Buttermilk
Caribou-Targhee National Forest
Buttermilk Campground is located approximately 30 miles southwest of West Yellowstone, Montana and 32 miles north of Ashton, Idaho in beautiful Island Park, Idaho.
Buttermilk sits next to Island Park Reservoir at an elevation of 6,200 feet. Visitors love Island Park for its world-class fishing and outstanding scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities.
The campground contains two loops for single family camping and one loop for group camping, with a total of 55 sites. The large group site can accommodate up to 150 people. Site 038 has 15-amp electric hookups.
Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. A concrete boat ramp with docks is located between the group camping and single family camping loops. Access to the campground is on a paved road but the interior loop roads and parking spurs are gravel.
Need to Know
Natural Features
Island Park is composed of two areas of extinct volcanic activity. The Henry's Fork Caldera sits inside the larger Island Park Caldera. The area is known for its dense forests of lodgepole pine, broad grassy meadows bursting with summer wildflowers and a wide variety of wildlife, including black and grizzly bears, moose, elk, deer, bald eagles, Sandhill cranes and much, much more.
The campground is situated in a forest of lodgepole pine, which provides partial shade in some sites. Some areas of the campground are more open and sunny than others.
Nearby Attractions
Mesa Falls Scenic Byway is 13 miles south of the campground. This 28-mile road leads to scenic overlooks and trails at 110 foot Upper Mesa Falls and 85 foot Lower Mesa Falls.
Harriman State Park is 15 miles south. The Henry's Fork meanders through the Harriman, offering excellent fishing. Over 20 miles of trails are available, and wildlife is abundant in this scenic park.
Henry's Lake State Park is 18 miles north, offering fishing, a fish cleaning station and boat ramp.
Yellowstone National Park's west entrance is just 29 miles north in the town of West Yellowstone, Montana. Visitors enjoy day-tripping to the park for unparalleled wildlife viewing and the beautiful and unique scenery.
Recreation
The Island Park area is prized for its fishing; the Henry's Fork is known as one of the nation's best fly-fishing streams. Anglers cast for rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout and Kokanee salmon.
Island Park Reservoir offers boating, water skiing and excellent fishing opportunities. The reservoir is used for irrigation so the water level recedes throughout the summer, but is generally useable all season. Henry's Lake is nearby.
Hiking, biking, horseback riding and ATVing are popular activities. Many miles of trails are in the area, including the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and the Nez Perce Trail.
The Big Springs National Recreation Water Trail offers an approximately three-hour float or canoe trip through beautiful scenery. Wildlife, including moose, bald eagles and Sandhill cranes, are often seen along the trail.
Contact Information
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BUTTERMILK LOOP RD ISLAND PARK ID 83429
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 208-558-7658 OR 208-270-0094
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From West Yellowstone, Montana, take Highway 20 south, southwest for approximately 25 miles and from Ashton, Idaho, take Highway 20 north for approximately 27 miles.
Turn west onto the Kilgore-Yale Road #030 (across from Elk Creek Gas Station) and go about 2 miles to the Buttermilk Loop Road #126. Turn onto #126 and go approximately 3 miles to an intersection where you will see the campground sign just off the right side of the road. The road will split ahead, with boat ramp and group area on the left, and the single loops to the right.
Available Campsites
- Site 046, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 028, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 040, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 043, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 042, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 027, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 036, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 038, Loop B, Type Standard Electric
- Site 033, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 030, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 037, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 029, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 035, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 039, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site GS1, Loop BUTTERMILK , Type Group Standard Nonelectric
- Site 032, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 041, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 034, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 031, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 044, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 045, Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
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