If you’re looking for free camping close to Yellowstone National Park, look no further than Red Rock Pass. This is the second time we’ve camped at this location and it’s one of our favorite boondocking spots in the northwest part of the counrty.
If you remember this post from last year, we had planned on camping in this location to visit Yellowstone National Park on our way back to our home base. While we were able to stop here for a few days, our time was cut short by a developing snow storm heading east that we needed to get ahead of. So we knew when heading back to Oregon this year that we had a great place to stay while visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. We ended staying in this location for two weeks while we waited for the smoke from the wildfires in the west to calm down.
About a week into our stay we were told by a couple hunters that a momma bear and a couple cubs had been spotted in the area. A couple days later a Forest Service Ranger stopped by to give the kids a handful of fire education materials and toys, and verified the presence of the bears. He reminded us to keep our trash covered (we kept it stored under the cover of the truck bed) and bring in the dog food bowl every night so we didn’t attract any bears to our campsite. A few days before we left we also spoke with a couple who had been walking to the campsites farther back into the woods who spotted a bear rummaging around the tents. We made extra sure the kids were only out during daylight and only where we could see them, but we had no issues with the bears getting close to our campsite.
How to get there
From Idaho Falls, travel north on US Highway 20 past the town of Island Park. About 10 miles up the road on your left hand side you’ll see Red Rock Rd. Follow Red Rock Rd to the intersection, turn right, and watch for a couple forest service access roads on the left as you go along. There are numerous areas to camp along here, wherever there is a fire ring.
If you are coming from West Yellowstone, travel south on US Highway 20 past the entrance to Henry’s Lake State Park. Red Rock Rd will be on your right.
Amenities
Red Rock dispersed is completely dry camping. If you need to empty your holding tanks and/or fill water while you are here, your best option is to head 20 miles south on Highway 20 to Henry’s Fork RV Dump Station. This dump station operates by donation, so please consider donating if you stop here.
If you need a shower, head on into Henry’s Lake State Park. Showers can be purchased at the entrance station to the park. You can also fill water jugs at the dump station here, but be sure to ask first.
Trash can be taken to the Island Park landfill. To get there, head into Island Park and take a right across from the Phillips 66 station. It’ll be the first right as you enter town. Next, take the first left and follow it back to the landfill entrance.
What to do
Hiking, hunting, OHVs, camping, boating and fishing are popular activities in the area. The west entrance to Yellowstone National Park is about 25 minutes away, and the south entrance to Grand Teton National Park is about 2.5 hours away.
Forest Service dispersed camping is at the top of our list when looking for camping on our journey. Have you been to this area before? What did you think? We’d love to hear from you! Please drop us a comment below, email us at alicia@simplejoyfuljourney.com, visit us on Facebook and Pinterest @simplejoyfuljourney, and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of the page. Have a great week!