Ep. 324: Boulder River | Absaroka Mountains | Montana | RV travel camping boondocking

[@joyces3550]

Beautiful area, Love Montana. You are lucky folks!

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Joyce! We realize that everyday.

[@geraldsouthard7092]

Missed the premier again…but watching a replay on KZbin as I type this. Love that spot you are in. Safe travels Marc (and Mrs. GA).

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you as always Gerald! And same to you.

[@gregoryhenriksen957]

That is absolutely stunning

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Gregory!

[@melodyassaro]

Evening everyone from Cape Cod Massachusetts

[@GrandAdventure]

Good evening to you Melody & Lou!

[@waynert69]

In your spot here this week. Nice! Bear, Moose, Whitetail, Grouse, Sandhill Cranes, Marmots. Thanks for this.

[@GrandAdventure]

Fantastic! Hope that spot works out for you as well as it worked out for us.

[@laughingram7287]

What a great spot! We were so close and missed it. We were only looking for an “overnighter” on the way from Glacier Park to Spearfish, SD. However, if we stayed there, we probably would not have left. Even though we were camped on the other side of the river from Big Timber, we never went through that town. Thanks for sharing! Ram 👍🏼👍🏾

[@GrandAdventure]

You bet, Ram, and thanks for watching! Next time you're in Big Timber, stop at Montana Meats. It was the best darned ribeye I've ever had.

[@mathewhephill8686]

Love your work , thanks

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank YOU, Matthew!

[@gorrdd]

Absolutely beautiful boondocking site. I loved this adventure. One of the things I like about staying at established RV campsites is the people you meet. I think boondocking with friends is also great camaraderie. But when traveling alone, the RV campgrounds offer some interaction with others of like mind and spirit.😊 Gord

[@GrandAdventure]

There's truth to that, Gord. Right now I'm flying solo with Zoe as Mrs. GA is gone for a few weeks, and we had to leave our friends behind with some mechanical issues. However, the campground I'm in this week in Nebraska isn't really conducive to interacting with anyone, either -- although I did enjoy meeting a viewer when I first arrived. So, wanting a bit of human interaction I instead went to a local brew pub for dinner last night, and enjoyed a pleasant conversation with the guys sitting on either side of me at the bar. It did the trick.

[@gorrdd]

@@GrandAdventure Yes, and that's why pubs succeed... all buzzyness aside! 😉 Gord

[@gorrdd]

This looks like one of your favorite BD places from five years ago! Gord

[@GrandAdventure]

That's true in many ways, Gord.

[@gorrdd]

@@GrandAdventure I guess I'll hear about it tonight..😉 Gord

[@kimlittleton4943]

This was freaking gorgeous !!! What a great spot. I would be in heaven :)

[@GrandAdventure]

It was wonderful, Kim. One of our favorite spots all last season.

[@lesiaalbright7187]

Can you give this location? Maybe the gps coordinates?

[@GrandAdventure]

@@lesiaalbright7187 We always put Google Maps pins to our exact campsite location in each video description. You'll find one with the video description for this episode as well.

[@rv_at_the_beach2603]

We'll probably never get that far north, so it's fun to see your adventures.

[@GrandAdventure]

We're happy to have you along.

[@wylstyle]

Thanks, Guido! This channel has some of the best boondocking recommendations. Loved my visit to the Big Wood River because of you. Happy trails!

[@GrandAdventure]

Excellent, Will! Thank you so very much. That spot along the Big Wood River will forever be special in our hearts.

[@BillSprague]

Hi all from western Maryland. I’m enjoying my old home, Montana. The fly fishing there is truly spectacular.

[@GrandAdventure]

We're happy to bring you back, Bill.

[@daviscrt]

What a great camp site. Looks like starlink has been a big game changer in your travels. Thanks Don

[@GrandAdventure]

Don, we can't overstate how much Starlink has changed our situation. Prior to 2021, we'd arrive in a place like this and look at our phones, and mutter, "Can't stay here." Moreover, we always scout in advance electronically, using land use maps, topo maps and satellite imagery (which is how we found this spot), and before we'd also have to pull up cell tower maps and guesstimate the potential for cell service. Now, we've eliminated the additional (and least likely to be accurate) step in that process.

[@reneepowell8541]

Beautiful views and tranquil sounds, right at your front door. Doesn't get much better than that! Did you get a chance to check out the Natural Bridge Waterfall just up the road? My youngest son and I really enjoyed exploring the area a few years back. Safe travels on to Cody, wish I was there, away from this God-awful heat in Texas!

