Dispersed camping areas surround Shoshoni, Wyoming at elevations ranging from 4,500-5,000 feet in high desert terrain. The Wind River Canyon creates a natural corridor with temperature variations of 15-20 degrees between canyon bottom and reservoir areas. Summer highs regularly exceed 90°F while winter camping faces subfreezing nights and occasional snow.
What to do
Fishing at canyon spots: Lower Wind River Campground provides direct fishing access from riverside campsites. "If you enjoy fly fishing, you'll appreciate the easy river access right from the campground," notes Tim R. This stretch offers both wading and bank fishing opportunities.
Watercraft exploration: The reservoir at Tough Creek Campground supports various water activities. "Stayed right at the lake for one night with my small RV. No hookups, but ok if self contained," explains Angelika H. The lake accommodates motorized and non-motorized craft.
Wildlife observation: Dawn and dusk offer prime wildlife viewing from campsites. "Plenty of wildlife to watch come down to river in the evening or early mornings. Kids love the train that runs thru the canyon," shares Mickey J. at Boysen State Park Campground. Pronghorn herds frequently visit reservoir shorelines.
Train watching: Several campgrounds offer views of trains passing through Wind River Canyon. "Beautiful views, big old train going through the tunnel of a mountain. Wild little spot," writes Megan B. Train schedules typically include morning and evening runs through the canyon tunnels.
What campers like
Canyon views: Upper Wind River Campground sites provide dramatic canyon scenery. "We stayed at upper campground and there were a lot of spots that overlooked the river. There's a good amount of open space in the middle of campground, surrounding the playground," writes Zach R.
Lakeside access: Many visitors appreciate the waterfront camping at Brannon Campground. "We camped at Brannon, site 104. This was a beautiful spot right on one of the Reservoir inlets," notes user canyongirl100. These sites offer direct water access for swimming or launching small craft.
Dark skies: The area's minimal light pollution creates excellent stargazing conditions. "Low light pollution, makes for beautiful star-gazing at night," comments canyongirl100 about Brannon Campground. Most sites away from the marina area provide unobstructed night sky views.
Open space: Lake Cameahwait provides spacious camping areas. "Plenty of room on a great little lake. Had a 34 ft A class and took in on dirt road which covers about 2/3 of lake," reports Andrew P. The lake perimeter accommodates numerous campsites with substantial separation.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most Boysen State Park campgrounds require advance booking during peak season. "You have to reserve them online through Reserveamerica.com, and it is NOT an easy site to navigate," warns Molly about Tough Creek Campground. Non-peak season typically allows walk-up camping.
Weather challenges: Wind presents a significant challenge for tent campers. "It was suuuuper windy but we had spectacular views," reports Robert B. about Brannon Campground. Tent campers should bring extra stakes and guylines for stability.
Insect conditions: Mosquitoes persist throughout summer months near water. "Great place to stay if you can work around the mosquitoes. We stayed for a week and a half and it was very quiet and the water is very clear," notes Wayne H. about Lake Cameahwait. Bug pressure increases in June and July.
Varied campsite quality: Some designated sites work better than others. "Booked what looked like a decent site by the river and found it to be unusable when we arrived," reports Bill R. about Upper Wind River Campground. Late afternoon arrival may limit site selection during busy periods.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Lower Wind River Campground offers family-friendly amenities. "Campground has a park for kids. No showers but plenty of water so we set up privacy tent and were able to shower when we wanted," shares eli R. Most park campgrounds include playground equipment.
Swimming spots: Several campgrounds offer swimming access. "The campground is adjacent to the road so there is some road noise, but the river drowns out a lot of that," explains Erik B. about Lower Wind River Campground. River swimming requires caution due to currents.
Shade importance: Summer temperatures require shade planning. "Lots of oak tree shade," notes Erik B. about Lower Wind River Campground. Upper Wind River provides "trees that provide lots of shade for the summer months" according to Zach R.
Sprinkler awareness: Sprinkler systems operate in some campgrounds. "Shortly after 9 am on Monday, sprinklers came on! In the sites, 51 was OK, possibly due to a plugged sprinkler but site 53 was soaked," warns Melissa K. about Upper Wind River Campground. Position tents away from lawn areas.
Tips from RVers
Generator use: Lake Cameahwait permits generator operation during hot weather. "Campspots are spread apart enough that running generators from other campers (it was a hot day) weren't too noisy," reports Angelika H. Generator hours typically run from 8am-8pm.
Cell service: Connectivity varies by location and carrier. "Verizon cell phone service was surprisingly great at the campsite," reports Shari G. about Lake Cameahwait. Canyon areas experience reduced reception while reservoir sites maintain better signals.
Water access: Limited water hookups require planning. "No hookups, but water spigots are available throughout the campground to fill your tanks," notes Tim R. about Wind River Canyon Campground. Most campgrounds provide potable water at central spigots but not individual sites.
Site selection: RV campers should choose sites based on level ground. "Sites are level and easy to get into. Nothing fancy - just a good overnight spot," comments Liza T. about Wind River RV Park. Most state park campgrounds accommodate rigs up to 35 feet with some pull-through options.
