Best Tent Camping near Bighorn National Forest
Primitive tent camping opportunities dot the landscape around Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming, from established campgrounds to dispersed sites along forest roads. Shell Reservoir Camping Area offers tent sites with stunning mountain views, while Crazy Woman Canyon Road provides multiple dispersed camping locations along a creek with no facilities. The Ten Sleep Brewing Company offers an unconventional tent camping option near the western edge of the forest, combining outdoor accommodation with brewery amenities.
High clearance vehicles are recommended for accessing many of the tent sites, particularly at Shell Reservoir where 4x4 capability may be necessary. Most tent-friendly locations provide basic amenities like fire rings and vault toilets, though drinking water is limited to established campgrounds such as Ten Sleep Rock Ranch. Dispersed camping areas require campers to pack in all supplies and pack out all waste. Seasonal closures affect accessibility, with some areas closed for construction or impassable during wet weather. According to one visitor, "Hesitate travel on this road after a heavy rain, as any kind of washout or slick conditions could make travel hazardous."
Tent campers at Crazy Woman Canyon experience unique geological features with large boulders forming canyon walls alongside a rushing creek that provides natural white noise for sleeping. Most backcountry tent sites offer seclusion from crowds and road noise, particularly those deeper in the canyon. The creek access at dispersed sites allows for water filtration opportunities though proper treatment is essential. A camper noted that "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." Early arrival is recommended during peak summer months as the limited number of prime tent sites can fill quickly, especially those with creek-side locations.
