Fall is one of my favorite times to camp, especially in the mountains. I have a new gig that severely limits my time on the weekends, so to steal away into the wild with my girls at the beginning of October was a God-send.
We typically choose the West Fork of the Rock Creek drainage because it is fairly close and there are a few fantastic camping spots. This trip we decided to try our luck and camp at the Basin Campsite (across from the Basin Creek Trailhead). I say “luck” because that spot is usually taken. However, this time we hit the jackpot!
The area is huge with plenty of room for multiple campsites, o
r a few trailers. The site is relatively undeveloped, however the road in is fairly easy to navigate. It is only one lane, however, so take care when entering or exiting for other vehicles coming the opposite direction.
There are three main sites in this area, none of which are developed or maintained. This also means there isn’t a bathroom on site. If you can, make it a point to head across the road to the trail head pit toilet. In an emergency, just remember the rules for relieving yourself outdoors: 100 feet off of a trail and 100 feet from water (preferably 200), and DO NOT discard your “wipe” material in the woods; please cart that out with you.
There are usually one to two stone fire rings in various states of completeness, so you may need to take time and build up the ring you’d like to use. In addition there are a number of other locations within the surrounding woods that have also been used for tent camping. They aren’t accessible with a vehicle so you’d need to park either at the trail head or walk down from Wild Bill Lake. That is a bit of a hike, so the trailhead would be preferable.
This site is about fifty yards from Rock Creek and some really good fishing spots. Take the time to hike up and down the creek, there are a few areas worth the time to stop for relaxation and introspection! During the height of the season, this is a very popular area for campers, so there may be a bit more traffic on the creek.
Nearby hiking opportunities include, Basin Trailhead (which offers both the Basin Lake Trail and the Silver Run Ski Trails), Timberline Trailhead and the Senia Creek Trailhead. If you’ve been out in the wilderness a while and are craving some social interactions with the locals, drive down to Red Lodge and visit the Front Bar for a cold beer.