[@GrandAdventure]

Renee, the natural bridge was on our list the entire week, but when we bailed a day early due to the weather we had to shelve that stop. As we always say, though, it gives us another reason to return. Wishing you cooler temps soon in Texas!

[@dennysisk1100]

Definitely love Montana beautiful country. Thanks for sharing.

[@GrandAdventure]

Agreed, Denny, and thank you for watching!

[@lnazworth]

Beautiful spot!

[@GrandAdventure]

It certainly was. Thanks so much for watching!

[@timaz1066]

This part of the country is just gorgeous as I referred to it as God’s country. I am down enjoying Island Park, Idaho. Thanks for the video.

[@GrandAdventure]

Island Park is wonderful as well. Have fun!

[@rexcarlson3464]

Loved it

[@GrandAdventure]

Thanks bud!

[@lorih379]

Amazing views

[@GrandAdventure]

They sure were, Lori. Thanks as always for watching!

[@genekied]

One of my favorite trout fishing rivers in Montana and there are more than a few good ones there.

[@GrandAdventure]

We've heard that the fly fishing in the Boulder is spectacular. And it's true, Montana is chock-full of marvelous trout streams.

[@markbeavers5747]

Thanks Marc for the great video, my Uncle and Aunt have a small ranch there and want me to take a trip to visit and looking at the beautiful areas I just might. Safe travels and enjoy the trip!!

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Mark! By all means, do it.

[@mickichikwinya5519]

Great location and video on this topic.

[@GrandAdventure]

Glad you enjoyed it, thank you!

[@tommystone1142]

Looks like a sweet spot. Live in big timber and never been down that way. Can’t find anything on the map

[@GrandAdventure]

Really? No offense intended, Tommy, but that truly amazes me. Just follow the Boulder River Main road south from town.

[@tommystone1142]

@@GrandAdventure me too! I haven’t lived here my whole life. I travel for work and this is just sort of a home base! Hoping to be able to get a little more quiet time but as of right now with all these storms we are working non stop! Thanks for the great video. Always very informational

[@GrandAdventure]

@@tommystone1142 our pleasure, thank you so very much for watching.

[@timf6916]

Nice

[@Tpetaja1]

Born and raised there. Fun place.😊

[@GrandAdventure]

It sure is, Tom. We had a blast, and what a wonderful area to have been raised in.

[@jeaneenteschendorf8531]

Where exactly is this place? We want to travel this area soon! Beginning of August after we leave Custer SP on way to Yellowstone North entrance

[@GrandAdventure]

@@jeaneenteschendorf8531 You will always find a link to the precise campsite in our video descriptions. In this case it is: goo.gl/maps/aNhKjwtXRxoUfmv57?entry=yt

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

What a great way to showcase a site with that sound and view. Unfortunately, we only had 1 day at Yellowstone- which means we need to head back. And Montana is another state to visit again. You always find amazing boondocking sites - that’s why you are the “King” 👑 What a cutie 🐻 Thanks for including the nearby town and what it offers - very helpful Ouch $65 a night. But makes sense to get all that done Maybe next summer, we can visit this site. Safe travels. Hugs for everyone 🤗

[@GrandAdventure]

Right back at you both! Thanks so very much, as always.

[@grillinandchillinwithdeb]

Very beautiful wish I was there

[@GrandAdventure]

Put it on your list, Deb.

[@NigelNaughton]

Wonderful!

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you, sir!

[@TheBruceGday]

We found a nice spot in Wyoming last night. We are not far from where you were. Just around the mountains by Dubois. Up Whiskey Basin. They call it a campground, but it wasn’t anything but a large open area with a pit toilet at one end. Pretty much boondocking. We were one of only three spread out over the area. Beautiful!

[@GrandAdventure]

Sounds sweet!

[@TheBruceGday]

It is on a gorgeous lake! Fantastic lake for fishing. On the opposite side a creek with great fishing. Before I even saw your video about the Absarokas, I was thinking Mark would love kayaking on this lake. Funny coincidence that you were so close by a few days ago!

[@GrandAdventure]

@@TheBruceGday oh no, this was filmed August 2023. We're in the Atlantic Canada Maritimes right now.

[@TheBruceGday]

If you end up adventuring to Dubois, Wyoming in the future, you should really also check out the National Museum of Military Vehicles. It far exceeded expectations! Smithsonian caliber collection, presentation, and staff!

[@TheBruceGday]

@@GrandAdventure Wow! What a V-8 moment! I knew that you were in Canada, yet somehow when this thing popped up in my feed, I didn’t read the date and thought maybe you were on a homeward swing. Glad you are still out exploring Canada for us!

