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Best Dispersed Camping near Buffalo, WY

57 Reviews

The Bighorn National Forest surrounding Buffalo, Wyoming features predominantly dispersed camping options along forest roads and near mountain streams. Grouse Mountain Basecamp on Forest Road 403 provides level sites in open meadows at approximately 7,000 feet elevation, while Crazy Woman Canyon Road offers more secluded camping alongside rushing water with canyon walls rising above. Circle Road Dispersed Camping presents numerous pull-offs through meadows with mountain views, and Canyon Creek Dispersed sites sit at higher elevations around 9,500 feet. Most locations maintain primitive conditions with few amenities, though some areas like Elgin Park Trailhead include vault toilets accessible after driving deeper into the forest.

Road conditions vary significantly across these camping areas, with many requiring careful navigation on dirt roads. As one camper noted, "The dirt roads are well maintained, but still a fair amount of rock, so slower speeds are safer." Most dispersed sites enforce a 14-day stay limit, with rangers requesting campers move at least 5 miles if staying longer. Higher elevation sites maintain cool temperatures even during summer months, with nighttime lows reaching 45°F even in July. Cell service fluctuates dramatically between locations, with Verizon coverage reported as "hit-or-miss" at Circle Road and completely absent in canyon areas. Water crossings can make some roads impassable after heavy rain, particularly in steep areas like Crazy Woman Canyon.

Wildlife viewing opportunities rank highly in camper reviews, with moose sightings common in meadow areas and fox families residing in rock formations. Weekday camping typically offers greater solitude, as one visitor observed: "Weekend was busy with traffic down the dirt road but weekdays we had it all to ourselves." Free-range cattle frequently wander through camping areas, particularly at Elgin Park. Campers seeking level sites for larger RVs find Grouse Mountain Basecamp particularly accommodating, with one reviewer noting: "It's a level, smooth dirt road where you pull off the side anywhere you choose." Water access points exist at several locations, with the Cenex gas station in Buffalo providing free dump and water services for those staying in more primitive areas.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Buffalo, Wyoming (14)

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Buffalo, WY

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Buffalo, WY

57 Reviews of 14 Buffalo Campgrounds

  • Janelle K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 21, 2023

    Circle Road Dispersed Camping

    Beautiful spot, better for rent or car camping

    We ventured out here in our 26’ bumper pull camper for the night of 6/19. Several trailers and campers looked like they had been posted up there for a while. 

    Pros:

    -Lots of pull off spots accessible for car camping and very small campers

    -Beautiful wildflowers at this time of year-remote and peaceful!

    -main dirt was mostly manageable with our camper, some potholes and mud though 

    Cons:-

    very rainy, hence lots of mud, when we went

    -most of the campsites seemed to be washed out right now and unaccessible with our camper

    -no accessible turnarounds with the camper until Circle Pond Campground at the end of the road

    -bugs were really bad

    -no Verizon cell signal

    -single lane dirt road just had a couple sporadic pull offs to allow for passing vehicles from other direction

  • Milo D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 14, 2025

    Circle Road Dispersed Camping

    Awesome views with lots of space!

    Turn onto Circle Park Road and the dispersed camping spots start about a half-mile down an easy dirt road. The road is about 3 miles long and ends at either a campground or a trailhead parking area depending on which way you go. The campground is paid, but the entire access road (Circle Park) is dispersed. Multiple off-shoots of various dirt roads, most accessible with 2wd, some requiring more.

    About a mile from the entrance is where the "established" dispersed sites start, you'll easily tell by the gate entrance. It was open, but does appear to close occasionally. The first fork you come to you can go left which will require 4wd, or you can continue right on the road. About another mile or so you'll reach the second fork. If you go right the dispersed camping ends and the entrance to the campground begins. If you go left it ends at a trailhead, but has some great dispersed spots before that. No matter what vehicle you drive there are multiple spots for you to enjoy.

    A decent amount of traffic due to the campground, I saw about a dozen vehicles an hour on average until the sun set. Cell phone reception is hit-or-miss depending on your location and carrier, Verizon had 0-1 bar of 4g where I stayed. There is water available at the campground if you absolutely need it, though I would slip a couple dollars in the self-pay box as a thanks if you do use it.

    Lots of awesome established and rough trails depending on what you're looking for. Lots of birds, and there's a couple of fox families living in the rock formations.

    It can be a bit noisy depending on where you stay, but the mountain views during sunset are absolutely stunning. I wouldn't hesitate to stay here again.

  • Lords C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 8, 2025

    Grouse Mountain Basecamp on Forest Road 403

    Wide Open Spaces

    I stumbled on Grouse Mountain Dispersed Camping last Fall and made sure I visited again upon return this Summer.

    Great little town of Buffalo is down the mountain, the views are amazing and spots are spaced out very well here.

