Elk Mountain, WY is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Elk Mountain is surrounded by family-friendly activities. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Elk Mountain, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
Deep Creek Campground is located near Sand Lake at an elevation just over 10,000 feet. The summers are cool and autumn is brief. Winter comes early and stays late. Campground facilities include 12 small campsites, one pull through site, picnic tables, toilets, drinking water, fire rings. This is a pack-it-in-pack-it-out campsite. No trash service in the area. For hiking, the Rock Creek Trail and Sheep Lake Trail are nearby. Crater Lake Trail provides a short hike to a beautiful lake. Boats must be carried a short distance to reach the lake.
$10 / night
At an elevation of 10,800 feet, Sugarloaf is the highest elevation campground that the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest has to offer and it is one of the highest elevation campgrounds in the United States. The sites at this location offer a breathtaking panorama of the Snowy Range which peaks out at 12,000 feet. There is little or no shade in the campground due to elevation, the pine beetle infestation, and the removal of hazard trees. This campground will have a mix of reservation sites and first-come, first-served sites for the 2024 season. If you are not reserving your site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by cash or check once you are at the campground.
Sugarloaf Campground is near a variety of hiking trails and two crystal clear snow-melt lakes: Libby and Lewis Lakes. Non-motorized craft can be used on these lakes but you must carry your boat to the water's edge. Both Libby and Lewis lakes contain brook trout and splake (a hybrid of a male brook trout and female lake trout). Lewis Lake is annually stocked by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD). Use of live-bait fish is prohibited in lakes and streams within the Forest. Three popular trailheads originate in this area that range in difficulty level to accomadate visitor's interests. Savage Run Wilderness and Platte River Wilderness are nearby to the south for visitors that desire a more remote setting.
The campground sits on a spruce and fir-lined hillside in the midst of a fisherman's paradise of 102 recreational lakes. This is a rustic, picturesque campground where every site has delightful views of the Snowy Range. The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland encompass nearly 3 million acres from central and northeastern Wyoming to north-central Colorado. Black bear, bobcat, coyote, elk, marmots, moose, mule deer, and pikas are just some of the many animals that inhabit these rich and diverse lands.
The campground is 1.5 miles from the Libby Flats Observation Area. Visitors can find many more outdoor opportunities in the surrounding Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest including hiking, biking, camping, horseback riding, fishing, hunting, sightseeing, and winter sports.
$20 / night
Adventurers love sleeping under the towering trees and night sky of the secluded Brooklyn Lake Campground in the mountains of southeastern Wyoming. Located eight miles northwest of Centennial, Wyoming, the facility is situated along a small, picturesque lake at an elevation of 10,500 feet. This campground will have a mix of reservation sites and first-come, first-served sites for the 2024 season. If you are not reserving your site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by cash or check once you are at the campground.
Popular activities include hiking, fishing and non-motorized boating. The 36-acre lake is a nice canoeing spot with calm water. Non-motorized boats are allowed on Brooklyn Lake with carry-down access for small recreational watercrafts. There is no boat ramp and trailered vessels cannot be used at this location.Fishing is good for brook trout. From the campground, hikers can access the Sheep Lake and Lost Lake Trails. Sheep Lake Trail also allows horseback riding.
The scenery at Brooklyn Lake can't be beat. Pine forests and grasslands surround the lake, and the snow-capped Browns Peak protrudes into the crisp, blue summer sky. The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland encompass nearly 3 million acres from central and northeastern Wyoming to north-central Colorado. Black bear, bobcat, coyote, elk, mule deer and moose are just some of the many animals that inhabit these rich and diverse lands.
Visitors can find many more outdoor opportunities in the surrounding national forests and grasslands, including hiking, biking, camping, horseback riding, fishing, hunting, sightseeing and winter sports.
$20 / night
Setting up your own campsite away from developed fee sites, also known as dispersed camping, is allowed in most places. From getting away from it all to just enjoying a weekend with friends, dispersed camping can make for a great story. Across the forests, opportunities range from dispersed camping miles into wilderness or just off a forest road in designated dispersed areas. Make sure to bring everything you need when dispersed camping, as water, restrooms, and fire rings may not be available nearby, and always remember to follow Leave No Trace principles.
Use the links below to explore the wide range of dispersed opportunities the forests and grasslands have to offer. For comprehensive information on dispersed camping opportunities, please contact the ranger district office in the area you plan to visit.
