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.
"Camp at designated sites only. There are no numbered spaces, just small round a bouts and pull offs to pull into. About 6 vehicles is max for this site. Pit toilet located here."
"It was a nice area next to the river. Some tall grass but that wasn’t much a bother. I had no issues with mosquitoes."
"Scattered informal sites, no water or hookups, two pit toilets. Signs indicate that camping is OK. Beautiful location on the North Platte River."
"There was a couple different spots, mine was away from some of the seemingly main spots. Beautiful riverside"
"We stayed here at the lake. Camping limit is 5 days. Beautiful Mountain View, swimming and fishing. No cell phone service with Verizon. No running water has restrooms and lots of camp/ picnic tables."
"Camped at Lake Hattie May 2020. We have a Tacoma and RTT, but any sort of car or camper could make it here no problem. No fees - this is BLM land."
"Some pitch vault toilets available at the shore line (could use more attention and cleaning)."
"There is a sign at the beginning of the dirt road for high clearance and 4 wheel drive. This is not a suggestion. This spot was beautiful, peaceful and primitive."
ScoutThis wooded campground has a very narrow season. Gravel roads (starting at Albany) were snowed in 4 miles out in late May 2019, While there are gendered vault toilets (TP stocked), bring your own water for cooking and cleaning. This fact alone makes it better for RVs than tent campers like us. There are loads of sites, well spaced with fire rings and picnic tables. We got rain and small hail on the 3rd weekend in July and it got to 40 F or below overnight. Deer, chipmunks, and a bald eagle were spotted. There were mosquitoes. There is a boat ramp into the reservoir. Heavily ATV traffic. Dog friendly but must be on leash. Gunfire noted early and late across reservoir. With proper prior planning, you will probably have a pleasant experience.
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.
GuideThere are probably 7 or 8 spots with picnic tables. Most have fire rings and a grill but not all. Bathrooms within walking distance. Dry and bare ground scape so no wood scavenging to be done here. Bring in firewood for sure! Also wouldn’t recommend tent camping as the ground is gravel with lots of rocks of various sizes! Easy road in so could bring a trailer or RV of any size. Pretty views. Only one other group here so quiet and lots of space
GuideThis campground was great! It was our backup plan… Sugarloaf was full.
We camped site #5. Which has a partial view of the lake through some trees, but a great view of the mountains.
Campsites have picnic tables and fire rings.
Road in was slightly rough, but easy to find/navigate, and any decent car can make it.
No water while we were there, but vault toilets were decent and open, there are 2 total. Trash is also available, so dont worry about packing it out.
ATT had spotty service, but you can hike up and maybe get a bar or two.
Speaking of hiking… There are some great trails which lead up to a glacial lake with some incredible views.
The other reviews about mosquitos are correct… They are relentless in the evening and mornings, but we were one of the closest campsites to the water, so the sites further back might have been a little better.
Arrive early(ish). We got here about 11am and site #5 was the only one available. Watched about a dozen more vehicles drive around camp throughout the day, without the same luck. This was on a Wednesday.
Overall, we had a great time here. Scenery was great, sites were clean, people were friendly.
GuideWalk-in availability only and about 11 sites which worked out fine. Only about 9 were filled when we were there. The bugs here got pretty annoying pretty quickly so be prepared. You will need a bear bag or vault. There are vault toilets and bear proof trash cans available. Water is also available. The tent sites were decent. You can fish in a nearby stream and check out the Green Mountain Falls accessible by day hike. They are worth seeing!
GuideWind blew my tent down (one pole was weak and I couldn’t stake all corners in the rocks). Vault toilet. Water only from reservoir.
LegendWith a total of 8 well-maintained sites, each equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, this campground strikes the perfect balance between comfort and wilderness. The availability of essential facilities like a vault toilet and trash cans makes roughing it a bit easier. Plus, the added convenience of a boat ramp is a definite bonus for those looking to get out on the water.
Whether you're in a small rig or a larger one, you're covered here. There's a convenient pull-through site for ease of access, and the remaining spots can easily accommodate rigs between 20 to 25 feet. What's more, most of the sites are nestled beneath the cool shade of majestic trees, offering a cozy respite from the sun. The combination of well-equipped sites, riverside tranquility, and a touch of shade makes for an decent camping experience.
ScoutPickaroon is ideal for the tent and small rugged RVs but is used mostly for day use fishing. Tight switchbacks on the final decent into the campground will be a challenge for anything 20+. 4 wheel drive a must if it’s wet.
Most traffic is day use fishermen and is the end of the forest road. Fishing can be good, but the volume of traffic means lots of pressure. The outhouse is old and in need of significant repair (doors won’t close fully) and is under serviced (bring your own tp). No water. Fire rings are old and picnic tables are well used and could use repair.
This seems like an awesome, off the beaten path location to get away - but it seems everyone agrees. I’ve been twice mid week in 2019 and on weekends. All campgrounds were occupied each time. Also, lots of RVs are brought down and left vacant during the week, and the owners just go down on the weekends. Lots of abuse (left for more than 14 days and vacant for more than 24 hours) of Forest service rules by those who frequent Pickaroon.
LegendA pretty and small campground right on the Encampment River. There is a boat ramp just before you come to the campground. There are only about 8 or so sites, first come first serve, and super cheap at $10. Sites have picnic tables and fire pits, but watch for signs prohibiting fires when its dry. Most sites also had nice trees for hammocks. A few sites enable you to have some privacy with nice understory in-between sites. There is a nice trail along the river that obviously was made by anglers, but you can go for some ways before it petters out. There is a vault toilet that was fairly well maintained, but there is no water available at this campground, so you better be bringing all that you will need. No one had trailers here so I am guessing either they don't know about this site, can't get them safely down the road (it is steep and has a good twist or two in it), or they are not permitted. The river is COLD and fast, though not deep near the campground. I would not advise wading out too deep.
Tent camping near Elk Mountain, Wyoming offers a chance to immerse yourself in stunning natural landscapes while enjoying a variety of outdoor activities. With several options available, campers can find the perfect spot to set up their tents and unwind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Elk Mountain, WY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Elk Mountain, WY is Foote Public Access Area Dispersed with a 3.4-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Elk Mountain, WY?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 tent camping locations near Elk Mountain, WY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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