Bear Creek
Its sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations), and camping is free. Bear Creek is a National Forest campground near Gardiner, Montana.
First-come, first-served
- National Forest
- Managed by
Bear Creek sits inside Custer Gallatin National Forest. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com. It sits 0.2 miles outside the boundary of Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness; its permit and camping rules and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.
Getting a site
- Managed by
- National Forest
- Reservations
- None, first-come
- Fee
- Free
Source: apps.fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-30
What's there
- ✓ Toilets
- ✕ Potable water
On site: Toilets. No potable water.
Access and cell service
- Elevation
- 7,164 ft
45.1098, -110.5998 in Park. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Common questions
Do you need a reservation at Bear Creek?
No. Bear Creek is first-come, first-served: there is no reservation system, so arrive early to claim an open site.
How much does it cost to camp at Bear Creek?
Camping at Bear Creek is free.
Is there drinking water at Bear Creek?
No. Bear Creek has no potable water, so bring all the water you need.
Who manages Bear Creek?
Bear Creek is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Around Bear Creek
Hot springs and waterfalls nearby
Nearest to Bear Creek, in straight-line miles: Boiling River (hot spring, 9.7 miles), Chico Hot Springs (hot spring, 16 miles), Tower Fall (waterfall, 18 miles), Lower Falls of the Yellowstone (waterfall, 28 miles), and Palisade Falls (waterfall, 30 miles). Each has its own page on swimholesmap.com.
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Free
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $15 per night
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $20 (includes 2 driving vehicles)
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Free
More campgrounds: camping near Gardiner and campgrounds in Park.
Sources
- apps.fs.usda.gov (all fields), accessed 2026-09-30
- epqs.nationalmap.gov (elevationFt), accessed 2026-10-01