Overview
Spire Rock Campground is located in scenic Gallatin Canyon on the Bozeman Ranger District of the Gallatin National Forest, in southwestern Montana. It is 26 miles south of Bozeman.
The surrounding area offers many outdoor recreational opportunities, including fishing, rafting, hiking and viewing local wildlife.
Recreation
Great opportunities for hiking, fishing, scenic driving and wildlife viewing are available around the campground. Anglers cast for rainbow, brown, brook and cutthroat trout, whitefish and Arctic grayling on the Gallatin River. Rafting and kayaking are popular activities as well.
The popular Storm Castle Trail begins nearby. This steep, 3-mile one-way trail climbs to Storm Castle Rock, with excellent views of the canyon below. Garnet Mountain Lookout Trail also begins near the campground. The 3.5-mile trail climbs 2,800 feet in elevation, to the lookout.
Facilities
The campground offers single-family campsites, an overnight, GROUP CAMPING AREA (SITE 2), and another GROUP AREA (SITE 12), that can be used for overnight camping or day-use picnicking. Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided, as are vault toilets.
No drinking water is available in the campground. Campers must bring their own water. Roads and parking spurs within the campground are gravel.
Natural Features
The campground sits next to Storm Castle Creek, a tributary of the Gallatin River, at an elevation of 5,600 feet. Most campsites are located along the creek and are surrounded by spruce and fir trees.
A variety of wildlife makes its home in the area. Visitors can often glimpse bald eagles, bighorn sheep, moose, elk, mountain goats, deer and coyotes. Black bears and grizzly bears also live in the canyon.
Nearby Activities
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
- Photography
- Mountain biking
- Berry picking
- Star gazing
- Birding
- Backpacking
- Mushroom picking
Gallery
Directions
From Bozeman, travel south on Highway 191 for 23 miles to the Storm Castle turnoff. Turn left and go 3 miles to the campground. The last 3 miles are on a gravel road.
From West Yellowstone, go 66 miles north on Highway 191 to the Storm Castle turnoff. Turn right at the intersection after the bridge and continue 3 miles to the campground.
GPS Coordinates
Latitude 45° 26′ 29.0000″ N
Longitude 111° 12′ 23.0000″ W