Palisades Campground

Campground · Montana ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

Custer National Forest (NF) · Open Access

6,335 ft
Elevation

Palisades Campground is a free campground, located at the end of Palisades Road #2010 near Red Lodge, just below Red Lodge Mountain Ski Resort and the palisades geological formation. The Willow Creek Trail (# 105) and the Palisades Trail (# 109) both leave from the western end of the campground.

  • Camp sites: 6
  • Max Trailer Length: 16ft
  • Host: No
  • Accessible Facilities:Vault toilets
  • Trash Pickup: No
  • 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 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 16 day stay limit. Some sites equipped with bar resistant food storage lockers.

Directions from Beartooth Ranger District office:
Drive north on US Hwy 212 towards Red Lodge for 0.3 miles. Turn left (west) onto the West Fork Rd and drive 1.1 miles. Turn right onto Palisades Campground Rd (unpaved). Drive 1.5 miles to Palisades Campground.

*Please be advised that dogs are allowed on Willow Creek year-round, but the Palisades Trail (#109), which intersects with the Willow Creek Trail a short distance up the trail, has restrictions on dogs. Due to wintering moose habitat, dogs are not allowed on the Palisades Trail between Dec. 1- July 1, except for dogs used for legal hunting purposes.

Information:
Beartooth Ranger District
6811 US Hwy 212
Red Lodge, MT 59068
(406) 446-2103

The facts

  • Season: 5/26 - 9/30 — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026

Recreation.gov's own page

Getting there

45.17150, -109.30856 · 45°10'17.4"N 109°18'30.8"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F————————————
Low °F————————————
Precip in0.91.41.72.74.12.71.41.21.62.41.91.1

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 1.1 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Member photos

Common questions about Palisades Campground

Can you reserve a site at Palisades Campground?
No. Palisades Campground is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Also listed by

Palisades Campground also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Palisades Campground's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

  • Free

Accessibility:

  • Accessible Facilities: Vault toilets

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Palisades Campground

Comments

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.