Part of Custer Gallatin National Forest
Being I live in Fargo I can never get enough time in the mountains; they seem so far away. But is it that far for a little peace and quiet at one of my favorite places?
I had a few meetings scheduled on a Thursday in Bismarck, that would keep me there for a day or two. If I was going to be near the western side of the state why wouldn't I just camp for the weekend? Well, as most of you know the West gets hot and is not always ideal for camping. I will say I am a cool-weather camper. So, after my meetings I decided to keep going; let’s get to a spot that will be much cooler than the hot prairie and let me fully unwind after a long week of meetings and travel.
Since the first time I came to this area more than 30 years ago I have had a certain connection. It is the gateway to one of the greatest mountain roads in the U.S. The Beartooth Highway is right outside of Red Lodge, Montana. Cascade Campground is only 10 miles from town, sitting on the banks of the west fork on Rock Creek and nestled between two mountains on each side of the campground. This is a rustic facility, water, bear boxes (except for at a few sites), and a couple of vault toilets but that is it. No amenities, no internet, just your fire ring and picnic table, perfect for a no-distraction getaway.
Cascade has 30 different sites. A few are amazing and some are a little rough due to the terrain. The rougher terrain sites have a smaller tent pad area, and I would suggest only using a two-person tent. On the west side of the campground, I would avoid sites 13, 14, and 15 unless you are in dire need of a place to sleep. These spots are still in recovery from the 2008 fire. Ground cover is a lot of brush with no trees to provide shade.
I camped at site 29, best suited to a two-person tent with lots of trees and mountain shrubs. I had both dogs with me and brought my four-person North Face tent. It was difficult to find a flat piece of real estate to pitch on and I was probably a little too close to the fire ring. I had a small path right down to the rushing creek which had a perfect spot to jump into the ice-cold mountain stream or just set up my camping chair and sit, listen, and watch the sun disappear behind the mountains. Finding spots like this is what makes a camping trip special.
The site next to me, site 30, is big and one of the better sites in the campground. It has multiple places to pitch a large tent or a few smaller tents, with space to spare. It has a bear box and is at the very end of the campground, so it has the most privacy. It also had a large moose grazing about 50 yards away on the morning I packed up to head back home. Moose sightings are very common here.
In my opinion, the best overall site in the campground is site 3. It is in the middle of the campground but the sites at Cascade are well spaced, so noise pollution was minimal. This site is gigantic – you could bring a large group and have plenty of spots to pitch multiple tents. It is shaded and has great access to the river for wading and some fly fishing right off the bank. You could set your tent right along the river for even more privacy.
All the camping spots along the river are large. Some have more vegetation, and some are naturally more open, with less ground cover. Any spot provides a great weekend.
Cascade is a good 2-4 day campground; it makes for a great base camp. There are five different hiking trails close to Cascade: Basin Lakes National Recreation Trail, Silver Run National Recreational Trail, Camp Senia Trail, and Timberline Trail. West Fork Trail is just down the road from Cascade. It has two waterfalls within the first two miles, Calamity Falls and Sentinel Falls, and Lake Mary about 6 miles in. This is a great trail, following Rock Creek, but make sure to get full information as it does keep going and connects to Lake Fork Trail.
A local filled me in on a secret swimming spot along this trail that has been naturally damned up. This could change from year to year so next time I head out I can fill you in. Note: The road to get to West Fork Trail may be closed until sometime in 2023 due to the flooding that occurred in 2022.
If roughing it 24/7 is not your bag, Red Lodge is a great mountain town. It has everything you need and more. You can always grab essentials at Beartooth Market or stop by Babcock & Miles for Wine, Beer, Cheese, and Meats with other specialty food. Forgot some gear or just want to do a little shopping for new gear? Check out Sylvan Peak Mountain Shop. Red Lodge has everything.
I try to get here yearly. It is one of my favorite places to travel to, and yes you can take a quick trip here without a problem. I know the drive seems long but it isn’t really. There are places in Minnesota I camp at that take just as long to get to as Red Lodge.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
Suggested stay length: At least two to four days.
Campground: Drive-In, Walk-In very rustic campground, no hookups.
Wi-Fi: None
Wood: For sale from the camp host.
Pets: Yes, must be on a leash
Favorite Sites: 3 & 30
Activities: Trout fishing, hiking, mountain biking, swimming but ice cold, exploring the Beartooth Highway and just sitting there enjoying the mountains.
Water: Clean Clear Mountain Water, 8 out of 10.
Favorite Sites: Number 3 is the best site in the entire campground, it has the size, the spot by the river, and the trees around the fire pit. Site 30 for its size and because it would be the most secluded site from the rest of the campground. The creek area was more overgrown; otherwise I would have rated it higher.
Surrounding Area: Red Lodge is a classic mountain town that has it all. The Beartooth Highway is one of the greatest drives in all of America. I will be posting about this amazing drive in the future.
Link: Cascade Campground
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