The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Bridger-Teton National Forest. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Bridger-Teton National Forest. Find the best campgrounds near Bridger-Teton National Forest, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
"We stopped in this part of the National Forest on our way to Yellowstone by way of Jackson Hole, WY. The access is off of HWY 191."
"Most are near the river. Some are very large and flat. We saw quite a few 5th wheelers parked in the first few miles where the road is flat and suitable for a sedan."
"Great option if the Curtis Canyon campground is full, or if you would prefer something a little more remote. High clearance vehicles recommended - forest road 30440 is in pretty rough shape."
"Maybe they just liked my bug spray, I'm not sure. But with the current fire ban, I spent most of my time at these sites indoors."
"Around Shadow Mountain there is about 8 miles worth of 4 wheeler trails that you can bike or walk where the other campsite locations are located. "
"A bit of a drive and a rough road, but totally worth it! Off of antelope flat Rd, take a left at the dead end toward the national Forest land. Then you will veer left on the dirt road."
"Walk to the waterfalls. Campground was quite and so dark by 9pm. Lots of open dispersed camping available."
"We stayed for free along Granite Creek near hot springs. It was late when we stayed so we might have missed the turn. I remember the dog sledding house and we kept going down the road for 5 minutes."
"Great spot ~30mins from downtown Jackson with big spaces and an easy to access road! Biggest con - it’s heavily trafficked with significant road noise during daylight hours."
"We parked right on the creek, biked the road/trail, and loved the solitude.
Teton County rangers popped by as we were leaving but that was about it."
"With that said the upper road to the main camping area was closed off by the forest service at the lower parking area / pit toilet. The view made it worth the trip up."
"There’s beautiful views of the Teton mountains as people say, the roads are a bit rough and inclined but that’s everywhere in the west really:) no four wheel drive needed at all."
"When driving up the gravel road you first come to the Curtis Canyon campground ($10/nightly) but if you continue on the road you will come to the Curtis Canyon dispersed campsites (free)."
"Date 7/1/2025 Tuesday Arrival time:4:45P Sites available 3/10 Camp full by 5:30P Total days allowed to camp: 5 Items to bring: Bear spray, fishing license Road conditions: gravel road easy to access"
"The spot was large enough to turn around and easily maneuver the trailer. We got there on a Thursday evening at about 8pm. Nobody passed our campsite that whole evening, aside from a deer."
"Long dirt road with lots of trails leading to nice spots. The road and most of the campsites are fit for large RVs. Most spots have shade and fire rings."
"Then turn around and you have amazing Mountain View’s. Nothing like sleeping to the creeks song at night. No one around Monday to Thursday. Then a few good people on the weekends."
"Nice Dispersed Camping. Doesn’t have Grand views of the Tetons but has nice grassy level areas and spots by the creek."
"There are 14 campsites dispersed down a four mile long gravel road. Part of the National Forest. Great views of the Tetons from several sites."
RangerGreat option if the Curtis Canyon campground is full, or if you would prefer something a little more remote. High clearance vehicles recommended - forest road 30440 is in pretty rough shape. Town of Jackson is fairly close.
Same great views you'd expect anywhere near the Tetons; trailhead to Goodwin Lake is close by. Full Teton view is better at the trailhead, but its not far. Dispersed sites are spread out with plenty of space; although no one stayed in the site next to us on this rainy evening in June.
To get there, continue past the Curtis Canyon campground in Bridger-Teton National Forest (behind the Elk refuge) as if you were heading to the trail head. You'll start to see marked sites along the extremely rutted forest road. I would not attempt very muddy conditions.
GuideI stayed in the Bridger Teton National Forest off Buffalo Valley Road to be close to the Moran entrance of Grand Teton National Park. There was a large pullout that had a couple of 'sites' below. The view of the Grand Tetons from this spot is gorgeous. It overlooks the valley and the Buffalo Fork River. It's a quite road and peaceful. I had elk around most nights and could hear the sandhill cranes calling down below. This, like most national forest sites, is primitive. There is no fire rings up top and no restrooms. However, it is free!
RangerIf your wanting a place that overlooks the Grand Teton National Park this is your place. The views from campsites 1-15 are absolutely unreal and overlook Antelope Flats followed by the Grand Teton's. Some of the other campsites at Shadow Mountain are harder to navigate. Around Shadow Mountain there is about 8 miles worth of 4 wheeler trails that you can bike or walk where the other campsite locations are located.
Shadow Mountain is part of the Bridger-Teton National Forest and from May 1- Labor Day you can stay a maximum of 5 days, the other dates you can stay up to 16 days. The camp ambassador has more detailed maps of the camping areas. This part of the national forest allows for FREE dispersed camping but only at assigned campsites. There is a camp ambassador on-site near sites 1-15 to help enforce the rules(this is a busier campsite in the summer as its very close to Jackson and lots of locals come out- kind of a party spot). There is a porta-potty on site on campsites 1-15 but no water or other amenities near other campsites.
The road to get this location can be difficult but maneuverable as there are some large ruts in spots and larger river rock makes slower travel. It can be navigated by pretty much any car type or truck with trailer. If you have an RV it may be difficult to get to this location.
Overall we highly recommend you check out this spot as the view is absolutely gorgeous. There is animal activity in the area Moose, Elk, Grizzly so use proper animal safety,"be bear aware." The camp ambassador mentioned a few weeks prior to our stay a grizzly attached a mom and her baby Moose near campsite 14!