Bow River Campground is located on the upper Medicine Bow River with 13 campsites (small trailers only up to 32 feet), water, picnic tables, fire rings, one vault toilet. This is a pack-in pack-out campground. No trash service in the area. The Medicine Bow River, Sand Lake and Turpin Reservoir offer fishing opportunities nearby. Trails in the area include Rock Creek, Sheep Lake, and Crater Lake Trails. (See more trail info on this website by clicking on recreation and then hiking from the home page.) OHVs can explore the Campbell Lake Loop after July 1, approximately 9 miles south of the campground. Pick up a motor vehicle use map for free at the Ranger station in Saratoga or call to have one emailed to you. Both Sand Lake and Turpin Reservoir are stocked by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD). Sand Lake supports populations of brook trout, rainbow trout and Splake (a hybrid between a male brook trout and female lake trout). There is no boat ramp at Sand Lake. Watercraft must be carried a short distance to the lake. Turpin Reservoir supports populations of brook trout and Splake. Internal combustion engines of more than 15 horsepower are prohibited on Turpin Reservoir. All watercraft (except for inflatables 10' or less in length) must have a valid Wyoming Aquatic Invasive Species decal. For additional information on boating and fishing regulations, contact the WGFD in Cheyenne or Laramie.
$24 - $48 / night
Besides the sound of the river meandering north, this is a very peaceful campground. There is flyfishing for trout here. There is also a take out for the North Platte River, for canoers or kayakers. A control crest was put in below the dugway so boaters are advised to start their trips upstream. This is a free site with 5 campsites (1 pull-through, 4 spurs), group site, vault toilet, day use parking, picnic tables, fire rings/grills, and parking spur. The main attraction is the North Platte River for fishing and floating. No horses are allowed in the campground.
Welcome to Deer Haven RV Park in Saratoga, Wyoming“Where the Trout Leap in Main Street”. Located on the banks of the beautiful North Platte River and nearby Medicine Bow National Forest, Deer Haven RV Park is a great place to visit. Private trout fishing is right outside your door.
$45 - $65 / night
Deep Creek Campground is located near Sand Lake at an elevation just over 10,000 feet. The summers are cool and autumn is brief. Winter comes early and stays late. Campground facilities include 12 small campsites, one pull through site, picnic tables, toilets, drinking water, fire rings. This is a pack-it-in-pack-it-out campsite. No trash service in the area. For hiking, the Rock Creek Trail and Sheep Lake Trail are nearby. Crater Lake Trail provides a short hike to a beautiful lake. Boats must be carried a short distance to reach the lake.
$10 / night
At an elevation of 10,800 feet, Sugarloaf is the highest elevation campground that the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest has to offer and it is one of the highest elevation campgrounds in the United States. The sites at this location offer a breathtaking panorama of the Snowy Range which peaks out at 12,000 feet. There is little or no shade in the campground due to elevation, the pine beetle infestation, and the removal of hazard trees. This campground will have a mix of reservation sites and first-come, first-served sites for the 2024 season. If you are not reserving your site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by cash or check once you are at the campground.
Sugarloaf Campground is near a variety of hiking trails and two crystal clear snow-melt lakes: Libby and Lewis Lakes. Non-motorized craft can be used on these lakes but you must carry your boat to the water's edge. Both Libby and Lewis lakes contain brook trout and splake (a hybrid of a male brook trout and female lake trout). Lewis Lake is annually stocked by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD). Use of live-bait fish is prohibited in lakes and streams within the Forest. Three popular trailheads originate in this area that range in difficulty level to accomadate visitor's interests. Savage Run Wilderness and Platte River Wilderness are nearby to the south for visitors that desire a more remote setting.
The campground sits on a spruce and fir-lined hillside in the midst of a fisherman's paradise of 102 recreational lakes. This is a rustic, picturesque campground where every site has delightful views of the Snowy Range. The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland encompass nearly 3 million acres from central and northeastern Wyoming to north-central Colorado. Black bear, bobcat, coyote, elk, marmots, moose, mule deer, and pikas are just some of the many animals that inhabit these rich and diverse lands.
The campground is 1.5 miles from the Libby Flats Observation Area. Visitors can find many more outdoor opportunities in the surrounding Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest including hiking, biking, camping, horseback riding, fishing, hunting, sightseeing, and winter sports.
$20 / night
Adventurers love sleeping under the towering trees and night sky of the secluded Brooklyn Lake Campground in the mountains of southeastern Wyoming. Located eight miles northwest of Centennial, Wyoming, the facility is situated along a small, picturesque lake at an elevation of 10,500 feet. This campground will have a mix of reservation sites and first-come, first-served sites for the 2024 season. If you are not reserving your site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by cash or check once you are at the campground.
Popular activities include hiking, fishing and non-motorized boating. The 36-acre lake is a nice canoeing spot with calm water. Non-motorized boats are allowed on Brooklyn Lake with carry-down access for small recreational watercrafts. There is no boat ramp and trailered vessels cannot be used at this location.Fishing is good for brook trout. From the campground, hikers can access the Sheep Lake and Lost Lake Trails. Sheep Lake Trail also allows horseback riding.
