USFSCuster Gallatin National Forest · Montana
Initial Creek Campground
This free campground is located on the West Fork Stillwater Road and is near the West Fork Stillwater Trail (#90).
Sites0all reservable
Elev.6,211ft
Comf.Jun-Sep4 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Billings2h17real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
At 6,211 ft, Initial Creek Campground has a 4-month comfortable window (Jun-Sep). Winter nights average around 16°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. Within about 4 miles: lake or river access.
The campground at a glance
01 · CHARACTER
Six axes, each scored relative to every other federal campground in the region: quiet (miles to a major road), cool (elevation), roomy (average site spacing), shade, RV-fit (longest rig), and how reservable it is. All six come from data, nothing hand-tuned.
When to go
02 · CLIMATE
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Nov
Jun-Sep
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
67%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Jun 15
Last spring frost; first fall frost Sep 21.
49°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.
Getting there
03 · ACCESS
01
Billings
93 mi
2h17
02
Bozeman
152 mi
3h08
03
Helena
250 mi
4h56
04
Missoula
356 mi
6h25
By drive time
What's within four miles
05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER
Trails & Peaks
Trail segments
12
Water & Access
Lake / river access
yes
Method
We synthesize public data layers: RIDB and Recreation.gov facility and site records, Open-Meteo climate normals, OpenStreetMap roads, trails, and water, OSRM drive times, and USGS elevation. We take no bookings, no ads, and no paid placements. Independence is the entire point.