Check out our video review: https://youtu.be/8mVj1dxL5t4
LegendA bit of a drive and a rough road, but totally worth it! Off of antelope flat Rd, take a left at the dead end toward the national Forest land. Then you will veer left on the dirt road. There is a camping area at the base of the mountain but if you continue on up the mountain there are many, many dispersed camping pullouts. Beautiful views of the Tetons and excellent wildflowers. There are sites that have some shade and trees but several are pretty exposed. This is a very popular place on the weekends so make sure you get there early to set up camp (or avoid it if you like quite on a Saturday night). No water, no toilets, just a free place to camp with established fire rings! Dogs are welcome.
GuideI have not personally spent the night camping here, but I do work for the Forest Service and wanted to give more information about the Darby Canyon dispersed camping sites. I also had a friend stay here for three nights last September and they had a good time. There are about 10~ sites (I will check and edit when I can) all along the canyon road, some are just right off road and others require a short drive down beaten paths to find the sites. All of these sites (except 2 or so very close to the road) are past the cattle guard. Depending on the time of year, many of these sites may not be accessible. Snow typically stays in the canyon until mid-June and starts collecting in October. The area may also be buggy at the height of the summer (July 2024 had been atrocious). There is limited cell service down most of the road and it completely disappears the closer to the Wind Cave trailhead you get. This area has a 14 day stay limit, meaning that once 14 days (13 nights) have been reached you must move at least 5 miles away to continue camping on forest service land and cannot return to this canyon to camp for 30 days. This is in a bear food storage enforced area and any bear attractants (food, pet food, soaps, sunscreen, etc.) are required to be stored properly in a locked hard sided vehicle or other bear resistant containers. Fires are allowed but must be put out dead (cold to the touch) before leaving a campsite. This canyon is regularly patrolled by Forest Service staff and ranger law enforcement officers, especially on the weekends, to keep up with the food storage and fires out dead orders. Hope this helps weary travelers that are deterred by low-rated reviews.
RangerIn the Bridger Tetons National Forest, thus offering some sensational FREE campsites. Remarkable views of the Tetons at both lower and upper sites. Directions are easy and available online. Bathrooms available near parking spaces at the lower spots. Following the road up the hill leads to more sites. The road is rough, but our manual Honda Civic squeaked up there. There are not many sites available, SO GET THERE EARLY. People will try to cram into little flat spaces, but the forest rangers WILL show up and tell you to leave if you aren’t in a designated campsite.
TravelerThe sites are down such a long road that I almost didn't believe they really existed, but I'm glad I persisted in driving all the way to the coordinates! Beautiful dispersed campsites right next to Whiskey Creek and some well-maintained hiking trails in the national forest and wilderness area. Wish i could stay longer. Also, I saw a bighorn sheep!
RangerImagine camping under the Grand Tetons... for FREE. This campsite is part of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. You go down some long gravel roads to the entrance, where there are some campsites at the base of the mountain. There is a road that goes up the mountain- which is pretty rough. You probably don’t need 4 wheel drive to get up, but a higher clearance would make it less stressful. I still have no idea how my Honda Civic made it up... but she did. The views were worth the stress. The Tetons were right there, right across the valley from us. Gorgeous. Absolutely amazing views. All around.
WARNING Although this is National Forest this area is designated camping only!! There are only a handful of sites at the base and along the road. The rangers are super strict about this as well. We had a Ranger come up to us (right before dark) and tell us we weren’t in a designated campsite. She was super kind about it, and thankfully the folks next to us at a designated spot let us join them! So make sure to get there early folks!!! So worth it!
RangerWe spent one night mid May here on the way to Yellowstone. The view was awesome. With that said the upper road to the main camping area was closed off by the forest service at the lower parking area / pit toilet. The view made it worth the trip up. Not sure when the road will open up to the main dispersed site. Be aware that there is only enough room for about 20 campers / vans in the lower area. There is room for about another 15 cars and tent camping. Arrive early! Plenty of hiking and well worth it if you get a spot!
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming, where nature lovers can find serene spots away from the crowds. This area offers a variety of camping experiences, from riverside retreats to secluded forest hideaways.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best dispersed camping locations in Bridger-Teton National Forest?
Bridger-Teton National Forest offers several exceptional dispersed camping locations. Shadow Mountain Dispersed Camping is highly recommended for its remarkable views of the Grand Tetons, with campsites at both the base and higher up the mountain (high clearance vehicles recommended for upper sites). Another excellent option is Glacier Trailhead Campsites in the Fitzpatrick Wilderness Area, offering beautiful sites next to Whiskey Creek with access to well-maintained hiking trails. Other notable locations include Green River Lakes Road (28 miles from Pinedale), Curtis Canyon (close to Jackson), Buffalo Valley Road (offering valley views), and Darby Canyon with approximately 10 sites. All these areas provide free camping with varying levels of accessibility and amenities.
What are the regulations for free camping near Grand Teton National Park in Bridger-Teton?
Free camping near Grand Teton National Park in Bridger-Teton National Forest follows standard dispersed camping regulations. Curtis Canyon Dispersed Camping and Bridger-Teton National Forest off Buffalo Valley Road are popular free options. Campers must stay at least 200 feet from water sources, 100 feet from trails, and 300 feet from roads. The maximum stay is 16 days in any 30-day period. Campfires are permitted when fire restrictions aren't in place, but you must use established fire rings when available. All trash must be packed out, and proper human waste disposal is required (bury 6-8 inches deep, 200 feet from water). Some areas have seasonal closures for wildlife protection. No permits are needed for dispersed camping, but food storage regulations apply in bear country (use bear-resistant containers or proper food hanging techniques).
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Bridger-Teton National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Bridger-Teton National Forest is Dispersed camping along Cliff Creek in Bridger-Teton National Forest with a 4.8-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Bridger-Teton National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 92 dispersed camping locations near Bridger-Teton National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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