual sites for this campground |
| Getting a site | First-come, first-served only — this campground takes no reservations. |
| Hookups | Not reported in the federal data |
| Max RV length | Not reported in the federal data |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Not reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground. |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-02-25.
From the official listing
Emerald Lake is in the West Rosebud drainage and is nestled in the trees between Emerald Lake and West Rosebud Lake. West Rosebud Trail (#19), Pine Grove Campground , Emerald Lake Fishing Access and West Rosebud Lake Fishing Access are also located in the West Rosebud drainage.
There is a 16 day maximum stay in all Beartooth Ranger District campgrounds. For a road map of the area, with locations of campgrounds, please see our Motor Vehicle Use Map ( MVUM ).
Camp sites: 32 Host : No Max trailer length : 30ft Accessible Facilities: Toilet Trash Pickup: Centrally located Bear resistant dumpster 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 that the campground is very popular and may fill up on weekends & holidays during the summer months. You should arrive early to ensure there is a space available for the night. There is a 16 day stay limit. Some sites are equipped with bear resistant food storage lockers.
This campground is maintained from approximately Memorial Day to Labor Day (call district office for exact season dates). During these dates there is a fee to stay in the campground (listed below).
Outside of the peak summer dates (Memorial Day- Labor Day), the campground remains ungated, free, and available for use (no services, not maintained, roads are not plowed). If you visit outside the peak fee season, please bring your own water, toilet paper (outhouse will remain open), and please pack out your trash.
Directions from district office: Drive north on US Hwy 212 for 2.1 miles and turn left (west) onto MT-78. Drive 30.0 miles and turn left (west) onto MT-419 towards Fishtail. Drive 4.4 miles (through Fishtail) and turn left (south) onto West Rosebud Rd. Drive 6.5 miles and turn left (south) to continue on West Rosebud Rd. Drive 12.4 miles to the campground, on the left.
Information: Beartooth Ranger District 6811 US Hwy 212 Red Lodge, MT 59068 (406) 446-2103
Nearest federal campgrounds
3 mi straight-line · MontanaFSU.S. Forest ServiceEast Rosebud Campground
5 mi straight-line · MontanaFSU.S. Forest ServiceJimmy Joe Campground
5 mi straight-line · MontanaFSU.S. Forest ServiceWoodbine Campground
12 mi straight-line · NYE MontanaFSU.S. Forest ServiceCascade
13 mi straight-line · RED LODGE Montana
Trip Card — Emerald Lake Campground
Montana · Custer Gallatin National Forest
| Agency | FS · U.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Location | Montana · Custer Gallatin National Forest |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | First-come only |
| Hookups | Not reported |
| Max RV | Not reported |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | Not reported |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/239847 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.