Searching for a dispersed camping spot near Sundance? Dispersed camping gets you off the grid so you can disconnect from the hecticness of everyday life. Each dispersed site offers quick access to one or more of Sundance's most popular destinations.
The Newcastle Field Office is responsible for the public lands, and interest in lands, administered by the BLM in Crook, Weston and Niobrara counties in northeast Wyoming, as well as the public lands that remain in Nebraska.
Surface acreage administered by this office includes approximately 292,000 acres in Wyoming and 6,600 acres in Nebraska. "Interest in lands" refers to the federal mineral estate that has been severed from the surface estate (split estate). The Office oversees approximately 1.6 million acres of split estate in the three Wyoming counties and 240,000 acres within the state of Nebraska.
Major programs managed by the Newcastle Field Office include oil and gas exploration & development, livestock grazing, and lands and realty.
Setting up your own campsite away from developed fee sites, also known as dispersed camping, is allowed on most of the Forest for a maximum of 14 days in any 60-day period. However, around developed reservoirs and campgrounds, camping is allowed only in designated areas. Check with the closest Forest Service office for specific information.
General rules:
Camp 100 feet away from any creek or stream and 1/2 mile away from developed recreation sites, including campgrounds and picnic areas. Motorized vehicles allowed 300 feet off of roads as shown on the Motor Vehicle Use Map (dots) for dispersed camping on the Black Hills National Forest. Around developed reservoirs and campgrounds, camping is allowed only in designated campsites. Can camp for a maximum of 14 days in any 60-day period. No open campfires in South Dakota portions of the national forest. Open campfires are permitted in Wyoming portions of the national forest, unless a special order prohibiting such is in effect. Check with the closest Forest Service office for more specific information about dispersed camping.
Setting up your own campsite away from developed fee sites, also known as dispersed camping, is allowed on most of the Forest for a maximum of 14 days in any 60-day period. However, around developed reservoirs and campgrounds, camping is allowed only in designated areas. Check with the closest Forest Service office for specific information.
General rules:
Camp 100 feet away from any creek or stream and 1/2 mile away from developed recreation sites, including campgrounds and picnic areas. Motorized vehicles allowed 300 feet off of roads as shown on the Motor Vehicle Use Map (dots) for dispersed camping on the Black Hills National Forest. Around developed reservoirs and campgrounds, camping is allowed only in designated campsites. Can camp for a maximum of 14 days in any 60-day period. No open campfires in South Dakota portions of the national forest. Open campfires are permitted in Wyoming portions of the national forest, unless a special order prohibiting such is in effect.
Guide
Last mile of gravel going in to site was pretty rough. Sign indicated that the road would be impassible if wet/raining. Site was flat and gravel. Spot for tents just up the hill. No fire ring, no picnic table, no hook-ups or garbage. Dispersed camping / boondocking. No fee. Fantastic view of the country-side including Devil's Tower. Site appeared secluded and unused. Another vehicle with a tent did join us during the night, but there was room for both of us!
Legend
There are a few dispersed camping spots along this road which also holds the trailhead for Mt. Roosevelt Friendship Tower. There was one pull through site that has no campfire signs and then two or three other spots. We seemed to be lucky and got the last open spot. We got here around 4 pm. The site we got was beautiful and had a lot of room for us to pitch a tent. Plenty of trees to go pee in but also an open spot where we could stargaze through the tent. There was some traffic on the road, more than you would think for such a windy gravel road. The first part of the road up until the trailhead had quite a bit of washboard which was a little scary on the sharp curves with steep drop offs. Enough Verizon cell service to text and make calls. Enough AT&T service to get WiFi on our SubaruLink. No water that we saw that we could use or filter. Had some people pull into our spot at different times not knowing it was taken. 9:30 pm was the last one.
Guide
We drove out without the RV to scope out the area and are glad we did. The road was a washboard for a long way, and we decided that the potential damage it might cause our rig was not worth the savings from dispersed camping. We headed back to our previous site in a developed campground. Pretty though! Lots of wildlife and beautiful open surroundings. Very few trees of any kind.
Ranger
This spot is at the end of a forest road that runs west of Nemo, SD. There are other dispersed camping sites along the way as well. This spot butts up right next to a cliff with the Boxelder Creek running below and gives good views of the Black Hills to the south. No amenities at all here. A high clearance vehicle will most likely be needed to get back to this spot.
Traveler
There were multiple pull off dispersed camping areas all along the Mt. Roosevelt road. The road is easy to drive if coming off the CanAm Hwy side of the mountain. Walking distance to the Roosevelt Friendship Tower hike which is highly recommended. Tons of bees in the wildflowers but they never bothered us. Pack in and pack out! Some traffic driving along the road but never overwhelming and quiet at night. Great base to visit Deadwood, Lead, Spearfish Canyon, and Devils Tower
Guide
Decent spot veside the road. There are several boondocking spots between here and Cook Lake Outhouse is nearby this site on main road Cows are all over this site
ScoutI just needed a place to stop and car camp. I was going to stay at a campground I. Belle Fourch but after a little exploring I found a great private spot in Free Dispersed area but the site were furnished with a fire ring and table and a great view of a beautiful lake. Slept like a baby!
Guidestruck out on any camping close to devils tower, so we ended up coming here. fun little dirt road coming up the mountain to the sight. really only like 2 spots. lower spot is medium sized and we saw someone else there in a jeep. friends and i took the top spot which was big enough for a truck, a large suv, and sedan.
very quiet secluded area. got cold at night in august, but very beautiful views.
in the dark we kept seeing a tuxedo cat randomly watching us, not sure if it’s a stray or an outside cat from one of the nearby farms, didn’t come over when we enticed it and ran when we shone the light but cute little campsite friend i guess.