The scenery at Brooklyn Lake can't be beat. Pine forests and grasslands surround the lake, and the snow-capped Browns Peak protrudes into the crisp, blue summer sky. The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland encompass nearly 3 million acres from central and northeastern Wyoming to north-central Colorado. Black bear, bobcat, coyote, elk, mule deer and moose are just some of the many animals that inhabit these rich and diverse lands.
Visitors can find many more outdoor opportunities in the surrounding national forests and grasslands, including hiking, biking, camping, horseback riding, fishing, hunting, sightseeing and winter sports.
$20 / night
Setting up your own campsite away from developed fee sites, also known as dispersed camping, is allowed in most places. From getting away from it all to just enjoying a weekend with friends, dispersed camping can make for a great story. Across the forests, opportunities range from dispersed camping miles into wilderness or just off a forest road in designated dispersed areas. Make sure to bring everything you need when dispersed camping, as water, restrooms, and fire rings may not be available nearby, and always remember to follow Leave No Trace principles.
Use the links below to explore the wide range of dispersed opportunities the forests and grasslands have to offer. For comprehensive information on dispersed camping opportunities, please contact the ranger district office in the area you plan to visit.
Bow River Campground is located on the upper Medicine Bow River with 13 campsites (small trailers only up to 32 feet), water, picnic tables, fire rings, one vault toilet. This is a pack-in pack-out campground. No trash service in the area. The Medicine Bow River, Sand Lake and Turpin Reservoir offer fishing opportunities nearby. Trails in the area include Rock Creek, Sheep Lake, and Crater Lake Trails. (See more trail info on this website by clicking on recreation and then hiking from the home page.) OHVs can explore the Campbell Lake Loop after July 1, approximately 9 miles south of the campground. Pick up a motor vehicle use map for free at the Ranger station in Saratoga or call to have one emailed to you. Both Sand Lake and Turpin Reservoir are stocked by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD). Sand Lake supports populations of brook trout, rainbow trout and Splake (a hybrid between a male brook trout and female lake trout). There is no boat ramp at Sand Lake. Watercraft must be carried a short distance to the lake. Turpin Reservoir supports populations of brook trout and Splake. Internal combustion engines of more than 15 horsepower are prohibited on Turpin Reservoir. All watercraft (except for inflatables 10' or less in length) must have a valid Wyoming Aquatic Invasive Species decal. For additional information on boating and fishing regulations, contact the WGFD in Cheyenne or Laramie.
Traveler
About 4 sites for tents, 4 for RV, both 1/4 mile downhill hike to river. Bring waders, steep banks make fly casting tough. Cost to camp is $20/night as of August '24. Potable water a walk aways...may need 3 hands to operate. Excellent hiking opportunities.
Scout
This spot will no longer allow overnight camping. It is day use only
Guide
Stopped for the night on my way to South Dakota. The park is just spots and gravel (nothing great - reason for 4 stars), but the bathrooms, showers, and laundry room are great! Very clean. Free WiFi.
Guide
Loads of sites along the FS roads out here, you don’t have to look hard, easier with more ground clearance
Legend
$10; $5 with senior/interagency pass. Camped in site 8 on Oct 12, 2024; in my opinion, this is the best site. Short walk to his/hers vault toilets in day use area. Trash cans nearby. Site was level & accommodated my van. Area for setting up tent. Hammock camping possible. We'll water pump located near entrance to campground next to site #2. Picnic table and metal firering on site. Overall, the campsite was clean. Good separation between sites. Some trees and foliage between sites. Site was mostly shaded. Encampment River was behind the site. Hiking trail nearby. Liked this campground. I would stay here again. Campground was well maintained, and the vault toilet was clean and stocked. Very weak T-Mobile and AT&T service.
Guide
arrived late afternoon, loads of space at the end of summer.
Beautiful sites amongst the aspen, cold but high.
Great toilets and super clean site
Scout
Very few other boondockers, and well dispersed. Very quiet with minimal traffic.
ScoutA little way off of WY-130 on a good dirt road. Good for up to mid-size trailers or smaller. Scattered informal sites, no water or hookups, two pit toilets. Signs indicate that camping is OK. Beautiful location on the North Platte River.
Traveler
Absolutely beautiful small BLM Camping right on the River Platt. We pulled our fifth wheel toy hauler with zero issues and parked in a large dirt pad.