[@johnrambo7630]

Gorgeous. You've been hitting home runs on this trip

[@GrandAdventure]

Proof once again that even a blind squirrel can find a nut sometimes.

[@TheLostRVers]

Oh a premier not live… I get it now 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@GrandAdventure]

Yep! We Premiere each and every Wednesday @ 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific. Hope to see you both this January!

[@joannewinters9616]

😅p awesome as usual thank you so much for sharing it's so beautiful

[@GrandAdventure]

@@joannewinters9616 Happy that you enjoyed it, thank you!

[@nightmedic653]

You found one of my favorite Montana places! It's beautiful and relatively unknown. If you have any interest in trying your hand at panning for gold, this is a great place for it!

[@GrandAdventure]

Very cool! Honestly, we expected it to be relatively unknown -- but we were surprised to find most decent spots still taken late on a Sunday afternoon. We eventually got lucky when the folks occupying this spot finally vacated.

[@davidcochran595]

Will be laying fiber conduit in this area Monday

[@GrandAdventure]

Sweet! Good thing for you it's been a low snow year up there.

[@OdysseyCamper]

I love that area (I also did not know I was mispronouncing it) and camped in a few spots. BUT, once again you found an amazing spot. Not sure why you would leave before the snow, but luckily for me, it’s vacant!

[@GrandAdventure]

Go for it, Darren!

[@U72740]

Hello Mark. Thank you for these beautiful images and for showing us this part of the United States. I have a question for you. At 8:48 min of your video, we see the GPS data which appears at the bottom of the image. How did you get this data to appear in the video? Thanks you.

[@GrandAdventure]

That particular clip came from our dash cam, Denis. We were driving down the road without any cameras out when that bear ran across the road, so we had no other way to capture it in time.

[@gonagain]

Hello Marc, nice video.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you so much!

[@penelopebartell840]

Gorgeous up there. :) Absaroka Range (prounounced ab-ZORE-kuh, the Crow Indian word for crow)

[@GrandAdventure]

Yep, we screwed up another local pronunciation. It wouldn't be a Grand Adventure without at least one. 😄

[@penelopebartell840]

😁the one that is more challenging is Popo Agie 😁

[@PeeWeeHenson]

Hi Mark. Currently hanging out with Shion and Matthew from Broken Dreams Reborn deep in the sawtooth mtns. We'll catch up when we can

[@grumpyshorts1056]

Love this spot and is marked for a visit next summer.

[@GrandAdventure]

Enjoy, Grumpy! Do yourself a favor and show up either late Sunday afternoon, or on a Monday, for we found that canyon to be far busier than we had expected. We almost didn't get a spot, but on the way back out late on Sunday afternoon someone had finally vacated that spot we chose.

[@DrJohn493]

Love it, love it, love it!! I could spend a lot of time on that stream. If you haven't already done so, may I request or suggest a video on tips for rv travel with a pet like your Lab. I've just adopted a Springer Spaniel and would like to take him on camper trailer trips with me in the future.

[@GrandAdventure]

Congrats on your new family member, John! We tackled that very topic back in 2019: kzbin.info/www/bejne/haWqcp6OjdesoZo

[@DrJohn493]

@@GrandAdventure headed to the link now; how'd I miss that? Thanks!!

[@skpjoecoursegold366]

I will get there someday.

[@GrandAdventure]

It's worth it, Joe. Trust me.

[@BillSprague]

Froze to Death Creek is right up there with Crazy Woman Creek! 🤔 There’s a story in both….

[@GrandAdventure]

Indeed.

[@grillinandchillinwithdeb]

Definitely

[@scottcochran7498]

Beautiful site on the river. Do you ever try your hand at fly fishing?

[@GrandAdventure]

I'm really good at losing flies, Scott. 😁 Honestly, until they come up with a nationwide fishing license, it's tough to fish as a fulltime RV'er when you have to buy a different fishing license in each state. For that reason alone, I leave the tackle in storage.

[@scottcochran7498]

Didn't even think about fishing licenses for the different state. That would be a pain in the bass.

[@JStompinado]

Phenomenal.......but that other site charging 65 a night is robbery

[@GrandAdventure]

@@JStompinado thank you! Yeah, it was steep but it gave us a chance to avoid a mud bowl, dump and fill, and get some stuff done.

