Double Cabin Campground and Brooks Lake Campground welcome pets throughout their established sites near Shoshone National Forest. Located about 30 miles from Dubois via a winding dirt road with steep drop-offs, Double Cabin offers spacious sites along the Wiggins Fork of the Wind River where dogs can enjoy access to flowing water. The campground contains bear boxes for safe food storage, important for pet owners who need to secure pet food as well. Many campers report the area feels remarkably secluded despite being a designated campground, with sites spaced far enough apart to minimize noise from neighboring campers' pets.
Brooks Lake Campground sits at 9,100 feet elevation and enforces hard-sided campers only due to bear activity—tent camping with pets is not permitted for safety reasons. This high-elevation campground requires pets to be properly leashed or contained to prevent wildlife encounters. The walking trails around Brooks Lake provide excellent opportunities for leashed dog walking with scenic mountain views. The nearby Horse Creek Campground offers an alternative for tent campers with dogs, featuring clean pit toilets and bear lockers at each site. Visitors should pack extra pet supplies as the nearest pet stores are in Dubois, 15-20 minutes from Horse Creek but considerably farther from Brooks Lake and Double Cabin campgrounds. Summer brings mosquitoes that can bother pets, so appropriate insect protection is recommended.
"Double Cabin Campground is a beautiful area, right next to the Wiggins Fork of the Wind River. Great fishing for brookies and cutthroat trout. There are corrals for horses nearby."
"Every time I’m near Debois, I have to plan a few days getting back to what life should be. Simple and majestic."
"it’s a 42 mile drive out of Cody to this campground so it was relatively quiet with few other campers."
$20 - $30 / night
"We saw this campground on Dyrt on our trip through Wyoming to Teton National Park and decided to stay for a night or two. Glad we did! Actually ended up spending 5 nights."
"Beautiful campground just off Highway 26. Loop A sites have electric hookups and Loop B is primitive. Water located near the entrance. Loop B is peaceful and quiet (farther from the road than A)."
"Beautiful location, small campground of only about 13 sites. They are clean and well kept. Bathrooms were clean and did not stink at all."
"Most nights we had the entire place to ourselves, but a few people did comethrough for day-use fishing and to hit the equestrian trails."
"We covered up and had bug spray but we (including the dogs) got eaten up. Besides that, this is a beautiful place. A little busy, as it was a weekend in July, but we had no problem finding spots."
"We drove in around 2pm on Sunday June 22, and tent camped. We picked spot 6, although all were open when we drove in. But we settled on that spot. We appreciated the bear boxes and fire rings."
$10 / night
"This was a great stop on a national parks trip in the Wyoming area. The campground was less busy than in the national parks. Sites were clean and large."
"Surrounded by mountains and right on the Shoshone River, this is a bit of Heaven on earth."
$15 / night
"This is a very private location and sites are nicely separated. It is located right off the highway and situated along side the Shoshone River."
"We were right next to the creek. Pull through spot. Vault toilets. No hookups. Small campground. 10 spacious sites. We couldn’t hear anybody at any other site. Felt very comfortable."
$122 - $127 / night
"We stayed in the Rv area with full hook-ups and a good sized site which was gravel with a picnic bench and surrounded by shade."
"This site was a very short and beautiful walk to the lake which we loved. Clean bathrooms two sites up the loop with water."
"Definitely not the site I would have picked if I had more options - some of the other ones looked much cooler and more private, tucked back in the trees."
"Easy 2wd road to access, a ton of ATVs on the adjacent road until well after dark and early in the morning. Good fishing."
$20 - $60 / night
"There are plenty of fishing opportunities adjacent to the campground. Be very bear aware when hiking and camping there. We saw fresh grizzly tracks and scat right outside the campground! "
"There are some offroad rugged trails near the campground that you can access without traveling on the main road. When the tide of the Shoshone River is high, parts of the trail are obstructed."
ScoutRight on the woods inside Shoshone National Forest. We had a spectacular view, and easy access to area attractions. Primitive camping with picnic tables at campsites. Pit toilets available. Self registration. Very private, and outside of grizzly country so you can tent camp.
