Wind River Range Camping: Experience The Wilderness

Wyoming Camping Experiences

You’ll find accommodations and settings for all kinds of camping in Wind River Country. Your Wyoming camping experience neighbors Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, nearly unlimited backcountry playgrounds, and glamping—all with plenty of elbow room.

Full-service commercial campgrounds and RV Parks are located in Dubois, Lander, Riverton and Shoshoni complete with showers, hookups, cabins, tent sites, yurts, and shade. Some even have a river out back, so don’t forget your fishing pole. All of the campground hosts will welcome you with western hospitality.

If you want more of a remote, off the beaten path camp site, the National Forests, State Park and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands have paid campsites where facilities and water are provided to primitive, free camping options. Public lands are also open to camping outside of established campgrounds. Just remember to leave no trace of your Wyoming camping adventure.

Tent and backpacker on a Wind River Range Camping trip. — Hike into the Winds to camp in pristine Wilderness on a campsite of your design. Photo: Jared Steinman

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Boysen State Park Camping

Wyoming Campsite near Boysen Reservoir — Enjoy a peaceful campsite with room to breathe.

If you love water sports, Boysen State Park is your next camp spot. There are tons of places to camp in Boysen State Park. Wyoming camping residents pay $10 a night and non-residents pay $17 a night.

The Lower and Upper Wind River Campgrounds have shade trees, grass and interesting geological features. Look for bighorn sheep often spotted in this area. There are numerous sites and some can be reserved in advance.

Brannon and Tamarask campgrounds are at the north end of the reservoir near a boat launching area. There is a protected bay for tying up boats, a sandy beach, trees and picnic shelters. Tough Creek Campground is on a peninsula with a boat launching area and close access to the lake. Loop 1 and Loop 2 are on the west side of the reservoir and offer a limited number of sites, a boat launch and easy access to the lake.

Learn more about camping at Wyoming’s Boysen State Park.

Togwotee Pass Camping

Books Lake Falls — Brooks Lake Falls are a stunning view worth the short hike. Photo: Bill Sincavage

If you are headed to or from Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, your Wyoming camping site should be on Togwotee Pass. Staying on Togwotee Pass provides a perfect break in your driving and a little bit of breathing room and a slower pace you won’t find when you cross out of Wind River country.

Brooks Lake has its own campground or you can continue about half a mile to the Pinnacles campground. There you can settle into a site surrounded by trees, in the woods, on a creek or near the lake. The Falls Campground provides easy access to Brooks Lake Falls. The campground has 54 sites surrounded by mature pine and fir trees. There are also bear boxes. Proper food storage is required when camping on Togwotee Pass.

Learn more about Togwotee Pass.

Best Wyoming Camping Towns

If you are looking to stay in town, there are several campgrounds, in or on the outskirts of Lander, Riverton and Dubois. These feature hook ups, RV spots, pull thrus and tent sites. They also include amenities like hot showers, restrooms, laundry, dump stations, stores and even wireless internet. Plus you are already in town, so you can explore the shops, restaurants and museums. You can also camp for free in Lander’s city park.

Sinks Canyon Camping

The Popo Agie campground near Lander even has yurts for year-round camping.

Only a few minutes from town you can set up camp in Sinks Canyon State Park. Here you can listen to the river, hike on nearby kid-friendly trails and easily get back into town if you’ve forgotten anything. There are 24 sites at the Popo Agie campground, which are not conducive to large RVs and four spots at Sawmill. Cost is $11.25 for Wyoming residents and $20.25 for out-of-state visitors per night. Camping is reservation only from May 1 to September 30, and first come first serve from Oct 1 to April 30. Yurts are reservation only year round.

The Loop Road

A canoe on a lake — Paddle Louis Lake. Photo: Scott Copeland

If you head up the switchbacks beyond Lander’s Popo Agie campground, what is known as the Loop Road will take you to several public campgrounds. Louis Lake, Worthen Meadows and Fiddlers Lake all have campsites, without hook-ups, but near water for fishing and boating. These ideal Wyoming camping spots provide fresh mountain air and plenty of space to play and explore.