    It's on my 'starred' list on my Google maps of best places to boondock. Only downside here is there is no shade, the access road gets a little busy with campers and a private camp down below. All in all? Top tier Boondocking spot from my view.

  • The Wandering Shores ..The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 20, 2024

    Canyon Creek Dispersed

    Canyon Creek Dispersed

    The breathtaking Bighorn Mountains at 9000 ft elevation, good for rigs of all sizes but be advised you may want to scout the road the further you get into the camping area as it can be a bit rough (with water crossing at one point).  

    We overview the camping options as well as the amenities available in the area in our video review! 

    https://youtu.be/ztjOGUjNkfo

    Useful Information: Location: Canyon Creek Dispersed, Ten Sleep, Wyoming 

    GPS Coordinates(Canyon Creek Dispersed): 44.160758,-107.128481 

    Maximum Stay: 14 Days 

    Dump/Water(Cenex): https://maps.app.goo.gl/b44MFQ4ne9h3DpE2A 

    Leigh Creek Dump/Water: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SfJmMrKekzLyTKFNA

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 8, 2025

    Grouse Mountain Basecamp on Forest Road 403

    Easy boondocking with plenty of space

    This is about as easy and convenient as dispersed camping gets. Plenty of room for big rigs, but also good for tents. It’s a dirt road off a paved highway (which is convenient to the route to Yellowstone). Just pull off the dirt road into the field to camp. There’s a gate before the road turns south, but right before the gate it’s a cleared space to turn around if you don’t want to turn around in the field. The only con is that there’s a significant amount of cow pies.

  • R
    Aug. 8, 2022

    Canyon Creek Road Dispersed Camping

    Beautiful, Free and Relief from the Heat of Summer

    The specific location given is about 4.5 miles in from hwy 16, and there are numerous areas to set up your camper on the way in. The farther you go, the more private it is. The dirt roads are well maintained, but still a fair amount of rock, so slower speeds are safer. The entire Bighorn NF area is saturated with dispersed camping.

    The limit is 2 weeks, and Ranger request that you move about 5 miles, if you want to stay longer. There are locals who come to ride their dirt bikes and ATV's in the area, more so on the weekends, but has not been too much of a nuisance. There is plenty of deadwood in the areas to gather as firewood, and Canyon Creek has a brisk stream of water flowing. Satellite images show it dry.

    Elevation of this area is about 9500', so temps are cool and comfortable even in August.

    Very dark and clear night sky is great for star gazing. And there is a park dump/fresh water station a very short distance away. Not sure about other cell services, but Zero T-mobile signal, but I had just purchased the Starlink system before heading this way and I'm getting high-speed internet and Wi-Fi calling, in the middle of nowhere! This is my favorite boondocking area so far. Note, this area is suitable for most Big Rigs

  • Connor M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 30, 2024

    Crazy Woman Canyon Road - dispersed camping

    Best kept secret, beautiful bolders, fast moving river

    This is a one of those secret locations that you look for, the one you don't want to give away but show all your friends pictures of it. If this was a fishing spot you wouldn't tell other anglers about it. If it was a special hunting location you would keep your lips sealed.

    Crazy woman canyon gets it's name from a few different legends, but that's not the point of this gem. 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.

    We saw wildlife, we relaxed with the sound of the river, this was an unforgettable experience.

    Keep in mind there are no facilities here, no toilets, no potable water, no showers, you need to pack in and pack out. This is true back-country camping. The roads are narrow and traffic goes both ways, we had to pass another truck and were just inches from the edge with rushing water below. But this is Wyoming, this is the wild west, one of the great frontiers of the American expansion.

    Come here, it's worth it.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 11, 2022

    Circle Road Dispersed Camping

    Easy in and out

    Stayed down this road in an open meadow for a few days. Weekend was busy with traffic down the dirt road but weekdays we had it all to ourselves. 2 people had parked their trailers there and never showed up, so I don't know what that was about. If you go here, please only park or drive in designated areas. Several vehicles went off road which is not allowed and forces the Rangers to limit camping spots. Saw plenty of big rigs, but this is a dirt road and is suited to smaller trialers. Site was not very level, so be prepared for that.

Guide to Buffalo

Dispersed camping near Buffalo, Wyoming sits at the eastern edge of the Bighorn National Forest, typically at 7,000-9,500 feet elevation. Summer temperatures in these high-elevation sites often drop to 45°F at night, with cooler weather persisting even during July and August. Free-range cattle frequently wander through camping areas during summer months.

What to do

Stargazing opportunities: Forest Road 131 offers excellent night sky viewing thanks to minimal light pollution. As one camper noted, "Very dark and clear night sky is great for star gazing" at Canyon Creek Road Dispersed Camping.

Wildlife photography: The meadows near Circle Road Dispersed Camping host frequent animal sightings. "There are several fox families living in the rock formations," one visitor observed, while another mentioned, "There were two moose grazing in the meadow for the entire time we were there."