LegendIn all honesty, our 1-night stay in Wapiti was kind of a necessary evil. Yellowstone campgrounds are notoriously difficult to get into, and after researching options online I decided that Wapiti - which is within the Shoshone National Forest outside the Yellowstone park boundaries - would be a good place to spend the night prior to actually heading into Yellowstone proper. It's about 1/2 way between Cody, Wyoming and the east gate to Yellowstone and it will take you approximately 30 minutes to reach either. There is a good mix of reservable sites and first-come, first-served sites, and we were able to reserve a site near the river. We camped here in late July and arrived at approx 7 PM and all of the first-come, first-served sites were already taken, which speaks to the popularity of the greater Yellowstone area in summer. Our site (#08) had electric as well, and was close to one of the restrooms. I do have to say, that was the cleanest (single) vault toilet restroom I have ever used in my life, which I can appreciate.
Being so close to the river (North Fork of the Shoshone), this campground was extremely buggy during our visit in July, which is genreally the case for this entire part of the country (especially Yellowstone) - bring a lot of Picaridin! The river itself is very fast through this area, so be careful if you have younger children. We did not do any fishing here, but there was a family fishing from the bridge (Sweetwater Creek Rd.) using pink scented 'marshmallows' (trout bait) that the locals told them worked the best - they had not caught anything yet.
We traveled back through the national forest into Cody for dinner and ate at Millstone Pizza Company and Brewery and I would recommend it. The beer was pretty good (we split a 6-sample flight to taste everything), and the portions were great. I got a meatball sandwich that was huge and delicious, and the specialty pizzas looked fantastic as well.
LegendDubois/Wind River KOA, Dubois , Wyoming
Dubois , Wyoming is another town on the old west trail. I only stayed overnight after Grand Teton NP but would have stayed longer had my schedule allowed to explore more. It is a little touristy but there is history there if you search it out.
The KOA was a smaller one, back behind a gas station which was convenient. There are cool TP’s that you can rent and the cabins site along the Wind River which makes for some nice scenery when you are chilling at the campground. Don’t look to hard though, across the river is a neighborhood. The road in was a little rough and the gravel needed some maintenance, otherwise it was a well maintained parking lot like so many of the KOA’s are now. The playground equipment looked archaic! I did not use any of the facilities so I have no information on them and there was no dog park. I arrived after close, found my paperwork on the lite kiosk and I left out in the morning before the office opened. For the price I expect more but it seems like the area dictates the quality of the KOA.
ScoutWe called & were lucky to get one of the last spots for the night with full hook ups. The hosts were super friendly. The restrooms were spotless & spacious- lots of attention to detail with clothes hooks & benches. The grounds were very clean & well kept. They even have a leash free clean dog park. We couldn’t have asked for a better one night stay!
LegendThis review is based on a short term versus destination RV park point of view. Our arrival email stated not to arrive before 3:00 PM and we were coming in from about an hour away so we called the office to see if early arrival would be permitted. Since we were arriving on a Monday, well into September, our site was empty and we were told to come on in, which was nice. Check in was super fast and we proceeded to pull through site 18 with FHUs. Utilities were placed in the middle of the site which was nice. Buffalo Bluff is a fairly new campground(CG) and we were impressed with its cleanliness. We received a good amount of OTA stations plus they had cable with decent channel selections. Since there are no trees within the park, satellite would not be a problem. There’s a small fenced dog-park and plenty of area to walk the dogs. We received 4 bars on Verizon. We enjoyed our short stay and would consider staying here again.
RangerStayed here after leaving Yellowstone NP and driving through Grand Tetons NP. Couldn't see the Tetons because of wildfire smoke. The owners were welcoming and friendly small town folk. Small place with maybe 25 sites or so, full hookups. Some on the river. Had a pet area, laundry, and short walking trail nearby. Big rig friendly. Best of all....WiFi was great.
LegendOverall great. Just overpriced. All amenities for the full family. Campground is pet friendly but not national park off paved roads or sidewalk. Beautiful place friendly staff just over priced camping.
GuideWe luckily found this gem of a campsite after looking in Yellowstone all day, we didn’t get here until later in the afternoon so I was very thankful to finally have somewhere to put up the tent. The camp host was so kind, we stayed in site #11 which is near the creek and by horses the trail riding place occasionally keeps there. My daughter loved petting the horses. Perfect spot between both parks, and we went and played in Snake River which the kids also loved. Gas station not far in case you need last minute things. Definitely recommend!
LegendOpen year round Services discontinued the end of September through May
Fees: $10.00
Stay limit 16 days
Pit toilet trash fire ring bear box picnic table camp host
GRIZZLY bear area so be bear aware bear spray is a very good idea and be prepared
Sites are flat but they are very small. Pets on a leash. The backdrop is amazing. Campground is on the road to Yellowstone and you really can't beat the price unless you find a boondocking spot somewhere else. There are horse corrals and trailer parking near.
