Stony Creek Campground
Stony Creek Campground is located in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in southwest Montana. The campground sits alongside the Rock Creek drainage, with views of the open valley and close access to the Blue Ribbon trout stream. The campground loops through a mix of conifers and cottonwoods, presenting a delightful show of color in the fall. Stony Creeks runs through the campground, offering an ideal setting for campers seeking relaxation and recreation. There are 10 first-come, first-served campsites. The camping fee is $15 per night.
Sites are first-come, first-served. Recreation.gov lists this campground for paying on site, and you may be able to pay with the Scan and Pay feature of its app.
More like this: first-come in Montana · tent only in Montana
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | There is a fee of $15.00 per night for this campground. |
Stony Creek Campground has 10 campsites suitable for tents, trailers, and RVs. Sites include picnic tables and fire rings. One water pump and two single vault restrooms are on site. The campground is accessible late May through mid-November, depending on weather conditions.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Forest | Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations can be made via www.recreation.gov |
| Fees | There is a fee of $15.00 per night for this campground. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Philipsburg, travel west on Rock Creek Road/County Road 348/Marshall Creek Road for 14 miles, then turn right onto Upper Rock Creek Road/County Road 102 and continue 4.7 miles. Turn left at Forest Road 241/ Stony Creek Road campground is about.1 miles ahead on the left.
| Coordinates | 46.3486° N, 113.6074° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- A regular passenger vehicle can travel a portion of the road, but a high clearance/4WD vehicle is highly recommended to reach the trailhead and the road will be muddy and difficult to navigate early i
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx D3 Cameron Gaps
33 mi from the campground · 1,100 acres
- PrescribedRx D4 Piquett Creek
45 mi from the campground · 2,210 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 ↗ | 26.8 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Cabela's ↗ | 39.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Stony Fork Creek Campground | A Peaceful Drone Tour Through Nature’s Beauty
Worth a stop
- 13.1 miPalisade Mountain Nrt Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 3.5 miDome Shaped Mountain ↗6.1 mi trail
- 4.2 miBasin Gulch Trail ↗7.2 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 14.8 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 14.8 miWelcome Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 28,248 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 · 7.3 mi
- Anderson Lumber CompanyBuilding · Philipsburg · 14.6 mi
- Philipsburg Grade SchoolBuilding · Philipsburg · 14.9 mi
Natural features
Stony campground is nestled in a luxurious mix of conifers, cottonwoods, wild rose bushes, and other deciduous plants. Stony Creek runs through the campground and Rock Creek flows nearby. Several campsites have a view of the delightful cliffside overlooking the campground along Stony Creek Road/FR 241. Along the northwest corner an open meadow gives way to a commanding view of the variegated rocky cliffsides across the valley. The Pintler Ranger District is known for its high, rugged, and beautiful mountain scenery, as well as the variety of wildlife that makes its home there, including elk, moose, deer, mountain lions, and bears (grizzly and black bears). Learn more about bear safety and forest-wide Food Storage Order.
Recreation
Stony Campground provides access to opportunities for hiking, backpacking, hunting, and fishing. Blue Ribbon trout stream Rock Creek is a prime destination for westslope cutthroat trout, brown trout, whitefish and the occasional rainbow. The fishable Stony Creek runs through the campground. It is illegal to target bull trout, if caught they must be released immediately with minimal handling. Participants must have Montana licenses to hunt or fish. Continue on FR 241 for about 5.5 miles to the trailhead for the Stony Lake Trail #8002 - a 5 mile hike up to Stony Lake. Travel past the campground on Upper Rock Creek Road/County Road 102 through the Rock Creek drainage and you will pass into Lolo National Forest in about 2.5 miles. The canyon is rich with geology and wildlife to appreciate, and several trailheads and fishing access spots are located off the roadway.
Guidebooks for Montana
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Stony Creek Campground?
No. Stony Creek Campground is first-come, first-served. Reservations can be made via www.recreation.gov Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Stony Creek Campground?
There is a fee of $15.00 per night for this campground.
Source: Forest Service
How many sites does Stony Creek Campground have?
10 sites.
Source: Forest Service
Can I bring an RV to Stony Creek Campground?
Stony Creek Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What is there to do at Stony Creek Campground?
Stony Campground provides access to opportunities for hiking, backpacking, hunting, and fishing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Stony Creek Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Bighorn Campground (3.5 mi, first-come), Siria Campground (7.4 mi, first-come), and Crystal Creek Campground (10.4 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby