Best Tent Camping near Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Dispersed camping dominates the tent camping options near Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area in Wyoming, with Crazy Woman Canyon Road offering one of the most popular primitive tent campgrounds in the region. Canyon Creek Road Dispersed Camping provides another free option with multiple established sites along forest service roads. Both areas feature riverside campsites with natural surroundings and minimal development, typical of Wyoming's public lands.
Most tent campsites in the Bighorn area require campers to be self-sufficient, as amenities are extremely limited. Crazy Woman Canyon Road follows a river with steep canyon walls, offering sites with established fire rings but no facilities. The dirt road descends steeply with some rough sections and becomes narrow in places, making it challenging for vehicles during wet weather. Canyon Creek Road sites sit at approximately 9,500 feet elevation, providing relief from summer heat but potentially difficult access during spring snowmelt. Both areas enforce a standard 14-day stay limit.
Tent campers at Crazy Woman Canyon enjoy proximity to rushing water that provides natural white noise for sleeping. The canyon walls create a sense of remoteness despite the relative accessibility. Sites are generally first-come, first-served, and campers report varying levels of solitude depending on timing. Canyon Creek offers more seclusion the further in you travel, with deadwood available for campfires and high-elevation camping that remains comfortable even in August. A camper noted, "The tranquility, peace, towering canyon walls that make you feel so small, the freedom of the outdoors and back country quietness, that's what this place should be known for." Wildlife sightings are common throughout the area, and the clear night skies provide excellent stargazing opportunities for tent campers.