Guide
A dirt road about 1.25 miles leading to a boat ramp, with parking for cars/ trailers. There is a bridge with a 12ton limit per vehicle. more allowed if you are towing. peaceful and quiet at night with a very nice trail and bridge over the river . This is not really a campsite, just a nice free place to spend the night and then move on, but you can stay up to 5 days. had dirty bathrooms, no toilet paper.
ScoutThe campground itself was fine for an overnight stay. Trailers not as close together as some right-off-the-highway campgrounds. But they refused to honor my discount program that was advertised as accepted. The woman at the desk said she couldn’t apply the discount because I didn’t”use” it when I booked online. Most campgrounds adjust fees when you arrive & show proof . Very disappointing. Watch out when you book.
Guide
Amazing location. Good trails. Water and clean toilets. First come first serve. Got there around 1 pm and around 6 out of the 16 spots still available. Filled up fast throughout the evening. Got below 30 degrees at night so come prepared!
Guide
Good Verizon service, was able to work remote. Got pretty windy but it was nice on the hot days. Idk if I’d swim in the water. There was a pit toilet. Good view of the mountains. Agree with review below that it’s not a destination spot, but if you’re in the area I’d do a night
GuideNice small campground. The Columbine loop had lots of trees that provided privacy from other sites but the campground wasn’t full. Campground hosts were super nice and friendly. Clean bathrooms and water is up and running.
Guide
Saratoga is about 2 hours away from home for us, so it's a great getaway and we visit all year long. During the summers, we love camping on the lake and at $15/night for electrical hook-ups, it's a great deal for a weekend of fishing and fun on the water. The spots are clean and there is always a place open when we roll in. Make sure to visit the hot springs and have dinner at The Wolf Lodge or a beer and burger at Snowy Mountain Brewery. Headed back there next weekend for the beer festival and chili cook-off.
Guide
Plenty of camping, epic fishing, and tons of water! This camp spot is between 2 reservoirs and offers plenty of camping for RVs or tents right on the water with access to restrooms. Amazing fishing and floating opportunities. Make sure to get all of your shopping needs before heading out, because the closest marina for restocking is about 40 minutes away. There is no cell phone reception. But it's all 100% worth it if fishing is your thing... you'll soon learn why it's called The Miracle Mile.
Guide
Great spot super close to the river. Lots of dispersed camping just outside this established campground. Went on a Friday night, it was pretty busy but found one of the last first come first serve spots around 6 pm. Spots are a pretty good distance apart.
RangerWe were surprised how nice and peaceful it was. We definitely love it. Just drive in and pick out a site then pay at the deposit box.
ScoutClearly marked directing you to the location. Bumpy dirt road until you reach the lot. It’s a parking lot camping location. Clearly marked camping area designated (5 days max). Clean, quiet, will stay again.
Ranger
Good spot . Road was very iffy for my 2wd sedan, but I made it. Perfect on the way in or out of medicine bow.
Ranger
Stayed one night at the coordinates of camper 1 . Had a great time with my dog, very close to medicine bow, and awesome views of the river. Heard no cars throughout the night, there were three other campers I believe .
Ranger
Stopped in late, made it fine with 2w low clearance, I stayed at the first spot, I’m not sure how many there were. Light traffic throughout the night, but overall peaceful stay.
RangerStayed here for a night on the way back through, left at around twelve and went to another site further down the road. You can only park in the two little parking areas when you first pull in.
GuideLovely location with secluded spots. The stars and view were awesome and the wind blew just right all night.
TravelerIt was a nice park. But it got so windy it scared me a little bit. I did not unhitch or use the facilities at all. But it was easy to pull in and out. The office was nice and the employee professional.
GuideWe really enjoyed our stay. Bathrooms were vaulted, fine, whatever. Spots were fine, nice and quiet. Cash only. No dump station, but there’s one located just across the highway with a $5 credit card fee.
Scoutwouldn't recommend if you are tent camping, but i was very comfortable in my car despite very strong winds. ATT is intermittent but works nonetheless! no toilet paper in toilets so bring your own! nice quiet spot but as others have said, it's definitely not a destination spot
Camping near Elk Mountain, Wyoming, offers a mix of stunning views, outdoor activities, and a chance to unwind in nature. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, this area has something for everyone.
Camping near Elk Mountain, Wyoming, offers a unique blend of nature, adventure, and community. With the right preparation and knowledge, you can have a fantastic experience in this beautiful area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Elk Mountain, WY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Elk Mountain, WY offers a wide range of camping options, with 83 campgrounds and RV parks near Elk Mountain, WY and 22 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Elk Mountain, WY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Elk Mountain, WY is Saratoga Lake Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 22 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Elk Mountain, WY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 22 free dispersed camping spots near Elk Mountain, WY.
What parks are near Elk Mountain, WY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 parks near Elk Mountain, WY that allow camping, notably Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG and Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland.
