Red Shale Campground
A campground on the Ashland Ranger District. Camp sites: 14. Trash Pickup: No. Firewood: No. 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 10 day stay limit.
More like this: first-come in Montana
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | 4/1 - 12/1 |
| Forest | Custer Gallatin National Forest |
| Fees | No Fees |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Ashland, MT go 6 miles east on US 212. Campground will be on your left.
| Coordinates | 45.5725° N, 106.1478° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireBuffalo 2
41 mi from the campground · 25 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
No site-by-site records, no amenities, no fee schedule or photos in the Recreation.gov record. What is here comes from the agency's own listing. The rest lives there.
Checked nightly. Modules appear as soon as the record fills in.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 1 miCook Creek3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 9 more
- 2.6 miCoalmine Proj Rd2.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 9 more
- 4.4 miDaily Creek2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 9 more
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
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 Red Shale Campground?
No. Red Shale Campground is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Red Shale Campground?
No Fees
Source: Forest Service
Is Red Shale Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season 4/1 - 12/1.
Source: Forest Service status
Is there cell service at Red Shale Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 4G LTE, and T-Mobile 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What if Red Shale Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Holiday Spring Campground (9.6 mi, first-come), Blacks Pond Campground (16.8 mi, first-come), and Cow Creek Campground And Picnic Area (18.8 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby