You won’t need to worry about crowding at this campground, which has only 15 campsites scattered over a 5-acre area. Sites are spaced out along either side of the road into the camping area as well as around the camping loop itself. The campsites can accommodate tents or camping trailers and RVs ranging in length from 20 to 30 feet with an average allowable length of 28 feet. None of the sites has utilities, so this is not the best campground for campers who can’t live without the comforts of home.
Just off U.S. Highway 287, the campground lies within the borders of Gallatin National Forest. It is 22 miles northwest of West Yellowstone and 49 miles south-southeast of Ennis, a world-class destination for anglers. You should be able to stock up on all the provisions you’ll need for camping in either of these towns, depending on the direction from which you’re approaching the campground.
Because the campground sits at an elevation of roughly 6,500 feet, snow and ice are present here several months a year. Given these harsh weather conditions, the campground’s opening and closing dates are necessarily flexible but are tentatively set for a mid-May opening and a close in mid-September. Apart from the picnic tables and fire rings located at each site, the campground’s facilities are limited to taps for drinking water and vault toilets. Bundles of firewood are available for a nominal fee.
Shortly before midnight on August 17, 1959, a massive earthquake in this area triggered a landslide that dammed up the Madison River, creating Earthquake Lake. Tragically, the quake killed 28 and caused millions in property damages. A few miles up Highway 287 from the campground is the Earthquake Lake Visitor Center, which provides valuable insights into the geology and seismology of the Yellowstone area. The center also has exhibits of photos that show how the quake and its aftermath forever altered the appearance of this area just north of Hebgen Lake.
The campground lies within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, home to the largest concentration of grizzly bears in the lower 48 states. Campers should take all necessary precautions and heed any warnings from forest rangers patrolling the area. Tent camping is sometimes temporarily prohibited if authorities have reason to believe one or more bears are frequenting the campground area.
Cabin Creek Campground is ideally located for fishing enthusiasts. Widely considered one of Montana’s premier still-water fishing lakes, Hebgen Lake has a healthy population of brown, cutthroat and rainbow trout. The lake is also popular with boaters. The Madison River is one of the region’s most popular fishing streams. If you’d prefer to hike or ride horseback, the trailhead for 6-mile Cabin Creek Trail is along the camping loop.