[@akgobears]

Sure was a nice camping spot....Seems like your inching your way back to Salt Lake City slowly but surely....Question of a different kind here i guess...Being its not to far from your homebase, have you ever spent a free overnite stop at the truck stop Little America on I-80 just west of Green River WY....??? When traveling from the west coast to Indiana to visit family we leave Wendover NV after staying there for free at the Casinos then the next nite we usually either on the way there , way back, or both spend a nite at that Little America...One time out of necessity because of snow...Looking forward to seeing what be in Cody next week (other than wind)...If your still on the road travel safe, and be well no matter what your doing....

[@GrandAdventure]

We're more working our way around SLC at the moment, as we're not due back there until Dec. 1. So the plan is to work our way a little east, then south through the fall to where temps will remain warm-ish until it's time to beeline back to Utah. We've stopped at Little America many times, but never for an overnight. And you know Wyoming=wind!!

[@daveb.8692]

👍

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Dave!

[@Thesaltymedic36]

Where you said the road got bad, high clearance and 4wd recommended 😂got my attention because that’s what I bought. Were there any camping spots up there?

[@GrandAdventure]

Yes there were. However, given that our fifth wheel is now our home I'm a little more careful about where I yank it.

[@Thesaltymedic36]

@@GrandAdventure totally understand.

[@Montana_Outdoor_Adventures]

Great video. My wife and I moved back to Big Timber in '97. Did you get a chance to check out the "Natural Bridge" park located right where the pavement ends?

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you! Natural Bridge was on our list for things to film the last day, but unfortunately we flat out ran out of time. That, and the fact that we bailed a little early due to the weather.

[@Driftless_Wanderer]

Absaroka’s is pronounced “Absorkee’s”. by the locals. Nice video!

[@GrandAdventure]

Yep, we knew we screwed the pooch on that one. And thank you!

[@najruqwi7008]

Beautiful views! Bears 😱 did you have to store your food in special container?

[@GrandAdventure]

With a hard-sided RV, we don't bother with bear canisters. However, we're extra careful in the outside areas to not drop crumbs, leave anything out, etc. If you're in a tent, or even something soft-sided like a pop-up trailer, it's an entirely different story.

[@SevenBears1]

My forced retirement money doesn't allow me to travel the way I had planned. If I get another job I won't have time to travel the way I had planned. Come on lottery #s 😂

[@moretoliving2236]

Beautiful campsite. Yup... mountain weather is no funny business. If its not raining then its hailing if not that then clouds roll in. Solar is not "the" solution. In coming back from "out west" I have legitimately also considered wind power and hydro power. Given myself being stuck on the east coast I had to put that to rest but my interest in both of these is going to be renewed if I ever venture out west again. Drop a doo hickey into the river with an extension cord... bam source of power. Not much but you know every little bit counts.

[@GrandAdventure]

I've long been intrigued by the idea of putting a small wind generator on the RV, for those windy days when the sun isn't strong.

[@chrislong1799]

Mark, with boon docking in your 5th wheel, did you need to add a larger water tank?or flip your axles?

[@GrandAdventure]

Chris, our tanks are 55 gallons each (fresh, grey and black). We can go about a week on the fresh and grey, and two to three weeks on the black. I'd like bigger fresh and grey, but if necessary we have a water filtration system that can draw safe water from a ground source like the Boulder River kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmnXhaFqrM1mjbs , and there are a few times that we've taken 10 gallons of our grey and transferred it to the black by pouring it into the toilet. Our trailer came from the factory with the springs above the axles, thus it was already "flipped". It's also a "frame under" design, so we have great ground clearance -- about two feet. I just have to always know where my wheels (and thus my stabilizer jacks) are.

[@k-mparker]

Another great video Marc!!! Spectacular footage!!! Did your spot require a reservation, or was it like regular BLM spots where you pick based on availability? 👍😃🍻

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Mike! This is pure USFS boondocking, just find a spot along the road that works for you. No official sites, so no reservations.

[@k-mparker]

I thought so. Thanx Marc!!! 👍😃🍻

[@bethsmith6347]

Any service there, gotta work

[@GrandAdventure]

Zero cell. We used Starlink for work.

[@jeaneenteschendorf8531]

What are the coordinates? 😊

[@GrandAdventure]

@@jeaneenteschendorf8531 right in the video description. Here you go: goo.gl/maps/aNhKjwtXRxoUfmv57?entry=yt

[@patmccarthy8740]

GPS coordinates?

[@GrandAdventure]

They're available right in the video description, Pat.

[@TravelinginSpirit]

Hi, would it be possible for you to tell me exactly where this campsite is? I live in Helena and just bought a small trailer and I’d like to check this site out.

[@GrandAdventure]

You bet! The exact spot is marked by a Google Maps pin in the video description.