Legend
Loved this spot. Wildflowers, wildlife, and lots of space! Turn right off the sundance-warren peak road and watch out for cows crossing. I saw about 5 sites but I’m sure there are more down the road. The first 4 are accessible with any car, but it gets a bit rocky to get to the others so make sure you have good tires. There were a few cows wandering near our site which was awesome! There were wildflowers, wildlife, and a beautiful sunset from our spot up on the hill. Great spots!!
TravelerIt was a nice secluded spot that definitely requires a 4x4 or at least some decent clearance There were also a ton of hornets there, must have been a nest nearby
RangerDrive in on a Saturday and found several empty campsites. Coming from Yellowstone, the lower altitude came with warmer Temps. Very pleasant camping experience.
GuideI spent my 14 days here. It is a bit noisy because of the trails used by off-road vehicles. The biggest grass field is sometimes used by multiple RVs and locals said don't even think of coming here during Sturgis' motorcycle rally. Right over the hill is the little town of Nemo which has a camping resort. All that folks spill out into this dispersed space with their ATVs and such. Mostly didn't bother me and I was here with two locals who leave their trailers here for lengthy amounts of time. Rangers apparently don't enforce the 14 days unless you cause a problem.
TravelerThis was a great spot to spend a night near Devil's Tower. The road getting there was rough but we were the only ones there. We even had a few free range horses and a donkey pass by in the evening.
TravelerI would have loved to have stayed here. Unfortunately, about 2 miles from the coordinates listed here, the road was blocked and stated no wheeled vehicles. I was looking forward to seeing Devil's Tower the following day, but just lost interest. I'll go back another time to see it up close.
ScoutI stayed here 1 night and felt comfortable, so I came back the second night earlier for a better spot. If you can get a spot for the sunset, Its worthit.
ScoutWould have loved to visit but closed in the winter!
TravelerTemps on 90 were in the 90s but up here a great breeze and cool. So peaceful! Our second year here and loving being back!
Guide
There are 4 different sites in the area, with each accommodating multiple vehicles. Access to the local creek. Sort of difficult to find a level spot but we made it work. We fit comfortably in a truck camper but I wouldn't go too much bigger here. Good Verizon service!
ScoutThe road said impassable when wet. It had just rained and was wet. We were able to make it up in our truck camper Used 4wd and yes, it was quite slippery. The site is nice and peaceful if you don't mind cows mooing. Lol.
GuideThere was a fantastic view of devils tower. The spot was very easy to access although it would be difficult without a 4x4
TravelerPretty well maintained dirt road up to 2 sites that look across the Devils Tower. The drive up (at least at night) feels like you're in the middle of nowhere but you're actually pretty close to Devil's Tower. We got in after dark and the two spots were taken. One up on the grassy hill is a large flat spot that could accommodate a few camp set-ups, if we showed up in daylight probably would have asked. The lower one right off the road (west) has a turnaround and could accommodate 2-3 vehicles who are camping with eachother. We camped between the two sites since we came up at dark and wanted to give the folks camping there adequate space. Quiet, serene, mildy buggy.
TravelerCampground is nice and flat with a big parking and camping area and great view of the Devil’s tower but the road leading to it is full on slopes and potholes which makes it hard to get to the campground. There is also a sign that says that it is impassable when wet.
ScoutDrove up in a class c 30ft pulling a jeep no problems erwin rd was dry would not attempt that road when unless 4wd
GuideThe camping site is easily accessible by vehicle (note there was a sign that said impassable when wet). We were able to easily make it to the site in a small FWD van. The road was bumpy and had small rocks. Most standard vehicles can make the drive up. There’s a large lot to park and and a flat grassy area above for tents. We were the only people using the site that night.
If you walk up to the grassy area, you can catch a view of Devils Tower. Overall, nice place to stay for the night.
RangerLoved this spot! The dirt road right off the highway is pristine, not even washboardy. Once you branch right for the last mile or so, there are a few small rocks and ruts but still smooth. At the top of the hill, there’s a left turn that splits - if you go right, you’ll go across a big flat meadow and at the end find a beautiful site with a great view of Devil’s Tower. We were surprised only one other car was here on a Saturday night. We experienced intense wind overnight, but still loved the locatiob
GuideGreat location about 15 minutes from Devil’s Tower. Great area that has flat grassy areas for tents or large flat-ish dirt areas that could fit a decently large camper. Was a great stop.
Road on the way in is steep and rocky. AWD recommend and would be very difficult to navigate if it’s super muddy.
GuideIt rained the last two days but I was able to get up the hill in an overloaded AWD. There were some pretty hefty ruts so choose your lines carefully. I rolled up pretty late, maybe 7p. There was only one other person here and of course they took the spot. The lower spot was a big mud pit and the upper field is overgrown. It looks like a fire came through here maybe last year so the grass has bounced back really well in some spots. Seems pretty quiet human-wise with lots of birds and big noises, which I prefer. Not too far from Devil’s Tower and a great spot for me to stop over for the night. If I stayed longer, I’d nab that good spot. LOL.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Sundance, Wyoming, where nature lovers can find serene spots away from the crowds. With stunning landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities, this area is perfect for those seeking adventure and tranquility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Sundance, WY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Sundance, WY is Storm Hill BLM Land Dispersed Site with a 4.6-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Sundance, WY?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 dispersed camping locations near Sundance, WY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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