| This page provides some basic information on getting to the Camp. Most student groups have pre-arranged travel plans and arrival pickups. Remember that you must make arrangements with your group or on your own to get from the airport or bus station to Camp - the Camp staff and vehicles are not used to pick people up. In the future, we'll be adding some suggested travel routes of scenic and scientific interest for those who drive out. |
Air Travel
| The closest commercial airport is the Billings Logan International Airport (BIL). Red Lodge also has an unmanned landing strip for light aircraft, if you have your own plane. Four airlines have regularly scheduled flights to Billings: |
Car Rental - Shuttles
| Most of the major car rental agencies have representatives at the Billings Airport. Be sure to reserve a vehicle well in advance, as demand can be heavy in the summer months. There are currently no operative car rental outfits in Red Lodge. At times, there is a commercial shuttle service to and from Billings, but at last check they were not operating. You can try the Red Lodge Shuttle at 446-2257 to see if they are available. |
Bus Travel
| The closest Greyhound terminal is in Laurel, but most students come in to Billings for pickup. If coming from the East Coast, remember that this is a trip of several days by bus, so carry lots of food and water with you, as stops are hard to predict. |
Driving Directions
| The following directions are from Exit 450 on Interstate 90 in Billings, which is the main street and the airport access road: |
| Proceed west on Interstate 90 for about 15 miles. |
| Take Exit 434 to Route 212 South |
| Continue south on Route 212 about 43 miles to Red Lodge |
| Continue through the town (212 is the main street) |
| From the Ranger Station (fire danger sign out front) continue south about 2.8 miles to Point of Rocks (large spire of carbonates on the right). |
| Proceed a little less than 1/4 mile through the bend around Point of Rocks. |
| As the bend begins to straighten, slow down and watch to the left for the "Geology Field Station" sign (brown with white letters - about 2' x 3'). |
| Turn left onto Howell Gulch Road (unpaved), cross the bridge, and proceed uphill. |
| PLEASE STOP BEFORE CROSSING THE BRIDGE |
| Continue uphill on Howell Gulch Road, bearing right at the point where the Sundance Road breaks off to the left. |
| The Camp is 1.1 miles from Route 212, and a climb of 800 feet (13%+ grade) |
| Tips - Always drive slowly in your lowest gear both uphill and downhill on Howell Gulch Road, for safety and to prevent damage to your vehicle. The road is unimproved and often very rough. At the top, leave your vehicle running for several minutes to allow the cooling system to catch up and reduce the chance of engine damage when you turn it off. It is best to turn off your air conditioner as well before ascending. Always stop before crossing the bridge going either uphill or downhill, and proceed across it slowly to reduce wear and tear on it. Check with the kitchen staff or your instructor as to where you should park in Camp. |
| For the GPS-equipped, the coordinates for the turn onto Howell Gulch Road are latitude 45d 7' 47.496" - longitude 109d 17' 19.752" and the Camp is located at latitude 45d 7' 18.444" - longitude 109d 16' 26.580" |
Location Map
| Click on the reduced map below for a large scale version suitable for printing. |
|