Dispersed camping spots near Big Piney, Wyoming provide access to the Wyoming Range and Bridger-Teton National Forest at elevations ranging from 7,000 to 8,300 feet. The camping season generally runs May through October, with most remote areas inaccessible during winter months. Weather conditions can change rapidly, with afternoon thunderstorms common in summer.
What to do
Fishing access points: The Green River Fear-Reardon Draw Public Access Area serves primarily as a drift boat launch site but also permits camping. "This is primarily a fishing drift boat ramp access and parking, but this site also allows camping for the BLM limit of 16 days," notes a visitor.
Mountain biking trails: From Fremont Lake, campers can access both hiking and mountain biking opportunities. "This was a basic campground with access to hiking trails and also not far from the ski resort where there are downhill mountain bike trails," reports one camper.
Wildlife viewing: The sage-covered landscape around Soda Lake provides excellent wildlife viewing. "We saw a fair bit of wildlife in the area as well; pronghorn, horses, hummingbirds, bald and golden eagles, osprey, hawks, sea gulls, grebes, beavers, a plethora of ground squirrels, and a lot of cows on the hike to Little Soda Lake."
What campers like
Large camping spaces: The Highline Trail RV Park receives consistent praise for its spacious sites. "Spaces are big and spread out. Everything was clean and well maintained," writes one camper. Another adds, "The grounds are well groomed with ample space between sites. Plenty of shade and great views of the mountains."
Mountain views: Wind River View Campground offers panoramic vistas despite some drawbacks. "Has beautiful view of the Wind River Range. Nice, easy-going host. Only downside would be the road noise, but that's not real bad," shares one reviewer.
Lakeside camping: Several dispersed camping areas provide direct lake access. "The campsites are close to the beach, with nice views of the wind river range," writes one visitor about the shoreline campsites. Another notes, "Right around the lake dispersed spots with lots of room between spots."
What you should know
Wind exposure: Open camping areas often have little protection from strong winds. "The lake itself is beautiful and the sites are really large. All have fire rings and some nice large bbqs and there are public restrooms. Downfalls: no trees so the wind is brutal!"
Limited amenities: Many camping areas lack basic services. "Pit toilets and no running water. Very little verizon service," notes one camper about Fremont Lake. The New Fork River access areas have similar limitations: "No potable water, trash cans or table/fire ring."
Cell service variations: Soda Lake WHMA offers inconsistent connectivity. "AT&T service was poor without a booster, with 0-2 Bars of 3G service, but nearly no data throughput. With our weboost, it got a little better with 3-4 bars of LTE and speeds up to about 0.5 MB/s. T-Mobile service was good with 4 bars of 4G/LTE."
Tips for camping with families
Convenience store access: Daniel Junction provides convenient amenities for families. "Gas is cheaper than in Pinedale. Propane on site. Convenience store...beer, liquor, deli," notes one camper about the facilities located 30 miles north of Big Piney.
Swimming restrictions: Families should know that not all water bodies are suitable for swimming. "The lake has leeches so no swimming... which was a huge disappointment," reports one camper about Soda Lake.
Recreation facilities: Some campgrounds offer activities for children. "Plus there's a basketball court, pickleball court, and cornhole to keep yourself or your kiddos preoccupied," mentions one reviewer about the Yellowstone Trail RV Park's amenities.
Tips from RVers
Site levelness: RV campers frequently note site conditions. "Huge spaces, clean and friendly. Spaces are big and spread out. Everything was clean and well maintained," shares one Highline Trail RV Park visitor. At Soda Lake, one camper found, "The site was surprisingly level too, almost didn't need to level at all."
Utilities quality: RV parks in the area offer variable hookup reliability. "The wifi consistently disconnected but I will assume it was due to a large storm in the area," notes one Wind River View camper. Another mentions, "Our sewer receptacle was a little recessed, so I couldn't get our hose threaded tightly, so I had to weight it down."
Road conditions: Access roads to many camping areas require careful driving. "There is no official Campground at Soda Lake... Access road is smooth graded with dust abatement...two access point and the north one is best to take advantage of the improved road conditions."