Directions: From Cody, travel west on US Highway14/16/20 for 28 miles to the campground.
The Shoshone National Forest region extends from elevations around 4,600 feet to peaks over 13,000 feet, creating diverse camping conditions across its 2.4 million acres. Summer temperatures at higher elevation campgrounds can drop below freezing at night even in July. Road conditions vary significantly, with some campground access routes requiring high-clearance vehicles during spring runoff.
Fishing opportunities: Brooks Lake Campground offers excellent fishing for brook and cutthroat trout. "Living only 20 minutes from brooks lake, I always make it a goal to camp out their every summer. The views can't be beat and the fishing in both the lake a creek is unreal," explains Stephen H., who recommends bringing bear spray for safety.
Wildlife viewing: At Eagle Creek Campground, campers frequently see bison wandering through sites. "We noticed a family of deer munching in the field on our morning walk out," reports a visitor at Spread Creek. For those interested in wolf observation, Eagle Creek provides a strategic base. "I stayed here one cold week of March to get up before dawn and wolf watch in the park," notes Annika W.
Waterfall exploration: Falls Campground features a stunning waterfall accessible via a short hike from the campsites. "The waterfall is gorgeous! A short hike from the campsites," shares Robin B., who found it made a good base for exploring nearby national parks.
Secluded sites: Despite being an established campground, Double Cabin Campground offers unusual privacy. "We truly felt like we were the only people in the campground, even though it was a highly trafficked time during eclipse," writes Sari K., highlighting the spacious layout that creates a wilderness feel.
High elevation experiences: The 9,100-foot elevation at Brooks Lake creates distinct camping conditions. "Bundle up if you come early! Snow was still on the ground, but I'll take that over mosquitos. Was warm during the day with plenty of opportunities to hike nearby or just hang by the lake and fish," advises Katherine B.
Water access: Campsites along waterways provide both recreation and scenic value. "There are sites by the Shoshone River including views. The music of the river itself is soothing," shares a camper at Eagle Creek Campground, noting that local fishing guides often bring clients through the area.
Bear precautions: Brooks Lake enforces a hard-sided camper policy due to grizzly activity. "Bears are a serious threat here so you can't even camp in a tent. We arrived with tents and were told we couldn't sleep in our cars either so had to leave," warns Kim B. Always check current regulations before arrival.
Weather variability: At high elevations, prepare for significant temperature drops. "It was very cold when we were driving up the mountain to find this," Jennifer H. recalls about Eagle Creek, recommending warm layers even in summer months when overnight temperatures can dip into the 30s.
Seasonal facility limitations: Late season travelers should verify which services remain operational. "Looks like a nice campground but we moved on - the electric at the sites were turned off (on 9/26), trash bins were locked. Pit toilets were open," notes Arthur M. at Falls Campground.
Best dog-friendly campgrounds: When seeking dog friendly campgrounds in Shoshone National Forest, consider water access. "We strolled the creek in the morning, and the dogs really enjoyed it," mentions one camper about Spread Creek Dispersed Campground, which allows pets throughout its open sites.
Insect protection: High country mosquitoes can be intense during summer. "Summer bugs are terrible, bring bug spray. It is high elevation and very little shade so be prepared. A shaded netting for the picnic tables would be ideal," advises Angela G. about Brooks Lake Campground.
Wildlife education: Use campground wildlife sightings as learning opportunities. "When we saw the deer was near us there was also 3 rangers following it keeping the campers safe," notes Heather H., describing how park staff at Colter Bay helped maintain visitor safety around wildlife.
Access challenges: The road to Double Cabin presents significant challenges for larger RVs. "Getting to this place with our 30' TT was a challenge. Most of the road there is a one lane, winding road with dropoffs at times. There are lots of horse trailers that use this road so be prepared," warns Jon G., though he adds that "the payoff is amazing."
Water management: Plan carefully for water needs at campgrounds without hookups. "There are water connections available, but you are not allowed to connect a hose," explains Jennifer S. about Falls Campground. At some sites, campers need to fill portable containers instead of connecting directly.
Leveling requirements: Many forest campgrounds have uneven sites. "Most sites are pretty uneven so bring blocks. I had to get pretty creative in our super C," advises Chris A. about Colter Bay RV Park, recommending extra leveling equipment for larger rigs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Shoshone National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Shoshone National Forest is Double Cabin Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Shoshone National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 80 dog-friendly camping locations near Shoshone National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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