Best Glamping near Bighorn National Forest

Driving through Bighorn National Forest we found TONS of free dispersed camping off route 20.

Sites are primitive… No running water, no electric, no restrooms. Sites consist of previously used dispersed site containing clearing and fire pits. There are camping spots for tents and RVs from large to small. If the first spot doesn’t suit you just keep traveling down route 20 to the next.

Far apart and lots of privacy.

We camped along a stream in a 32 foot RV. We were visited by a mother and baby moose.

If you are seeking privacy, this is your place.

No facilities, stores or cell service. You must be prepared and self sufficient.

We were referred to this campground by some friends who had stayed here previously. We were on our way to Yellowstone during a 10 day road trip through South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado and they insisted we stop and camp here at least one night and I’m so glad we did! This was my first time ever camping in the mountains and I got spoiled! Island Park is small and quiet with only 10 sites. It is near a river with crystal clear water and the most beautiful backdrop. Our friends had stayed here a year or two before we did (we were here in 2017) and mentioned there were moose in the campground. Sure enough, we had not even got our tent sat up and there they were! The Bighorn National Forest is on my list of places to return and if we do, we’ll camp at Island Park again for sure!! I am not a photographer...these pictures were taken with my iPhone and they still don’t do justice.

We came here to Sheridan Wyoming in May 2021. Friendly people and camp was nearly full. Weather was windy and in the high 40’s in the daytime. The camp is very close to the highway and close to town. Easy to get to surrounding areas but you need a car. Our spot was near the pool but it was far too cold and not yet set up. The facilities were very clean and the showers we nice snd hot.I felt safe and comfortable. Very close to highway and train tracks so that you can easily hear both when sleeping (use ear plugs). Easy to get back on I-90 due to proximity of highway to camp. We were also charged an additional $11.00 upon check-in for reasons unexplained.

Campground Review: The Sheridan/Big Horn Mountains KOA in Sheridan, Wyoming, is a clean, well-kept establishment. Whether you are an RVer or a tent camper, there is plenty of space for you to enjoy this campground. We stayed on a rainy/snowy weekend in September in our 17-foot RV and found that even though we had neighbors, there was plenty of room to move, and we heard little outside noise at night.

Just off the highway, this campground is conveniently located close to both historic downtown Sheridan and the remote Bighorn Mountains. There are about 60 RV sites, 25 tent sites, and 10 cabins. Each tent site has its own covered picnic shelter, which we thought looked unique. We had to eat inside our RV due to the rain all weekend, and were a bit envious of the tent campers being able to eat outside - one of our favorite camping activities - without getting wet! The campground sits along the Big Goose Creek, where campers can fish (mostly for carp).

There is an outdoor swimming pool and spa, which we missed out on by two days when the weather decided to dip below freezing, but it was a nice size and located next to the main building, along with showers, laundry, and a small store. The host is very nice and knowledgeable about the area’s activities. There is also a small, somewhat dated, playground at the entrance to the campground, and a cute mini-golf course near the office. Unfortunately, due to the weather over our stay, we did not get to test out either one! For those that like to stay online while camping, the Wi-Fi was tested decent for web browsing, but leave the YouTube devices at home.

Product Review: The LedLenser MH10 Headlamp was a perfect choice to bring along for our camping trip to the Sheridan/Big Horn Mountains KOA. Since it rained/snowed for our entire weekend in Wyoming, this 600-lumen headlamp was able to cut the drear and allow us to walk safely around the whole campground at night. Even with a wool winter hat on, this headlamp fit lightly and securely on my head.

The MH10 is only 5.6 oz in weight and yet has the capacity to put out 600 lumens of LED glory, which believe me, thanks to my son aiming it at me, could definitely blind someone! At the high setting, the beam can reach to 150 meters (almost 500 feet!), and spreads nicely to the sides, or can be focused with a twist of the lens. Even the medium setting at 250 lumens will give you up to 100 meters (about a football field) of glow power. There are three flashing settings that can be found by holding down the power button for increasing length of time, from one flash to three, and then removed again in the same manner. Great choice for emergency signalling.

The headlamp comes with two color lenses that can be placed in the installment ring and snapped to the front of the beam. It seems to fit securely, and they snap in and out with ease. Red LED is a great way to keep your night vision intact if you need to read a map or spot an animal making noise around you, and it will allow you to see again in the dark even after turning off the headlamp. It is also great at a campground like the KOA because it will not shine into your neighbors’ tents or RV’s and wake them up! We had to do some research on the green lens, and it turns out that green will not scare wildlife, including fish, and in fact could attract them. We also read claims that a green LED is useful for trailing a wounded animal, as the blood trail may be easier to spot. Regardless of the real reason, we thought it was fun to run around seeing everything in a green tint!

The MH10 is USB rechargeable and comes with everything you need to get using it right out of the box. At the high setting, this headlamp will last up to 10 hours on one charge. We used ours for two nights, about 1-2 hrs a night, and never charged it out of the box. It lasted the entire time and even back at home another hour or two over the next week. At the lowest, 10-lumen setting, this powerhouse can last for 120 hours. That’s five DAYS of constant use!

The head strap is completely adjustable. My husband, my 10-year-old, and I were all able to make use of this product with an easy transition between us. The set comes with a nice carrying sleeve for the cords, battery, instructions, and lenses, which can be attached to your belt or a backpack strap. As with any tool, be sure to read the enclosed warnings - 600 lumens is NOT an LED strength to shine in the face of others!

It appears this was at one time a campground. Now overgrown and has one pit toilet that has been neglected.

Wr saw a moose by the lake one morning. Open parking spots. Great host!

We dispersed camped north of MeadowLark Lake along FS Road 427 I believe! It was beautiful, and so peaceful. We did get stormed on but our tent held out really well! These dispersed sites are developed and first come first serve. We enjoyed our coffee next to the river!

No water or Toilets so plan accordingly, and check out the Bighorns USDA Website for any burn bans or camping information you may need!

There are bears out in this forest, recommend putting all food in your hard sided truck, Car, or camper! A human fed bear is a dead bear!

I’m going to tell you this is an awful campground so there will be a spot for me next time I go there. If gorgeous mountain scenery, wildlife, and lots of pretty fish in a clear stream appeal to you then I guess this place is for you. No electric to plug into , no dump station, a hydrant to share ,a pit toilet that was very clean.All the stuff missing that keeps the wienies away. The hosts were fabulous!

Pulled into spot and two moose were browsing on the stream bank in front of us. Campground was well spaced out and host very friendly. Great views and walking paths along stream with meadow on opposite side and mountains in background. Easy access about 2 miles in on graded dirt road. Only drawback was no cell service (Verizon). Not first come first serve, but in early September mid-week, there were several sites available.

Refreshing stay in between Big Horn National Forest stays. Laundry, grocery a bike ride away and Lisa's (eat there) restaurant. Access to 2 mile bike/walking on the levee behind.