Dispersed camping near Smoot, Wyoming offers access to high-elevation wilderness at 6,000-9,000 feet where summer temperatures average 75°F during day and 45°F at night. The area receives substantial snowfall from November through May, making many forest service roads impassable until early summer. Several campgrounds require fording creeks during spring runoff, limiting access for standard passenger vehicles.
What to do
Fly fishing spots: Try the Salt River for trout fishing near Allred Flat Campground, where one camper noted "Great flyfishing on the Salt River. Fairly private and quiet. Good Verizon cell service."
Hike to Lake Alice: Access this alpine lake via the trailhead near Hobble Creek Campground. A visitor reported, "Camp is located near the trailhead to Lake Alice. You need to cross Hobble Creek to get to the campground, which can be very high in early summer. Usually roads are not passable until almost July."
Wildlife observation: Beaver habitats can be explored at Allred Flat Campground. A camper shared, "Some hiking trails along the creek where beavers have made extensive dams. Beautiful, quiet campground."
Wildflower viewing: July brings peak bloom in La Barge Guard Station area. One visitor wrote, "I visited in July and the wild flowers were incredible in LaBarge Meadows. This is near the Tri-Basin drainage. The trail head for the Lander Cut-Off Trail is right at the cabin."
What campers like
Affordable options: Allred Flat costs just $10 per night with basic amenities. A camper mentioned, "This is an awesome campsite off the main road but still quiet. Cost us $10 for the night so not bad at all! There's about 30 spots of various sizes on a loop road."
Solitude in fields: Salt River Pass offers complete privacy with wildflowers. One visitor described, "My boyfriend & I were the only 2 people probably in at least a mile radius. Complete privacy in a giant field of flowers that make the air smell absolutely amazing."
Accessible forest cabins: Historical guard stations provide unique accommodation options. At Diamond Creek Guard Station, a camper noted, "With a wood-burning stove, we stayed nice and toasty. There were plenty of cots to move close to the wood-burning stove for a cozy night sleep."
Stream-side camping: Many sites feature creeks running through or alongside campsites. At Swift Creek Campground, a visitor described, "Swift Creek flows through the campground and many of the campsites. It offers excellent trout fishing and is spring fed and is the clearest blue color."
What you should know
Road conditions: Many access roads require high-clearance vehicles. About Salt River Pass, one camper warned, "The suggestion that you need a high clearance vehicle is an understatement. The service road is incredibly rocky with one side a sheer drop."
Seasonal availability: Most campgrounds open late May through mid-September, with snow limiting access. For Hobble Creek, a visitor noted, "You need to cross Hobble Creek to get to the campground, which can be very high in early summer. Usually roads are not passable until almost July."
Cell service variability: Coverage ranges from none to good depending on location. At Allred Flat, one review mentioned, "Zero cell service for any of the 3 major carriers," while another campground had "Good Verizon cell service."
Wildlife encounters: Cattle and sheep grazing occurs throughout the area. At Salt River Pass, a camper observed, "There are sheep everywhere and they love to talk (my boyfriend was a little annoyed when they woke him up in the morning but I thought it was cool)."
Tips for camping with families
Water safety: Creeks can run high and cold, especially in early summer. At Hobble Creek Campground, a parent shared, "Kids and dogs had fun playing in the nearby creek (water is very cold), with lots of great hiking opportunities."
Berry picking opportunities: Search for wild fruit during summer months. One visitor to Hobble Creek noted, "Added bonus, there were a lot of wild strawberries and raspberries in the area."
Spacing between sites: Look for campgrounds with well-separated sites for privacy. At Spring Creek Trailhead, a camper mentioned, "Great dispersed camping area. Appears to be used by a lot of hunters. There is a nice big picnic table at one site and a few spots with campfire rings and meat poles."
Limited bear boxes: Most campgrounds have few or no bear boxes. At Allred Flat, one camper observed, "We only saw a few random sites that had bear boxes. Each site had a picnic table and a fire pit, and was nicely separated from neighboring sites."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Bring leveling blocks as many sites are uneven. At Allred Flat, a camper noted, "Sites, however are not very level. 3 sets of gendered handicap accessible vault toilets."
Accessible pull-throughs: Several campgrounds offer pull-through options for medium-sized RVs. One visitor to Allred Flat shared, "The campground had plenty of pull throughs and restrooms along with overflow parking, fire pits, grills and picnic tables. Our 30 ft class c + towing a ford escape was able to fit on the site."
Size restrictions: Large fifth wheels and Class A RVs have limited options. About Allred Flat, a reviewer cautioned, "Anyone from tent campers to large trailers can easily find a spot, larger fifth wheels and class A rigs may have a bit of trouble finding a suitable campsite here."
Water availability: Bring your own water or equipment to treat local sources. One camper at Allred Flat mentioned, "There are hand pump water faucets, but a sign said that water is not tested and water should be boiled or treated prior to drinking."
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