Forum Discussion

ReneeG's avatar
ReneeG
Explorer
Jul 14, 2019

Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway in October

Last year we camped off the Pioneer Mountain Scenic Byway mid September. This year we want to go back, but are unable to till the second week in October. The campgrounds we are interested in have forest service office phone numbers I can call for additional information such as weather and if the campgrounds are open. Before I do that I'm looking for feedback from anyone that may have camped there at that time of year, the weather, and if the CGs are open. Here in Idaho, October weather is often sunny and dry, with cooler days, but not cold, and cold nights, and that's at higher elevations, and CGs are open and free, till the snow flies, then they close. I'm sure Idaho is different than Montana for FS CGs. Anyway, any feedback you have is appreciative. Thank you.
Boondocking
Dry Camping
Public Lands
  • ReneeG's avatar
    ReneeG
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2019
    If I remember correctly, Price Creek has a lot of trees and Fourth of July and Boulder Creek on the northern end are more open which is what we would need for our solar panels. Looks like I'll have to keep an eye on the weather in this area a week in advance and make the decision to either go north or south!
  • TUCQUALA's avatar
    TUCQUALA
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2019
    Glad you had a good trip "ZIP"!! We drove through 4th of July CG right around the 4th of July!!! Sounds like you were there just recently!! Agree with you aboot Price Creek, very nice CG, and may go there next time instead of in the boonies!!
  • Blazing_Zippers's avatar
    Blazing_Zippers
    Explorer II
    Jul 30, 2019
    We just spent a week on this route----beautiful! Price Creek would be great in the fall, so try to hit it. We were told the area was popular with hunters. We even got cow poopy on our trailer!
    Elkhorn Hot Springs were wonderful...
    We also camped at July 4th CG on the Northern end and our neighbors had pictures of a Grizzly from just up the road. I'm not second guessing their identification of the bear, but I'm not sure if Grizzlies are that far South.
  • TUCQUALA's avatar
    TUCQUALA
    Explorer
    Jul 23, 2019
    Yep, I 'knew" that the pass closes in the winter, but forgot aboot the snowmobile peoples!!! And I'm from Minnysoda, land of the Artic Cat and Polaris!!!
  • ReneeG's avatar
    ReneeG
    Explorer
    Jul 23, 2019
    Tucquala - thanks for your research. I read somewhere that the road is closed after snowfall and is open to snowmobilers, so not sure if the snowmobilers use the campgrounds.

    When we stayed last, we stayed at Boulder Creek, at 6400 feet. That's not too bad, but high enough for cold fall days.
  • TUCQUALA's avatar
    TUCQUALA
    Explorer
    Jul 23, 2019
    Renee, only thing I found aboot open/closed seasons was on this site:

    https://www.forestcamping.com/dow/list/nflist.htm#montana

    You are probably familiar with it, and I know it is not an official NF site, but seems to be pretty accurate and useable. During our recent trip to that area, we looked at most of the cgs. Price Creek was the nicest, but at just short of 8 thousand feet altitude, I wonder how it could be kept open during the late fall/winter season as that site states!!! Also, many hunters during that time of year, and they use the NF sites heavily as well as the dispersed areas!!!
  • ReneeG's avatar
    ReneeG
    Explorer
    Jul 18, 2019
    Lwiddis - yes, the USFS website did not give the dates, so I'll call in advance and keep an eye on the weather forecast.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Jul 14, 2019
    In the far West the USFS gives “open/closed” dates online forest by forest, even district by district. Idaho and Montana may be different.

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