A five-mile gravel road off the highway outside Dubois leads to Pinnacles Campground at Brooks Lake, a 21-site Forest Service campground set against a wall of rocky formations in Shoshone National Forest. The road is well-maintained and passable in standard passenger vehicles. Sites include picnic tables, fire rings, and bear boxes, with pit toilets on-site. Amenities are minimal by design. As Tara S. puts it, "this is a national forest campground, so amenities are few."
The layout divides roughly into lakeside sites and more wooded interior sites, and the distinction matters. Lakeside spots face Brooks Lake with open sightlines toward the surrounding rock features that give the campground its name. Interior sites sit farther from the water but still look out toward the pinnacle formations. Site 3 and site 5 come up repeatedly in reviews as particularly well-positioned on the water. The campground host is consistently described as attentive and welcoming, and the vault toilets have drawn specific praise for their upkeep.
Brooks Lake provides direct access for fly fishing and paddleboarding. The stream outlet is a reliable spot for anglers, and several reviewers specifically mention the creek running near the campground as loaded with fish. The lake is not recommended for swimming. Multiple trails connect from the campground, including a route up Pinnacle Butte. Bear activity is real here, and the campground host actively communicates conditions. Some areas of camping near Shoshone National Forest require hard-sided camping only, and that may apply here depending on seasonal conditions.
Mosquitoes are a consistent issue, particularly at midday and in early summer. Bring repellent. Wind picks up through the afternoon and settles overnight. Midweek arrivals tend to find sites available without a reservation, though weekends fill faster. The nearest town with showers and laundry is Dubois, roughly 23 miles away. Nearby options include Brooks Lake Southeast Camping and Brooks Lake Dispersed Camping for campers who want more flexibility or a different setup along the same lake.
Pinnacles Campground works best for anglers, paddlers, and hikers who want direct water access, wildlife proximity, and views of a distinctive rock landscape without the infrastructure of a developed campground.
Description
This campground__hosts 21 campsites with dramatic views__near Brooks Lake. Angling and flyfishing opportunities are nearby, with a boat ramp at Brooks Lake. Fantastic geologic formations at Pinnacle Butte can be seen on the drive in to the campground.__Maximum spur 32 feet.Picnic tables, fire rings, bear boxes, and garbage collection__are available.This site is not accessible to those with mobility impairments.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsPinnacles Campground is located in Wyoming near Dubois
Directions
Take U.S. Highway 26/287 northwest from Dubois for 23 miles, then take Forest Road 515 north for 5 miles. At Brooks Lake, bear right on Forest Road 516.
Coordinates
43.75418 N
109.99631 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
Features
For Campers
- Toilets
Drive Time
- 3 hrs 3 min from Idaho Falls, ID
- 3 hrs 46 min from Pocatello, ID
- 5 hrs 18 min from Bozeman, MT
- 5 hrs 30 min from Billings, MT