Stream exploration: The rushing waters at Crazy Woman Canyon Road provide natural water features to enjoy. A camper shared, "We loved sitting by the water on some large boulders. The water is great white noise too."

What campers like

Temperature relief: Higher elevation sites maintain comfortable temperatures even during peak summer. One camper at Canyon Creek Road noted, "Elevation of this area is about 9500', so temps are cool and comfortable even in August."

Solitude on weekdays: The dispersed areas around Buffalo see varying traffic patterns. At Grouse Mountain Basecamp on Forest Road 403, visitors find "Very open and many spots," with one camper adding, "There were several other people but we were all spread out."

Natural soundscapes: The running water provides peaceful background noise at many sites. A visitor to Crazy Woman Canyon Road remarked, "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."

What you should know

Road conditions: Prepare for varying terrain when accessing these free sites. At Canyon Creek Dispersed, campers advise you "may want to scout the road the further you get into the camping area as it can be a bit rough (with water crossing at one point)."

Stay limits: Forest Service regulations limit camping duration. One camper explained, "The limit is 2 weeks, and Ranger request that you move about 5 miles, if you want to stay longer."

Weather impacts: Spring rains can affect accessibility. A visitor to Crazy Woman Canyon Road warned, "Hesitate travel on this road after a heavy rain, as any kind of washout or slick conditions could make travel hazardous. During and after a storm the road may be impassable, even with a four-wheel-drive vehicle."

Tips for camping with families

Easy access sites: Some areas offer more convenient entry points for families with children. A visitor to Elgin Park Trailhead noted, "Great location where you can camp in the trees or on the meadow. Vault toilet available once you drive a ways in on Elgin Park Road."

Privacy options: Look for secluded spots away from main areas. One camper advised, "At first it looks like a very busy camping area, but if you drive for a bit you can find yourself a nice little private out of the way camping spot to set up tent."

Wildlife viewing: Many children enjoy watching the animals that frequent these areas. A visitor to Circle Road mentioned, "Lots of awesome established and rough trails depending on what you're looking for. Lots of birds, and there's a couple of fox families living in the rock formations."

Tips from RVers

Level sites: Grouse Mountain Basecamp offers terrain suitable for larger rigs. One RVer described it as "a level, smooth, dirt road where you pull off the side anywhere you choose."

Water and dump access: When staying in primitive areas, plan for supplies. As one long-term camper noted, "I found water and a dump site in Buffalo at the Cenex gas station. It was free."

Mobile connectivity: Internet and cell service varies significantly. A visitor to Forest Road 131 reported "No Verizon service," while another camper mentioned, "There is only one place in all the area that has cell coverage and turns out we camped on that hill without knowing it so we had traffic all day with people parking in and around our campers to use their phones."

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at dispersed camping sites around Buffalo, Wyoming?

Dispersed camping around Buffalo is primitive with minimal amenities. Castle Gardens is a free BLM site about 5 miles off Highway 16 on a gravel road. Canyon Creek Dispersed sits at approximately 9,000 ft elevation in the Bighorn Mountains and features natural water sources from streams, though you'll need to purify this water before use. Most dispersed sites offer no facilities like restrooms, trash service, or water hookups. Pack out all trash and bring your own supplies, including water, toilet paper, and waste disposal systems. Cell service is typically limited or non-existent. Some areas have fire rings at established sites, but always check current fire restrictions before your trip. The trade-off for minimal amenities is privacy, stunning mountain views, and the authentic wilderness experience.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Buffalo, WY?

The Bighorn Mountains near Buffalo offer excellent free dispersed camping options. Crazy Woman Canyon Road - dispersed camping provides multiple secluded spots along a 2WD-friendly road with a beautiful creek running through the area. Circle Road Dispersed Camping is another popular option, accessible about half-mile down an easy dirt road with camping spots extending along a 3-mile stretch. Other free options include Forest Road 131, Pole Creek Road (East and West), and Canyon Creek areas. Most sites are accessible via dirt roads that are generally well-maintained but may require slower speeds due to rocks and occasional rough spots. Look for established pull-offs and remember to camp only in designated areas to protect the environment.

When is the best season for dispersed camping in the Buffalo, Wyoming area?

Late spring through early fall (mid-May to September) offers the best conditions for dispersed camping near Buffalo. Grouse Mountain Basecamp on Forest Road 403 is popular during summer months with beautiful views and well-spaced sites. Elgin Park Trailhead provides another excellent option during the primary camping season. June brings beautiful wildflowers to many areas, while July and August typically offer warm days and cool nights. Given the high elevation of many sites (some around 9,000 feet), nights can be chilly even in summer. Winter camping is possible but challenging due to snow and cold temperatures, with many access roads becoming impassable. Fall brings spectacular colors but prepare for rapidly dropping temperatures. Always check road conditions before heading out, especially during shoulder seasons when weather can change quickly.

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