Double Cabin Campground

If you are staying in the Dubois area, the Double Cabin Campground offers 14 spots on the border of the Washakie Wilderness. Two trails leave the campground and head deep into the wilderness. One trail leads to southern end of the wilderness boundary while the Frontier Creek Trail leads to a petrified forest. Water is available. The maximum spur is 32 feet and this area is not accessible for those with mobility impairments.

Wyoming Camping on Public Lands

If you want to get truly off the beaten path, dispersed camping onBureau of Land Management (BLM) or Forest Service land is the best fit for you. With thousands of acres of prairie managed by the BLM and thousands of acres of woods under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service, Wind River country is a great place to try dispersed camping. This means setting up in an unmarked area without amenities like bathrooms and picnic tables—for free.

Two kids in Crazy Creek chairs at a grassy campsite — Picnic tables aren’t required for a special camping memory!

You can set up anywhere, as long as it isn’t marked as a no-camping spot or too close to a water source or trail. It’s a great way to truly rough it and create the adventure you want. Be sure to pack up all your garbage and leave the area like you found it. For recommendations on where to go, check with local agencies.

My Experience Camping in Wind River Country

Some of my favorite memories, both as a child and as an adult, involve camping. As a kid, camping provided an incredible adventure: new places to explore and food cooked over a fire. Looking back, I understand that car camping is the perfect way to introduce kids to the outdoors. You can look up at the stars, climb on boulders, and roast marshmallows, all while keeping the convenience of a car stuffed with items for every contingency—weather, bugs, illness tantrums.

As an adult, the appeal is much the same. Dinners can be almost gourmet with over-packed coolers and big camp stoves. Layers can be easily shed and stored with the weather, and there’s always an easy escape with the car. I’ll admit it. I’ve been in a constant torrential downpour and instead of struggling to shield the stove, my party and I opted to drive to a nearby town and eat pizza.

No matter what stage of life you are in, or what kind of camping you are looking for, Wind River Country has it.

Full-service commercial campgrounds, remote sites off the beaten path, and everything in between await to match your Wyoming camping style.

Camping

Wyoming Camping Experiences

Camping Top 5

Boysen State Park Camping

Togwotee Pass Camping

Best Wyoming Camping Towns

Sinks Canyon Camping

The Loop Road

Double Cabin Campground

Wyoming Camping on Public Lands

My Experience Camping in Wind River Country

Camp/climbing

COR Expeditions

KC Outdoors

NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School)

Ramshorn Llamas

Wild Iris Mountain Sports

Wind River Climbing Guides

RV Parks & Campgrounds

B & K Shoreline Stop

Boysen State Park

Dexter Mill RV Park

Dickinson Park Public Campground

Dubois Campgrounds

Dubois Wind River KOA

Jim Moss Arena

Lander City Park Public Campground

Lava Mountain Lodge

Longhorn Ranch Lodge & RV

Louis Lake Lodge

Louis Lake Public Campground

Maverick RV Park & Campground

Sinks Canyon State Park Public Campground

Sleeping Bear RV Park & Campground

Solitude RV Park

Stilson RV Sites

The Rock Shop Inn & Restaurant

Twin Pines RV Park & Campground

Wild Willow Campground and Fishing

Wind Haven RV Resort

Wind River Basin Campground

Wind River RV Park

Worthen Meadows Reservoir Campground

State Parks

Boysen State Park

Sinks Canyon State Park Visitor Center

South Pass City State Historic Site

Businesses

307 Outfitters

3C Guiding

789 Smoke Shop

Absaroka Ranch

Allen’s Diamond Four Wilderness Ranch

Antelope Hills Golf Course

Arby’s

Atlantic City Cabin

Atlantic City Mercantile

B & K Shoreline Stop

Bar 10

Bear Basin Adventures

Big Diamond Ranch

Bitterroot Ranch

Black Bear Inn

Boutique Vacations

Boysen State Park

Branding Iron Inn

Breadboard

Breadboard

Brooks Lake Lodge

Brown Sugar Coffee Roastery

Bugling Winds Outfitting

The Bunk House

Burger King

Cee nokuu Cafe, Wind River Casino

Chamley Outfitting LLC

Children’s Center for Arts, Technology and Science

China Garden

Chinook Winds Motel

CM Ranch

Comfort Inn & Suites