Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Hyattville, WY

We love dispersed camping but hauling a 25’ airstream makes a lot of sites inaccessible despite our lift and rugged tires! But not here! It’s a level, smooth, dirt road where you pull off the side anywhere you choose. (The road is actually 402 and 403 is at the very end behind a closed gate.) Views were breathtaking and most of the land is level. It’s far enough off the main road that there isn’t any road traffic. One mildly-annoying thing is that people drive along the road while their dogs run beside their cars. I guess that’s to exercise their animal but we watched one of these free-range dogs go after another camper’s dog who was tied up. Just an FYI if you are traveling with pets. We didn’t have any issues with mosquitos but there were a few flies. No bites or anything.

We recently stayed at Crippled Spider Ranch, and it exceeded all my expectations. Nestled in the beautiful landscape near Thermopolis, Wyoming, this ranch offers a truly unique camping experience that caters to adventurers, families, and solo travelers alike.

Campsites & Amenities: The ranch has 71 spacious spots, including full and partial hookups for RVs, and plenty of space for dry camping. The sites are well-maintained, and the full hookups provide everything you need for a comfortable stay. For those looking for an extended stay, they even offer 15% off for bookings over 7 days!

Activities & Attractions: One of the best parts of Crippled Spider Ranch is the variety of activities on-site and nearby. There’s something for everyone—whether it’s hiking on the BLM land that borders the property, petting zoo visits for the kids, or even learning to ranch and milk cows! The property is also a great base for rock hounding and exploring Wyoming’s natural beauty. You can even hunt (seasonal) or target shoot, making it perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.

For those interested in history, the ranch is near the historic Oregon Trail, and there are great opportunities for treasure hunters like metal detecting and exploring old ghost towns.

Staff & Hospitality: The hospitality here is second to none! The staff are friendly, welcoming, and go above and beyond to make sure your stay is enjoyable. You’ll feel like family from the moment you arrive. They even offer fresh, free-range eggs from their chickens and have a fun “catch-and-cook” option if you’re into farm-to-table experiences.

Sustainability & Eco-Friendly Focus: Crippled Spider Ranch also takes pride in its sustainable practices, from responsible livestock management to preserving the surrounding wilderness. This ranch is a great choice for eco-conscious travelers who want to enjoy nature responsibly.

Overall Experience: Crippled Spider Ranch is the perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and Wyoming charm. Whether you’re a family looking for a weekend getaway or a solo adventurer seeking peace and quiet in the great outdoors, this place is a must-visit. I’ll definitely be back for more!

Tip: Be sure to book early for special events, and don’t forget to check out the nearby mineral hot springs in Thermopolis!

We stayed at the Buffalo Wyoming KOA in August 2021. This is a very nice KOA park and in fact was our favorite KOA that we have visited. This is a family run KOA that has done some pretty incredible upgrades to this resort. Upon arrival, we were placed in a private site along a babbling brook. It was fantastic sitting outside at any time of day or night and listen to the water running by just outside our door. This park offers FHU sites that are very spacious. A number of sites that even run right beside the river. There is river beach access for everyone. The best park WiFi we have ever used, a nice pool and awesome gated dog run. It was lovely walking around the park in the evening talking to our fellow campers. Wonderful family run park which we highly recommend. If you are interested in videos of this campground and others, check out our YouTube channel: Jeff & Steff’s Excellent Adventure.

Every time we passed this campground we saw empty sites. This came in handy on this holiday weekend. We grabbed a site and before we even filled out the forms the rest were taken. It’s nice to have found a campsite at late notice on a holiday but they did fill up. 

The campground has a couple loops. We ended up right next to the road. Consistent traffic became background noise if we didn’t pay attention to it. We would have preferred a quieter setting but at least we found a campsite. The campers in the other loop seemed louder and more active. One site had a bunch of dogs and a couple of sites had large groups. Our loop was quiet and restful.

The hosts keep the place clean. With all the rain we’ve had, the trail that links up to Sibley Lake trail was too muddy to hike. We walked up the hill away from the road where logging is being done. It led to a series of trails that seemed to lead to more logging. 

The highlight was finding a mother and baby moose grazing right through our campsite. The host told us that a moose killed a dog recently. I’m keeping a closer eye on ours now. 

We loved the moose coming into camp here! This is an ok campground but the closeness to the road wasn’t the best.

Ten miles north of Thermopolis, WY, is a small turn around parking area situated in the rolling terrain of western Wyoming.   Wouldn't recommend coming out after dark if it's your first time here, as it's hard to find.  But when you do, this is a very quiet and remote boondocking area. There are no bathrooms, or water close by so come prepared.  And bring your solar power, there's plenty of it. We found the lot to be a little un-level and bumpy but had a few quiet nights here.

Evidence of weekend activity -- lots of spent ammo, a few old appliances used for target practice and some random burn piles indicate that Friday or Saturday nights might get a little rowdy. This might be best enjoyed mid-week unless that’s your thing. 

Hiking, or mountain biking opportunities abound, as well as the nearby ruins of an old mining operation. While these structures are private property, the BLM two tracks and walking trails wind through the remains.   Super cool to check out!

Thermopolis is the largest town in the region and offers all the services you’d expect, food, restaurants and even a natural food store. The downtown state park offers some really great hot springs for soaking. There are three different places offering multi-temperature pools and water slides for the kids. Great place to spend the afternoon and grab a shower. Cell phone service dropped out a few miles back down the road, but was available if you walked up to the south ridge.